Question 1

Do I need to fundraise to serve with SPIRITUS Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Nope!

We do not require you to fundraise in order to serve with us. We understand that the call to mission work is a significant commitment, and we want to remove any additional burdens that might deter you from following this call!

Financial support comes from various avenues and generous donors. One area our missionaries participate in this support is through brief Mass announcements at a parish while are serving there on retreat.

Question 2

What is the time commitment?

Accepted Answer

Missionaries serve from mid-August to mid-May, though the exact dates vary from year-to-year.

Missionaries can serve for up to three years, with opportunities for advancement in a Servant Leader role.

Question 3

What happens on a SPIRITUS-led retreat?

Accepted Answer

The Holy Spirit changes hearts!

Oh, you're asking for the practices - Our retreats consist of exciting activities to keep students moving and engaged, praise and worship music when we can, dynamic witness talks by our missionaries, time in small groups and one-on-one prayer, skits and dramas, and a wide variety opportunities for students to encounter Our Lord in life-changing ways.

Question 4

I have never led a retreat before, can I still apply?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Retreat experience is not necessary, but it is helpful. What IS necessary is a love for God, the Catholic faith, and for sharing your experiences with young people. It is important to have a servant's heart and be open to the Holy Spirit guiding and forming you throughout the mission.

Question 5

What does a missionary's prayer life look like during the service year?

Accepted Answer

Everything we do is rooted in Christ and His presence in the Eucharist. Missionaries attend daily Mass, pray morning and evening Liturgy of the Hours, a Divine Mercy Chaplet, one-on-one Prayer, and Eucharistic Adoration. These forms of community prayer are foundational to our ministry and to growing together as teammates.

Missionaries also are on personal retreats at least four times during their mission year, receive monthly spiritual direction, have the opportunity to frequent the sacrament of reconciliation at least once a month, and visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (https://championshrine.org/)often.

Question 6

Can I be a SPIRITUS Missionary and take college classes at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Our missionaries are busy serving six days a week. This does not leave much time for other commitments and therefore, missionaries are unable to take college classes during their nine months on SPIRITUS. Missionaries receive formation each week which enables them to continue to grow intellectually and spiritually.

Question 7

What is the dating policy for missionaries at SPIRITUS?

Accepted Answer

Our goal is to help missionaries focus wholly on the mission and to be free to serve Christ with their entire hearts. SPIRITUS missionaries make a deliberate commitment to not date their teammates during the mission year and to refrain from romantic relationships from "back home." While this commitment may seem like a sacrifice, it allows for substantial personal and spiritual growth, fostering a sense of freedom and dedication to the mission.

If a missionary is already in a relationship prior to the start of the mission year, we ask that the couple be open to adjusting how often they communicate, to putting the mission and SPIRITUS community first, and to following our Rule of Life. Being in a relationship does not mean you can not serve as a SPIRITUS missionary, so long as there is an openness to reordering priorities during the mission year.

Question 8

Where will I live?

Accepted Answer

SPIRITUS is located in Menasha Wisconsin, about 35 minutes southwest of Green Bay. We have three households for our missionaries, one for men and two for women, all in close proximity to our retreat center. Missionaries have their own furnished bedroom with a shared bathroom. The men live in an upstairs wing of a nearby rectory, with a local parish priest who lives on the first level.

With the exception of a few long-distance retreats throughout the year, missionaries have their room to come back to each evening: a home-away-from-home!

Question 9

Is there transportation available to us?

Accepted Answer

SPIRITUS has a fleet of vehicles that are available for ministry needs including retreats, traveling from men/women households to the retreat center, and team events. Vehicles are occasionally available for personal use.

Those with SPIRITUS internships need to bring their own vehicle for transportation to their service site, but are reimbursed for gas.

Transportation for holiday breaks is not provided by SPIRITUS.

Question 10

Do you offer health coverage?

Accepted Answer

Yes!! SPIRITUS provides each team member with medical coverage if they need it. Some team members choose to remain on their parents' insurance plans.

Question 11

Can I get a loan deferment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we encourage you to do so! We can provide you with a letter to send to your lender asking them to give you a deferment for the time you are serving as a SPIRITUS missionary.

Question 12

What can I expect during my first weeks with SPIRITUS?

Accepted Answer

The initial days with SPIRITUS Ministries are designed build trust amongst your teammates, meet our Leadership and staff, and set a strong foundation for your journey as a missionary.

During the first week, you'll be on retreat! This is time to immerse yourself in the SPIRITUS Rule of Life, prayer routine, and build community with your fellow missionaries.

Following the retreat, you'll spend the next two weeks at our retreat center participating in intensive discipleship training. During this period, you'll receive focused and in-depth training designed to prepare you for your role as a retreat missionary. This training is crucial for developing the leadership skills and retreat tools needed to ignite the faith in the young people you'll encounter. Through this comprehensive onboarding process, SPIRITUS Ministries ensures that you are fully equipped to encounter students and introduce them to Christ.

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