How to Become a Catholic Missionary

Missionaries guide others through the teachings of the Bible.

Catholics believe that the calling to a vocation, such as missionary work or the priesthood, comes from "the Most Holy Trinity by means of the Mediation of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary," according to the Franciscan Archive. Catholic missionaries take on a great commitment with many responsibilities, including converting others to Catholicism, offering community service and learning about new cultures. Your local church will offer guidance on becoming a part- or full-time missionary in the area in which you plan to serve.

Things You'll Need

• Sponsoring diocese or independent organization

Instructions

1. Write down your reasons for wanting to become a Catholic missionary. Include the experiences in your spiritual life that inspired you to have this thought. Include a moment where you believed you heard a "calling" to become a missionary.

2. Compare missionary programs. Some programs have you commit as little as 14 months to a mission, others several years. Missionary programs from independent organizations or from local churches typically sponsor missionaries. Contact your desired organization to receive an application.

3. Fill out the application provided by the organization through which you wish to serve. Write a short essay as directed about your calling to do mission work. Provide proof from a doctor that you pass basic health tests and that your standard vaccinations are up to date.

4. Submit your application to the organization and wait for further direction. The organization may ask you to serve in a different part of the world than you desire, or for a shorter or longer amount of time than you requested.

5. Gauge whether the location or time span offered by the organization matches your personal capabilities for service. Consult with your priest about serving locally if you can't complete a long-term mission at this time.

Tips & Warnings

• The best place to start pursuing a mission is at your local church where you attend service.

• You can search online to obtain contact information for Catholic missionary organizations.

• While the Catholic missionary life is an attractive option in theory, the commitment is serious and not suitable for every person.

• If you go through your church, you may have to commit to going wherever there is the most need, whether it be locally, nationally or internationally.

References

• Case Resources: What can I do?: Vocations
• Franciscan Archive: Discerning a Vocation

Resources

• Maryknoll: The U.S. Catholic Mission Movement
• Archdiocese of St. Louis: Office of Vocations
• Missionaries of Africa: Become a Missionary