MISSIONS
Backyard Missionaries
What does that mean anyway?
To be a missionary, by strict definition, means to go out of your own country or community to bring Jesus message of love & salvation.
So, how can you be a missionary in your own backyard? Your own community?
This is where the call to the New Evangelization really takes root… inviting our own friends and our own communities to embrace the Gospel message.
It reminds me a lot of the famous poem, and you can interchange the word saint for missionary.
“We need saints without cassocks, without veils – we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints – saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change. We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theater. We need saints that are open, sociable, normal, happy companions. we need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. We need saints.” (Author Unknown)
We need missionaries. And missionaries that literally wear jeans & tennis shoes, who are not afraid to bring Jesus into every area of their life.
What is a local mission?
Find out how you can be a backyard missionary today
Bring the Mission Youth spirit to your parish or community
The following includes all you need to know about planning and executing your local mission!
Mission Youth & Family is an apostolate of the New Evangelization, proclaiming God’s message of love to today’s world.
Where do you see the need for that in your local parish & community?
- Homeless on the street?
- Loneliness of shut-ins?
- Young people not attending Mass?
Your local mission is an answer to a concrete need.
Before stepping out as a Catholic missionary, first let your local parish priest know & ask his blessing.
- Offer your services, time and talents
- If the local pastor so desires, missionaries operate under the name of the parish and/or involve/invite local parishioners in the mission and/or serve a concrete need the parish has in the area of evangelization.
- Form the participants to be missionary disciples/apostles within their home parishes after the mission.
A mission is never done alone! And it is not just to divide the work. A mission springs from a Catholic community that desires to go out & witness to God’s Love. Part of the mission team also includes those local organizations that you partner with that make your mission possible. All those involved with our mission need to be registered volunteers. Please take a few minutes to register all your volunteers here, especially if your mission involves minors.
The exciting moment has come! Pick your mission day!
Please register your Mission Day with Mission Youth! This is very important for us… it allows us to track the mission activity, learn better how we can support you, keep you in our prayers & for liability purposes!
A schedule for your mission day helps you make sure you can meet your objectives in the day. Our Mission days are based on the charism of Regnum Christi & always include a few key elements. Download a sample Mission Day schedule below!
Our mission days have both spiritual & material elements: we take time to pray, to eat, to serve, to have fun.
Make sure your mission has what it needs to be a success! Most day missions charge $15 per person to cover the cost of food, gas, liability insurance, etc.
It’s shopping time! Depending on what your mission is, your list will look different: PB & J for the homeless? water bottles?, cross, post its & pens?
No matter what the mission, don’t forget the essential Mission Gear found at our online store.
Get the word out! Your efforts can move other hearts to get involved! Use social media, parish bulletins, & word of mouth!
Sometimes, those we invite can’t join us in person on the mission day – don’t forget to invite them to pray for the mission, to help you promote it or given, give a donation to make it possible!
Your missionaries are going to need a way to see what your mission is about, sign up and sign all the necessary paperwork. You can use Mission Youth’s page or set up your own.
Whatever registration system you choose to follow, what is most important are those signed consent forms you can access when you register your mission.
Mission Youth is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all our missionaries & those we serve. Please reference our Safe Environment Policy & reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Safe Environment Policy
Please make sure you know, communicate and uphold Mission Youth standards during your day mission.
Code of Conduct
Detailed explanation of the identity, structure and steps to operate a fruitful local mission experience!