Missionary Work... How to get involved?

[RCRanger03]

Hi there this is my first post here so pardon me if this isn’t the right place for this post. I’m a 21 year old male graduating college this spring, and I’ve felt for a while now that i want to spend the next year doing some sort of missionary work. I’ve been doing work with Catholic High School Youth Ministry since i graduated highschool and I love it, so people have been pointing me in the direction of NET ministries (particularly in Ireland where they are trying to start LIFETEEN) which would play to my skills and the passion i have for working with young people who like me struggled in those years. However the work that first inspired me and still inspires me is a much more down and dirty, roll up your sleeves and get down in the gutter with the sick and poor and dying like that of Mother Teresa and Father Damien. This is also the kind of work my family seems dead set against me doing and I know thats just them caring for their wellfare… I’ve also never lived very far from home or even been out of north america and I feel it prevents me from getting perspective and the world, its troubles and my own troubles… Anyways i’ve been to a lot of the websites, and I just can’t get a feel for this type of ministry through them.

I was wondering if anyone here had a more personal account, and/or information about this kind of missionary work, where you did it, how did you get involved… Anything is greatly appreciated. Thank you and God Bless

 

[HeavenlyRoses]

Good for you for wanting to make a difference in the world!
I have not done missionary work but have volunteered in Mexico, traveled to rural areas in Central America & the Caribbean, and traveled a fair amount in Europe. My suggestion would be to join a higher-profile organization with well-established roots in a stable country. Your safety is important & your parents will feel much better about supporting your efforts if you take that into consideration. Please don’t make your mom stay awake nights fretting over your well-being. I am speaking as a mom here! You will want to have them onboard because I’m guessing they will need to help finance this venture unless you have saved a good deal of money on your own. There are also plenty of opportunities closer to home (think Appalachia) that might be a good way to get started.

Also, keep in mind that it is very appealing to do this sort of work, but the reality of day-to-day living in third world conditions can be hard to adapt to. My friend who worked in the Peace Corps in Honduras had a tough time & had health issues (parasites!)Do your homework and make sure the organization you choose prepares its workers thoroughly. Have you looked into Catholic Relief Services?
Good luck! I’m interested to hear about others’ mission experiences.

 

[puzzleannie]

H
I was wondering if anyone here had a more personal account, and/or information about this kind of missionary work, where you did it, how did you get involved… Anything is greatly appreciated. Thank you and God Bless

you might want to start closer to home, with Jesuit Volunteer corps, Glenmary or other orders who do missionary and evangelization work in this country, in urban or rural areas. contact the Catholic network of volunteer services, do an on-line profile and then you get inquiries from programs that meet your specified parameters.

 

[Suz21]

Try Family Missions Company, a Catholic missionary organization for lay people- www.fmcmissions.com

 

[EJTherese]

I know this is a few months late but I was just looking online for mission stuff and came across this.
I’m graduating soon as well and have been praying so much about full time missions. I spent this past summer as a missionary for Life Teen in Tiger, GA, which was life changing. They also have a year long mission program in Tiger, Atlanta, and Germany, so you should definitely check those out if you love to work with youth. But I’m kind of on the same page as you, my heart is with those who don’t have much at all.

I know I will probably end up as a missionary in some third world place some day but I think for my first year after college God just wants to form my heart. And as much as I want to be in the gutters like mother Teresa, I need to learn first what it really means to be a missionary and a humble daughter of God.

Life Teen is amazing in what they do because they offer an entire year of missionary formation. You are basically secluded in the North Georgia Mountains for a year at Camp Covecrest a Life Teen summer camp. You spend the year diving into scripture, church teaching and God’s will for your life. I’ve realized just how important it is to do this because only then can we really begin to understand what our call is. It is kind of like a year of guided discernment while you also help out at the camp with youth, community outreach, various retreats and summer camps and also a mission trip to Mexico or maybe even Haiti.

Anyway, know I will be praying for your discernment and God’s will for your life. Just remember to give everything to God and He will definitely lead you to where He needs you.
Be Missionary,
EJ