MISSIONARIES TO THE FAMILY

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our Most Asked Questions About Missionaries to the Family

If you have a question that’s not answered here, please contact us.

HOW DO I GET STARTED PREPARING TO BECOME A MISSIONARY?

Potential Missionaries go through several stages of formation to prepare yourself. You can review these below. We are happy to speak with you to answer any question you may have: Contact Us!

What are the stages of formation for your Missionaries?

There are three stages: Discernment, Formation and Service. Discernment explores a person’s calling, desire and fit for becoming a Missionary to the Family. Formation provides professional training to the missionaries to help them fulfill their calling. Service follows Formation and empowers the missionary in their mission work within or around the parish.

HOW DOES DISCERNMENT WORK?

Most often, couples or individuals receive an invitation to serve as Missionaries to the Family. Whether from a priest, parish staff member, family member or friend, this invitation begins the discernment process. Those discerning will receive information about the initiative, take time to discuss their fit for the role and enter into prayer for God’s guidance in making the decision. Should they decide to become a missionary, a conversation with their pastor and Paradisus Dei will take place and a formal application will be completed. Missionaries will be informed of their acceptance into the next stage, which is Formation.

WHAT DOES FORMATION LOOK LIKE?

This stage consists of three types of formation over one year:

Theological
Spiritual
Practical

Theological formation is provided by the McGrath Institute for Church Life (MICL) at the University of Notre Dame and consists of four online courses. Spiritual and Practical formation is provided by Paradisus Dei through a combination of in-person retreats and online coursework. Missionaries should expect to spend approximately two hours per week on the online courses. The Formation year begins with a retreat at Notre Dame in August. The second retreat’s location varies by class year and the final Commissioning retreat weekend is hosted at the University of Notre Dame. Here is the quarterly schedule:

Quarter	Formation	Given by	Season
1	Retreat	Paradisus Dei at Notre Dame	Fall
	Theology	MICL at Notre Dame	Fall
	Spiritual/Practical	Paradisus Dei	Fall

2	Theology	MICL, Notre Dame	Winter
2	Spiritual/Practical	Paradisus Dei	Winter

3	Retreat	Paradisus Dei (location varies)	Spring
	Theology	MICL at Notre Dame	Spring
	Spiritual/Practical	Paradisus Dei	Spring

4	Theology	MICL at Notre Dame	Summer
	Spiritual/Practical	Paradisus Dei	Summer
	Commissioning	Paradisus Dei at Notre Dame	Summer

WHAT DOES THE MISSION WORK LOOK LIKE?

After the year of Formation, missionaries are ready to go out and serve their community and parish. Paradisus Dei will help facilitate a conversation with their parish about a special focus area, either serving families within the existing parish structure or serving families on the periphery of the parish. Missionaries can do a variety of work with couples and families in their area. Some couples help in marriage preparation or as sponsor couples for engaged couples. Missionaries can also use Paradisus Dei content like The Choice Wine to host small groups in their homes and create friendships with other couples. Missionaries will be commissioned to begin their service to families in their parish at the end of Formation. The Commissioning Retreat is held in the summer after the completion of the Formation year.

HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST?

The investment per missionary couple is $2,500. (The total cost of the program is $5,000, with Paradisus Dei covering $2,500.) This fee includes online formation and onsite retreat and commissioning expenses. It does not include travel to and from the retreats and commissioning.

Each couple’s cost may be covered by the couple themselves or sponsored by their parish, diocese or other parish couples. It is recommended that the diocese and/or parish identify a shared investment model with the missionaries. For example, one partner diocese chooses to have the diocese/parish pay half the cost per couple and asks the couple to pay the remaining costs. Need-based scholarships are available. Please contact Paradisus Dei to apply.

ARE THERE ANY RESOURCES TO GET ME STARTED?

Yes, here are brochures that explain the program more in depth.

Full brochure and application

Brochure for couples

Brochure for parishes

DOES THE PROGRAM HAVE ANY MERCHANDISE FOR SALE?

Yes! You’ll find mugs, shirts and more in our online store.