YOUTH MISSION CORNER

Mission experiences for youth have been part of youth development for many years; however, the availability of international experiences has grown in recent decades. These immersion experiences are wonderful ways for you to experience life outside of your town or city and gain a greater understanding of how you are connected to a global community.

Benefits

• Opportunity to travel to another country and expand one’s global vision
• Immersion in another culture and exposure to new foods, customs, and histories
• Ability to practice another language, if applicable.
• Strengthen existing friendships or create new ones with fellow group members
• Develop leadership skills
• Deepen one’s spirituality
• Plants seeds for continuing a life committed to service and to others
• Most importantly, this experience allows you to connect with your brothers and sisters face-to-face and begin to see the relationship as one not of helping but of solidarity.

Things to Consider

• Are you ready to travel outside of your comfort zone and into another culture that will be very different from your own?
• It is important to have a good support network of parents, family, friends, teachers, etc. that not only encourage you to have this experience but will also be there to help you process this experience upon your return and help you understand what it means for you and how it has impacted you.
• Be prepared! It is important to research your destination country. Make sure to receive a thorough orientation on cultural understanding and awareness.
• Do not approach your mission experience with a backpack full of expectations--leave those at home! Just be in the moment and let the experience guide you!

Where Can I Find an Opportunity that is Right for Me?

• Global Youth Mission: World Mission Ministries provides high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity for a summer mission experience in places like Nicaragua, Ecuador, Guatemala, and St. Lucia.
• Your Parish or Local High School: Many local high schools and parishes have summer mission trips. Contact your Youth Minister, Human Concerns committee, or Campus Minister for more details.
• Be The Change: Be the Change is a local organization whose mission is to ‘empower student and adult leaders for development and service in Africa.’ They offer short-term trips for high school students in the summer.
• There are also many regional and national organizations that organize youth mission trips; however, it is very important that you fully research the organization- do not be afraid to ask for references of past participants.

Share Your Story

Have you gone on a mission trip and want to share your experience with other youth in our diocese? Click here to find out how you can submit your story!