We are thrilled to announce our New Divine Mercy Missionary Program! A year to grow in holiness, live in community, and serve Christ through His creation. The Catholic Ecology Center’s Divine Mercy Missionary Program invites young adults ages 20-28 to dedicate a year to faith, service, and personal growth. Rooted in the Catholic faith and inspired by the beauty of God’s creation, missionaries work alongside CEC staff to serve youth, families, and the wider community while growing in their relationship with Christ.

Faith Formation: Divine Mercy Missionaries grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church through spiritual direction with our Chaplain Fr. Andrew Linn, guided prayer and reflection, adoration, Mass and retreats. These pieces fill their “cup” with God’s love and mercy allowing them to pour themselves into our mission and those who we serve.

Faith in Community: Having a community of like-minded, youthful, on fire Catholics is key to serving in this program. The Divine Mercy Missionary House on site serves as a home to some of the missionaries and regular gatherings of both staff and missionaries provides fellowship and fun for our team.

Faith in Action: Christ calls us to serve and not to be served and this program allows for impactful expressions of our faith in action. Missionaries serve our mission through facilitation of school and parish retreats, ecology programs, family events, property stewardship and community outreach.

Why Divine Mercy?

Divine Mercy is at the heart of our Catholic faith: Jesus meets us in our weakness with a love greater than our sins, inviting us to trust in Him and extend that same mercy to others. Inspired by the life and spirituality of St. Faustina Kowalska, this spirit of trust shapes the missionary year. We come to know Christ more deeply so that His love can guide the way we treat others and care for the world around us.

FORMATION

GOD

Prayer is integrated into each day. Through Morning Prayer, time in the chapel, the sacraments, and ongoing spiritual formation, missionaries have space to deepen their relationship with Jesus.

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

CREATION

At the Catholic Ecology Center, the natural world is more than a place to work. It can draw us into wonder, deepen our understanding of God’s gifts, and remind us of our responsibility to care for creation. Missionaries take part in ecological education, farm work, land stewardship, and the study of church teaching on the environment.

“The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” — Genesis 2:15

OTHERS

Living and working alongside others is a formation experience itself. Through shared responsibilities, missionaries learn to recognize their own gifts and implement them in a collaborative way. Missionaries will have opportunities to discuss and further develop interpersonal and professional skills like healthy communication and conflict resolution.

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

LIFE IN COMMUNITY

The Divine Mercy Missionary House, located on the Catholic Ecology Center grounds, serves as a home and gathering place for the missionary community.

Community life includes shared meals, household responsibilities, community nights, and opportunities for prayer and formation. Living together calls for flexibility, generosity, and a willingness to contribute to the good of the whole.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

SERVICE

Missionaries will begin by shadowing staff and learning the rhythm of the Catholic Ecology Center. As the year progresses, they will take on greater responsibilities including but not limited to:

• Planning and facilitating school and parish retreats
• Teaching ecology and outdoor educational programs
• Hosting public events
• Caring for the property, trails and animals
• Volunteering at partner organizations in the broader community

Click HERE to view our Missionary Flyer and share with those you know!

Ite Inflammate Omnia- Go Set the World on Fire