Apply to become a Missionary
Apply to be a Missionary here
The Call to Mission
"I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." (Luke 4:43)
There is a deep need for young people to hear the Gospel. Research consistently shows that many young people today lack a sense of identity and purpose, unaware of how precious they are in the sight of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Young people need to hear the Good News: that they are loved by Christ, that He died for them, rose again, and is inviting them into relationship with Him. As Saint Augustine said:
"You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you."
Young people need to be presented with authentic witnesses to Christ's love.
Our Vision
To give young people across the Archdiocese opportunities to encounter Christ and to grow in relationship with God. We do this through peer ministry: young adults sharing their faith with young people.
"Those who have received the good news and who have been gathered by it into the community of salvation can and must communicate and spread it ... We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church... She exists in order to evangelize." (Evangelii Nuntiandi 13, 14)
As a Church, we exist to evangelise. Your work as part of the Southwark Catholic Youth Mission Team seeks to carry out this mission through relational ministry. You will be formed and trained to help lead engaging and faith-filled retreats that invite young people across the Archdiocese to encounter Christ.
What Mission Team Members Do
Mission Team members serve on youth day retreats and events across the Archdiocese. Working alongside priests, leaders and fellow team members, they help create opportunities for young people to encounter Christ and His Church.
This may include:
Mission Team members are not expected to be experts. Rather, they are young adults seeking to grow as disciples and share their faith authentically with others.
Team Training
Team Training involves one in-person weekend, one training day, a commissioning day with the Archbishop, and a number of online formation meetings. In total, members should expect to commit approximately four to six hours per month during the formation period, reducing to one Saturday retreat every two months once commissioned and several training days.
The training is based around three pillars of mission:
It is clear that mission flows from relationship with Christ. In his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, Saint Pope John Paul II outlines the importance of holiness for all those engaged in the mission of the Church:
"First of all, I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness. All the Christian faithful ... are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity." (NMI 30)
The primary aim of training is to deepen your relationship with Christ, so that you may share Him more confidently with your fellow team members and the young people you serve.
Training includes:
Person Specification
Training Dates
Commitment
Mission Team members commit to serve on one Saturday retreat approximately every two months. Dates are given prior to the Commissioning Ceremony. Retreats generally serve young people aged 13-17 from parishes, schools and Confirmation programmes across the Archdiocese.
Opportunities