The Missioners of Christ is a Catholic Christian community formed for
the purpose of responding to Christ's Great Commission. We are a
discipleship Community committed to common prayer and ministry. Our
apostolic outreach includes collaborating in works of evangelization
and mercy with other religious communities and subordinating ourselves
to the Bishop of the Diocese of Comayagua and its pastors. Our focus
in Honduras is to share the hope of our faith with the people of this
country and to help train and equip them to be able to share their
faith with those from their own culture.
With the backdrop of these identified focuses, the expectations for
volunteer missionaries who desire to come and work with us are the following:
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I understand that by discerning to participate on this mission, I am
placing myself under the authority of the Catholic Diocese of
Comayagua, as well functioning within the authority structure of
the Missioners of Christ.
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I understand that I am expected to have personal goals and values
consistent with this Catholic mission's vision and goals.
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I understand that I must be of high moral and spiritual character,
reliable, self-directed, and properly equipped emotionally and
physically for mission service in a somewhat austere environment.
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I see my faith as a vital part of my life, which includes active
involvement in a parish with frequent reception of the sacraments
(those who are not Catholic, should be active members of another
Christian community and open to participating in daily Mass, prayer
and formation while on the mission).
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I understand that applicants should have an active personal prayer
life - praying daily and spending time personally with God in order
to grow closer to Him and discover His heart in how to love and
serve others.
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I am open to participating in all activities that are a part of the
volunteer missionary Community (to include shared meals and work
schedules, ministry events and times of reflection and prayer).
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I agree to be flexible in using and open to sharing my gifts in
whatever way will best serve the needs of the volunteer community
and the people of Honduras I am serving. This includes putting the
needs of others before my own.
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I understand that I must be in good physical and mental health - the
demands of missionary service are intense and require stretching
beyond what we are used to in the United States.
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I agree to give witness to, and to live the teachings of the gospel
and of the Catholic Church. This is demonstrated in my actions, and
in the way I talk and pray.
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I commit to being respectful of and ready to follow those in assigned
leadership roles and recognize that they are there to protect the
vision and priorities of the broader mission.
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I agree to not form and/or pursue any romantic or exclusive relationship
with any of the other team members, volunteers, and especially the
Honduran youth and adults in the community in which we serve. These
relationships can take away from keeping my primary focus and energy
on Christ and building community.
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If I am already in a romantic relationship with another member of
the team, I understand that any public display of affection for
those who are not united by the Sacrament of Marriage is not an
appropriate witness for a Catholic missionary in Honduras, and agree
to refrain from these displays while on the mission.
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I am committed to building up, praying for, encouraging, loving and
accepting my brothers and sisters in Christ working as interns and
missionaries alongside me.
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I agree to not participate in actions that might diminish the Christian
witness of the mission to include consuming alcohol or drugs, smoking,
using inappropriate language, and other activities (such as going to
bars or discos) which would not reflect positively on the mission.
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I agree to raise personal financial support from my family members and/or
friends, parishes or religious and civic organizations to support this
mission trip. I will be responsible to contribute to the Missioners of
Christ the full amount of the trip.