Lauren Hamilton
St. Mark GEN-Z Parish/School Leader
Hello! My name is Lauren Hamilton. I am originally from south Florida, but my family moved to North Carolina in 2013. I graduated from Christ the King High School and then attended Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC, where I played on the Women’s Volleyball team and completed my degree in Elementary Education. During my college experience, I was introduced to the FOCUS missionaries present on our campus. FOCUS is an apostolate committed to fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations - and this mission is carried out by missionary teams on college campuses across the country. The FOCUS missionaries at Belmont Abbey greatly impacted me through their steadfast and authentic friendship, deep divine intimacy with Our Lord, and their ability to see and share the Gospel in all things. I was deeply moved by my friendship with my missionary in particular, which led to a calling I felt to apply for FOCUS myself. I wanted the opportunity to walk with college women the same way I was accompanied, to be able to love them where they are at and invite them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ! I said “yes” to a 2-year commitment with FOCUS and was asked to serve at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. I ended up staying for an extra year, and recently finished 3 total years serving the students, primarily the student athletes, at Nicholls. Mission has changed my outlook on what it means to be not only a Catholic, but a daughter of God, and my experience as a missionary has only further convicted me that the Gospel is meant for everyone and the Father’s love knows no bounds! After three years with FOCUS, I felt the Lord inviting me to a different mission field - back to the classroom. I discerned to move back to Charlotte, NC to be closer to family and friends. I accepted a teaching position at St. Mark Catholic School (my home parish) in Huntersville, NC where I am teaching 7th grade Math! I am excited and humbled to work with middle schoolers and be a witness to the joy of the Gospel. I look forward to connecting more Catholics across North Carolina!
God Bless!
Lauren Hamilton
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