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Our Program
Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry initiative, Catholic Extension Society is hosting immersion trips for pastors from urban/suburban dioceses to visit mission dioceses throughout the United States and its territories.
Our Mission Immersion Program for Pastors provides a first-hand experience of the Church’s inspiring and diverse missionary work in America in Extension supported dioceses.
Since 2018, Catholic Extension Society has organized nearly 50 trips with more than 300 participants from across the country. The experiences spark pastoral imagination, spiritual renewal and new friendships.
Invitees include experienced pastoral leaders with an openness to lifelong learning. Trips usually occur during week days, and typically require two nights away. All travel, hotel lodging, meals, and other expenses are covered for participants.
Testimonials:
“I learned a lot. But more than anything, I picked up on the profound faith of these migrant people. Whatever their affiliations with church and their connection with church, their strong faith in God’s providence shined through them, and I will never forget them.”
Fr. Robert Powers – Diocese of Brooklyn, NY
“Both mission staff and mission parishioners revealed the ways they have to adapt to harsh living conditions and still evangelize and nourish faith – their faith and joy was inspiring! I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and want to affirm the professionalism and flexibility of the CE staff.”
Very Rev. Charles Pinyan – Archdiocese of Newark, NJ
“My description of this immersion trip to people when I returned home was that it formed both my mind and my heart. It put a ‘face’ on a part of the Church that previously I had only read or heard about it, but never experienced. You need that ‘boots on the ground’ experience to understand it at a level where it takes root, and hopefully, becomes transformative for the individual.”
Fr. Sean Horrigan – Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
These are some of the Catholic communities that you could visit through the mission immersion program:
- Native American reservations in the West
- African-American parishes in the Deep South
- Migrant farm worker camps in farmlands
- Communities along the U.S. – Mexico Border
- Remote missions in Appalachia
- Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
Are you ready to experience missionary work?
Submit the following inquiry form to express your interest in joining us:
The Immersion Experience
Watch the video below to see how several priests from the Archdiocese of Boston describe their experiences on an immersion trip with Catholic Extension Society.
Trip Leadership
Contact:
Natalie Donatello
Director of Parish Partnerships
(312) 795-6057
ndonatello@catholicextension.org