Called to Mission

[HenryK]

Well here goes, this is my first post. I am a 22 year old Catholic man from Minnesota and after spending a time this year discerning the monastic/religious order life (specifically as a christian brother or monastic priest). I have come to the conclusion that while I feel as though Gods plan for me is Marriage, I have spoken with the girl I am courting and still feel an overwhelming desire to serve the least among us in a hands on, concrete, and sacrificial way. I have begun the process of applying to go on a long term (2.5-3.5 year) mission as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner. I know that they are not the most popular order around here and understand the reasons why, however I have done my research and feel it is a good fit. I am wondering if anyone knows how selective their “admissions” process is. It seems as though they send only a handful of people to mission each year and Im worried Im getting my hopes up and may experience a let down.

Pax vobiscum

 

[nunsuch]

I have some very good friends who served as lay missioners in Latin America, and they and their family are still very committed to lay ministry. I think Maryknoll is an amazing congregation, and wish you all the very best.

 

[Sunjhun]

I’m praying for your vocation. You can consider as well religious missionary life, if you like, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit is one of the best religious missionary congregation.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I know that they are not the most popular order around here and understand the reasons why, however I have done my research and feel it is a good fit.

I must have missed something. What is the problem with Maryknoll? I grew up supporting them and thought they did good work in all the many places they were missionaries.

The martyred Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford were Maryknoll…where I came from these people along with Sister Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan are very much revered and there is even a memorial to them in one of the churches there.

Wishing you all the best on your missionary endeavors.

 

[HenryK]

I guess the more conservative side of the catholic church takes issue with their accepting stance on openly LGBT missionaries and then there was the whole woman priest debacle. However for me personally neither of these things even begin to detract from their incredible work with the poor and disenfranchised around the world.

 

[nunsuch]

I don’t know what you mean by “the whole woman priest debacle.” The only Maryknoll priest I know of who openly supported women’s ordination was dismissed from the community and removed from the priesthood.

 

[HolySpirit]

Are you familiar with the Society of African Missionaries? (They are also known as the White Fathers because they wear all white garments when dressed formally.)

Their reputation is that they will go to the most remote village that other orders will go to, and then they go to the village that is 30 miles further away.

I had the privileged of sharing an African meal with 5 of their priests. They do things like personally flying supplies and letters to their priests in the middle of no where that have little to no communication with the outside world. They brought supplies to starving abandoned Ebola victims, and then decided to convert one of their trucks to transport them to medical centers in larger places. They minister to people in places where the word would never reach them.

They serve about 14 African nations. They don’t send Americans to all of them for their own safety.

If you are looking for real missionary work where you truly make a difference or like you read about in the stories of the great Catholic missionaries, the Society of African Missionaries may be a place to investigate. Their stories blew me away. They make a difference.