When Drew Tonti looks at campus ministry at Oakland University, he does not start with strategy. He starts with God.

“Our campus ministry, as it is currently known,‘Grizzly Catholic,’ has only existed since the summer of 2024,” Drew shares.

But the story began long before that.

Around 2020, St. John Fisher University Parish (the parish just across the street from campus) began to experience a powerful renewal. What had once been struggling started to come alive again.

“I truly believe that this turnaround has been led by the Holy Spirit,” Drew says.

Priests, staff, volunteers, and parishioners gave themselves generously. Over time, the parish became stronger, more vibrant, and more mission-focused.

With that came clarity: “The mission… should be to lead local college students to Jesus and the Holy Catholic Church.”

In 2024, that mission took concrete form. The parish brought in four full-time FOCUS missionaries, added staff, and formally launched Grizzly Catholic, a campus ministry partner of Newman Connection.

Since then, the ministry has grown rapidly.

A Culture Rooted in Prayer

If you ask Drew what makes the ministry work, his answer is not programs or events.

“Above all else, prioritize your prayer life and your spiritual life,” he says.

He believes that the strength of any ministry flows directly from the holiness of the people leading it.

“God works through His saints… The number one way you can serve the ministry is by deeply living for God above all else.”

That culture of prayer shapes everything. It sets the tone for the team, influences the students, and creates an environment where real transformation can happen.

It is not just the staff who carry that fire.

“Your students are the wood that helps it grow and persist,” shares student leader Angelina Bojaj.

When students are invited into that same life of faith, the impact multiplies.

A Ministry That Is Growing and Thriving

In just its second year, Grizzly Catholic is already seeing remarkable growth.

“Glory to God!” Drew says.

The ministry offers a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved:

• Mass and the sacraments at St. John Fisher
• Weekly Thursday night dinners after evening Mass
• Nearly 20 Bible studies with more than 185 students participating
• Retreats, conferences, and service opportunities
• Regular outreach on campus

At the center of it all is a vibrant, faith-filled community that is drawing students closer to Christ.

Win. Build. Send.

Grizzly Catholic follows a simple but powerful framework inspired by FOCUS: Win, Build, Send.

Win

The goal is to meet students where they are.

Their most effective outreach? A weekly Thursday dinner. It is simple, consistent, and works.

Free food. Open invitation. A welcoming environment.

“We cast a wide net and invite any and all students,” Drew explains.

These dinners often become the first step into a deeper community.

Build

Once students are connected, the focus shifts to formation.

Bible studies, discipleship, retreats, and the sacraments help students grow in their faith. Missionaries and leaders invest deeply in relationships.

“These small group Bible studies are a great way… to build faith-based community,” Drew says.

As students grow, they begin to take ownership of their faith.

Send

The final step is mission.

Students are not just formed. They are sent.

In their first year, about 100 students attended Bible study, all led by missionaries. In year two, the ministry now has around 10 student-led Bible studies and is on track for nearly 200 participants.

Student leaders are stepping up in powerful ways.

They lead Bible studies.
They organize outreach.
They give talks at retreats.
They create new initiatives, such as Exodus 90 and Proverbs 31 groups.

When students are empowered, the mission expands far beyond what staff alone could accomplish.

Meeting Students Where They Are

Outreach at Oakland University is creative, consistent, and often fun.

The team meets on campus twice a week. They host events, pass out food, and find simple ways to start conversations.

Sometimes that includes wearing bear costumes to match the school’s Golden Grizzlies mascot.

“Anything we can do to get our foot in the door for conversations,” Drew says.

Because every conversation is a chance to invite someone into something more.

What Is Really Working

For Drew, the success of Grizzly Catholic comes down to two things.

First, a deep commitment to prayer and holiness.

“Without Him, we can do nothing,” he says, pointing to John 15.

Second, a clear and intentional model for discipleship.

“Win, Build, Send… it really works.”

By forming students and then sending them out, the ministry continues to grow from within.

A Movement, Not Just a Program

Grizzly Catholic is still young. But what is happening at Oakland University is more than a new program.

It is a movement of students encountering Christ, growing in faith, and stepping into mission.

At the center of it all is a simple truth Drew returns to again and again: This is God’s ministry. He is the one leading it.

Help support Newman Connection as we continue to connect high school seniors and college students to college campus ministries like Grizzly Catholic. Our work is only possible thanks to our donors.