Gaylord, MI 49735 News & Press Releases
In an effort to provide those who visit this site with up-to-date information regarding events or stories of interest happening within the diocese, the Secretariat for Communications researches and prepares articles and news releases.
Access to the most recent news is available under "News Headlines" on the home page. Copies of old stories are available by accessing the Archives at the end of the News and Press Release section.
Mission Experiences Offered
February 04, 2008
A cooperative effort between the Diocese of Gaylord, The Secretariat for Peace and Justice of the Diocese of Gaylord, The Columban Fathers “Companions in Mission” and The Justice and Peace Awareness Center (JPAC) has produced three mission opportunities for the people of Northern Michigan.
The first of the three, US Mexican Border Educational Experience, will take place March 3-9, 2008 and will give participants the opportunity to learn about migration first hand, from people that live and work in the midst of it all. The group that attends this mission will meet Columban missionaries, Border Patrol agents, migrants at shelters on both sides of the US Mexican border as well as coming into contact with people who try to live their lives in service to their community.
Is a bigger border wall a good idea? What is Catholic Social Teaching and how does it apply to the border? What needs to be a part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform in order to address the real issue? These questions and much more will be explored during this journey.
Expenses for this trip will probably average about $125 per day, plus transportation to the border. Participants must be 18 years or older.
The second trip, scheduled for May 5 – 17, 2008, will be a Spiritual Journey to Bolivia and Peru. This trip will offer exposure to different cultures as well as delving into Inca and native spirituality. The opportunity to visit and share with the coffee farmers of “Las Yungas” in Bolivia during coffee harvest may result in the participants lending a hand! Participants will also visit La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Island of the Sun, Church of Our Lady of Copacabana, the floating islands of Puno, Cusco, and Machu-Picchu in Peru.
Though budgeting is still in process, total trip cost is expected to be around $3,000. You must be 18 years or older to participate in this mission trip.
The third event will be the Summer Youth Mission Experience offered August 6-10, 2008. This is an opportunity for Junior and Senior High age youth, together with their parents and/or their youth ministers, to deepen and share their faith and talents through prayer, songs, skits and reflection with the migrant camps in the Grand Traverse area.
Participants with this mission will visit with migrant families in their homes as well as celebrate the Eucharist with the Hispanic migrant and local community. Exposure to the causes of poverty and global migration and its effect on the local economy will be discussed as well as the opportunity to learn about the history of migration in northern Michigan. The cost for this mission will be $75 per person per week.
For more information on these trips, contact Gladys Munoz by phone at 231.883.3782 or fax at 231.947.7739 or email jpac3@juno.com.
