Rachel Evans
Becoming a Catholic missionary is a rewarding way to share your faith and serve others. Many organizations, such as Family Missions Company (FMC), Totus Tuus, and Catholic World Mission, provide opportunities for individuals to embark on missionary work. This work can take various forms, including foreign missions, short-term trips, and volunteer work with Catholic charities. For those feeling called to this path, it is essential to discern your vocation through prayer and reflection. The first step is often to connect with existing missionaries and organizations to understand the commitment and requirements. This can include participating in discernment weeks, training programs, and interviews. Whether you are called to full-time or short-term missionary work, serving abroad or in your community, being a Catholic missionary is a meaningful way to live out your faith and bring the good news of Christ to the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commitment | A two-year initial commitment to a country is required, with the option to extend. |
| Work Type | Mission work can be full-time or part-time, and can include short-term mission trips. |
| Target Audience | Missionaries may focus on university students, children, or people of any age group. |
| Location | Missionaries may travel to foreign lands or remain in their home country. |
| Activities | Praying, preaching the Gospel, serving the poor, making disciples, teaching, and completing service work. |
| Requirements | A love for Mary and a strong Catholic faith. |
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What You'll Learn
Pray and discern your vocation
If you feel that God is calling you to become a missionary, it is important to discern your vocation through prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit. This means spending time in prayer and frequently seeking the sacraments, allowing yourself to be guided by the Lord's will.
Prayer and discernment are essential in understanding and responding to God's call. It is a process of seeking God's guidance and aligning your desires with His will. Through prayer, you can seek clarity, wisdom, and confirmation of your calling. It is a dialogue with God, where you express your desires, listen to His promptings, and find direction.
In the silence and stillness of prayer, you can better hear God's voice and understand the unique ways He is calling you to serve. This may involve reflecting on Scripture, particularly passages that speak to your heart and illuminate your path. It is also beneficial to seek spiritual direction or mentorship from experienced missionaries or spiritual leaders who can guide you in discerning your vocation.
Additionally, discernment involves considering the practical aspects of missionary work. This includes determining the mode of service, the duration of your commitment, the location of your mission field, and the specific needs you feel called to address. For example, you may feel called to serve through teaching, evangelism, social justice work, or a combination of these.
Discernment also involves an honest evaluation of your skills, passions, and life circumstances. Being a missionary can take many forms, and it is important to find the one that suits your talents and calling. For example, some people may choose to become full-time missionaries, dedicating their lives to serving in foreign lands. Others may opt for short-term mission trips, volunteering, or integrating missionary work into their current profession.
Ultimately, prayer and discernment are vital in ensuring that your missionary work aligns with God's plan for your life and the world. It is a process of listening, reflecting, and responding to God's call, allowing Him to shape your desires and direct your path.
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Apply and interview
If you believe you are being called to become a missionary, you can take steps to identify what your mission work will look like. Not all missionary work is the same. Some missionaries travel, but not all. Some work full-time, while others volunteer in their free time. Some may take short-term breaks from their usual routine to go on mission trips.
If you are interested in a specific Discernment Week, it is recommended that you reach out two to three months in advance. You can fill out an online form to start a conversation with the Vocations Team. After this, you will have a phone call with a team member. There is no obligation to apply after this.
To apply to become a missionary, you can submit a form and a missionary will get back to you. You will then be guided through the application and interview process and invited to attend a discernment week. This includes talks, meals, prayer time, work, and fellowship, alongside others who have applied.
As a Totus Tuus Missionary, you will pray the Liturgy of the Hours, a daily rosary, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. You will also attend daily Mass and weekly Adoration. You will need to put the needs of others before your own, particularly the youth you will encounter. You will also be a visible witness of the Catholic faith.
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Attend a discernment week
If you're considering becoming a Catholic missionary, attending a discernment week is a great way to explore your calling and learn more about the process and requirements of missionary work. Here are some detailed instructions and information to guide you through the discernment week process:
Understanding Discernment Week
Discernment Week is a period dedicated to helping potential missionaries discern their calling and determine if missionary work is the right path for them. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and seeking guidance from God and experienced missionaries. During this week, you will have the opportunity to deepen your relationship with God, gain clarity on your vocation, and understand the commitments and challenges of missionary life.
Preparing for Discernment Week
To prepare for Discernment Week, it is recommended to first reach out to the missionary organization of your choice, such as Family Missions Company (FMC) or Totus Tuus. Contact them two to three months in advance to express your interest and complete any necessary forms or applications. This advance notice ensures that you have adequate time to prepare and allows the organization to guide you through the process.
What to Expect During Discernment Week
Discernment Week typically includes a combination of talks, meals, prayer times, work, and fellowship with other applicants and experienced missionaries. It is a holistic experience that engages your mind, body, and spirit in the discernment process. You will have opportunities to ask questions, share your story, and seek personalized guidance from those who have walked the path before you.
