Group Volunteer and Immersion Programs

What are the age requirements and time commitments?

Group ages should be 21 – 70.  The length of these immersion trips with perhaps some volunteer work included is usually 3-4 weeks.

What can I expect in the application process?

The application process for groups will depend upon the sponsoring group itself (university, parish, etc.).

Does Maryknoll pay any expenses for my group?

While Maryknoll will offer hospitality whenever possible, Groups themselves are responsible for all expenses. Maryknoll will serve as a resource for continued involvement with mission and global concerns.

Are these trips the same or can they be tailored to my group?

The focus or content of these mission trips can largely be tailored to the interests of a given group, although certain elements, such as getting to know Maryknollers and some of the local people with whom we serve in mission, will always be included.

What kind of work would my group be doing?

Because we want participants to focus on learning rather than on “helping,” immersion trips do not involve volunteer work. There will, however, be opportunities to spend time getting to know communities where Maryknoll missioners live and work.  Short term volunteer group trips will involve ‘work’ which will be contoured to best fit the group’s make-up.  This may include tutoring students in English, working in programs for youth and the handicapped.

What kind of activities and experience can my group expect on this trip?
  • Groups will be introduced to mission as they meet Maryknoll missioners and people involved in a variety of ministries.
  • Groups will engage in daily prayer and reflection on the experience.
  • Maryknoll will organize presentations and sharing around the social, political, economic, cultural, and religious realities of the country.
  • Participants will visit diverse historical and cultural sites, projects, organizations, and communities.
How will Maryknoll assist my group?

Maryknoll will assist with the facilitation of pre-trip preparation and post-trip de-briefing.

What groups and organizations are eligible?

Groups from universities, parishes, activist organizations, and others are invited to work in collaboration with Maryknoll in organizing volunteer and immersion trips lasting 2-3 weeks.

ABOUT MARYKNOLL

We are a Catholic Society of priests and brothers based in the United States. We are dedicated to missionary work overseas in over 20 countries. Additionally, we animate Catholics in the United States to follow their own baptismal call to share God’s compassion and love with the poor, the sick, and all those in need.

OUR GENERAL COUNCIL

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Fr. Lance P. Nadeau, Fr. James M. Lynch, Fr. Timothy O. Kilkelly, Fr. Juan Montes Zúñiga)

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is overseen by our General Council, led by Superior General Rev. Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.

OUR FOUNDERS

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Our Co-Founders Father Price and Father Walsh)

PLACES WE SERVE

EVANGELIZATION, PARISHES, AND PROJECTS

USA

STORIES OF MISSION

(Africa) Education and Formation of African Clergy

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Africa Region will provide tuition assistance to African clergy, male and female religious at institutes of higher education or specialized training. Read More

Stories of Our Global Mission

The calling of a lifetime

The life of a Maryknoll missioner is challenging, fulfilling, and deeply rewarding. Follow your baptismal call to mission by sharing God’s compassion with the poor, the sick, and people most in need.

Dear Friend in Mission,

With hearts full of hope, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers joyfully welcomes the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In this historic moment for the universal Church, we give thanks to God for the gift of a new pope—chosen to succeed Pope Francis and guide us forward in faith, love, and missionary zeal.

Pope Leo XIV brings with him a deep commitment to dialogue, peace, and global solidarity—values that echo the very heart of our missionary vocation. A seasoned pastoral leader and thoughtful theologian, he is known for his compassionate outreach and dedication to the spiritual and social needs of the Church, particularly in regions experiencing hardship and need.

His years of missionary service in Peru, working among underserved communities, reflect a profound dedication to the Church’s mission of presence, accompaniment, and evangelization. His firsthand experience on the peripheries of society has shaped his vision for a Church that listens, serves, and uplifts—all grounded in Christ’s love.

As missionaries, we have been deeply inspired by Pope Francis’s call to go to the peripheries, to serve the poor, and to be instruments of God’s mercy and peace. We now look with prayerful anticipation to Pope Leo XIV, confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead the Church through his words and witness.

We invite you to join us in praying for our new pope, asking the Lord to bless him with wisdom, courage, and compassion as he begins his ministry as the Vicar of Christ and visible sign of unity for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

Thank you for walking with us on this missionary journey. Together, in communion with the successor of St. Peter, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to Christ’s love around the world.

In gratitude and peace,

Father Lance Nadeau, M.M. signature

Reverend Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.
Superior General

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