Dangerous Catholic Mission Work

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Bellator

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To My Fellow Catholics:

For some time I have been considering missionary work after graduation from college. However, if I volunteer for an international mission, it is my intent to go someplace dangerous for the Faith. I am not well informed regarding mission work overseas, and searches on the internet have not been fruitful. Any information regarding Catholic missionary work in dangerous areas would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Bellator
 
Well some religious communities have associates;people who assist the community in their work.You might contact the Salesians;Franciscans; Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart;The Columban Fathers and Sisters;etc.

You might ask them if they have any lay people who volunteer and help out.

Here is someone you can contact: Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
1410 Q St.NW
Washington;DC 20009
(800) 543-5046
Fax:(202) 332-1611
Email:volunteer@cnvs.org
Web:www.cnvs.org

Also I assume if they accept you that you will recieve training .If sent overseas;you will need to learn the language and customs of the people you are dealing with.You will probably work under the guidance of the group you are with plus any religious missionaries who you have to deal with. Listen to what they say;especially if there is a priest ;brother or sister who has been there for years.They know the people and the needs.Also in Africa and elsewhere there are native communities of men and women religious who help their people to know Christ.They too are a good source of information and help.
There are plenty of dangerous places here in the US that need home missionaries.
Also be aware that sometimes religious and other orginizations both Catholic and even Protestant will remove missionaries from areas that are too dangerous to work in due to the volital political or ethnic situation. It’s like even armies will retreat due to overwhelming odds.
I would also leave off the part about wanting to go to dangerous areas to do mission work.
They might think you have a desire to be a martyer or something and may be very hesitant to accept you if they believe that is you’re only reason for going.
Now i think your heart is in the right place;but as an outsider that is what they will think about your choice of mission field. Most missionaries sometimes wind up in dangerous situations like in Africa or elsewhere because of various changes such as political uprisings;etc.
Good luck with your search and hopefully they will get back to you.God Bless.
 
I have contacted various convents in the past couple months for my own discernment. And upon mentioning that I was also interested in missionary work, the Sister I had been corresponding with told me about how, while in Africa, one of their beloved sisters got a combination of typhoid with malaria that almost killed her.
 
Oh yes;forgot the diease part. My dad had gotten malaria during WW2; and i think I recall daddy once mentioned having Black Water Fever. This was picked up overseas.
That is something that missionaries also encounter in their work.
They also have to treat the people with various dieases and can come into contact with stuff.
 
Bellator said:
To My Fellow Catholics:

For some time I have been considering missionary work after graduation from college. However, if I volunteer for an international mission, it is my intent to go someplace dangerous for the Faith. I am not well informed regarding mission work overseas, and searches on the internet have not been fruitful. Any information regarding Catholic missionary work in dangerous areas would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Bellator
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You might look into applying for work with Catholic Relief Services overseas - Search Jobs. They don’t have an overseas volunteer program, but their paid FT positions include extensive benefits and there are positions open in different occupations all over the world.

As for wanting a “dangerous” mission, there are areas even CRS cannot go - such as across the border to Juarez. CRS’s Security Department considers Juarez to be one of the most dangerous places in the world, and they work in many dangerous areas. Mission-sending groups and dioceses in the US also will not send missionaries to such places because of liability issues in case something goes wrong.
 
Why do you want to go to a dangerous place? Is it the possibility of being a martyr? Would you consider a dangerous place in the US?
 
Martyrdom isn’t why I want to go someplace dangerous, (although if I am to be a martyr then so be it,) it is because I want to serve in a complete act of self-giving. The “feel good” missionary work does not appeal to me.

Yes, if there is dangerous work in the US, I will consider it.
 
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