Discernment Week Activities and Topics
During Discernment Week, you can expect to engage in a variety of activities and discussions. This may include sharing your faith journey, participating in prayer and worship sessions, and reflecting on Scripture. You will also delve into practical considerations, such as the different types of missionary work, the commitment required, the challenges and benefits of missionary life, and the spiritual and logistical preparations necessary for serving in foreign lands. It is also common to discuss the role of missionaries in serving the poor, preaching the Gospel, and making disciples, as outlined in the Bible.
Making a Decision After Discernment Week
Following Discernment Week, you will have the opportunity to further discern and pray about your calling. You can reflect on the insights gained during the week and continue seeking God's will for your life. Remember, missionary work encompasses a variety of service modes, durations, locations, and target populations. Your discernment process will help you identify the specific shape of mission work that aligns with your unique gifts and calling.
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Serve in a foreign country
If you feel called to serve God and His people in foreign lands, there are several Catholic missionary organizations that can help you get started. These include Family Missions Company (FMC), Totus Tuus, and Catholic World Mission. Here's what you need to know about serving in a foreign country as a Catholic missionary:
Family Missions Company (FMC)
FMC sends lay Catholic missionaries to serve the poor and preach the Gospel in foreign lands. Their missionaries make an initial two-year commitment to a country and have served in 27 different countries, including Mexico, Peru, Haiti, Tanzania, Spain, the Philippines, and Thailand. To get started with FMC, you can schedule a call with a missionary staff member to discuss your discernment plan and apply to attend a discernment week, which includes talks, meals, prayer time, work, and fellowship.
Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus is a summer catechetical program that calls upon college-age men and women committed to their Catholic faith to share it with youth in over 50 arch/dioceses across the United States and Canada. Teams of four (two men and two women) travel to a different parish each week, staying with a host family and providing meals. Missionaries teach classes to grades 1-6 during the day and host a program for grades 7-12 in the evening. They are responsible for their travel expenses, but most dioceses provide a stipend to cover their expenses.
Catholic World Mission
Catholic World Mission emphasizes that not all missionary work looks the same, and it's important to discern what shape your mission work should take. They encourage laypeople considering mission work to pray and reflect on key factors such as the type of service they want to provide, the length of their commitment, the location, and the people they want to serve. Catholic World Mission also highlights the importance of prayer and devotion to the Virgin Mary in missionary work.
Additional Considerations
It's important to recognize that missionary work doesn't always require a full-time commitment. Many organizations offer short-term mission trips that can be as short as a few months or even a few weeks. These short-term opportunities can be a great way to serve in a foreign country without committing to a long-term assignment. Additionally, some organizations, like FMC, allow families with children to serve as missionaries together, providing a unique opportunity for personal growth and service as a family unit.
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Commit long-term or short-term
When considering how to become a Catholic missionary, it's important to remember that missionary work comes in many varieties and shapes. It is not necessary to give up everything and move across the world with no plans of returning. Long-term and short-term missionary trips are both valuable ways to serve others and spread the Gospel.
For those who feel called to long-term missionary work, it is often a significant commitment that involves leaving one's comfort zone and familiar surroundings. Full-time missionary work can be a challenging but rewarding experience, requiring dedication and a willingness to serve God and His people in foreign lands. Some organizations, like the Family Missions Company (FMC), offer structured long-term missionary programs that typically last for two years. During this time, missionaries make an initial commitment to a specific country and seek to follow God's leading, serving both the spiritually and materially poor.
On the other hand, short-term missionary trips can also be a great way to serve and spread the Gospel without requiring a lifelong commitment. Short-term missions allow individuals to take a break from their usual jobs and routines to focus on volunteering and serving others. This can be especially appealing to those who want to make a difference but cannot commit to a long-term mission. Short-term trips can also serve as a way to discern a potential calling for longer-term missionary work.
Totus Tuus, for example, offers a summer catechetical program that calls upon college-age men and women committed to their Catholic faith to share it with youth in various arch/dioceses. This temporary 2-3 month commitment involves teams of four, consisting of two men and two women, who travel to different parishes each week. They teach classes during the day and host programs in the evenings, staying with host families and receiving a stipend for their service.
Ultimately, the decision to commit to long-term or short-term missionary work depends on an individual's calling and circumstances. It is important to prayerfully consider the length of commitment, the mode of service, and the desired location and people to serve. Discernment weeks and programs offered by missionary organizations can help individuals determine the shape of their mission work and whether they feel called to long-term or short-term service.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic missionary work varies depending on the individual. Some missionaries travel to foreign lands to preach the Gospel, serve the poor, and make disciples, while others may work locally or volunteer for a Catholic charity in their free time.
If you feel that God is calling you to become a missionary, you can consider this calling and reflect on what form your missionary work might take. Anyone with faith in Jesus Christ can feel a calling to missionary work and answer that call.
You can reach out to an organisation such as Family Missions Company (FMC) or Totus Tuus to discuss your interest in becoming a missionary. They will guide you through the application and interview process, which may include a discernment week.
