Franciscan Mission Service (FMS)
Goal of Program
Inspired by the examples of St. Francis and St. Clare, Franciscan Mission Service shares and receives God's unconditional love across borders through a way of life that centers marginalized voices and focuses on living out the Gospel values of intercultural encounter, radical inclusion, authentic humility and transformative justice. FMS believes in the wisdom of local communities and in the fundamental dignity of every individual. FMS has a year-long, nonprofit servant leadership program based in Washington, DC and an international lay mission program in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a posture of humility, our missioners enter as guests into communities as they support locally-run ministries and cultivate mutual relationships based on compassionate presence and accompaniment. Missioners live together and commit to a life rooted in intentional simplicity, reflection, and faith-based justice.
Type of Placement
Accounting | Business & Administration | Agriculture, Agronomy & Animal Husbandry | Arts & Music | Child Care & Day Care | Communications & Public Relations | Community Organizing, Outreach & Development | Computer Programming & Data Entry | Counseling | Education | Elderly Outreach | Environmental | Fund Raising, Grant Writing & Development | Gardening & Groundskeeping | Health Care | Hispanic Ministry | Housing Issues, Shelter Staff & Group Home | Immigration & Refugee Services | Lawyer, Legal Aide & Paralegal | Mental Health | Migrant Worker Ministry | Parish Ministry & Pastoral Counseling | Peace & Justice Advocacy | Prison Ministry | Religious Education & Retreat Work | Social Services & Poverty Relief | Social Work | Soup Kitchen & Food Distribution | Therapist (Physical, Speech, etc) | Tutoring & Literacy Programs | Volunteer Coordinator | Youth Ministry | Nonviolence and Conflict Resolution | Mentoring | Racial Justice Work | Disabilities Ministry | Performing Arts | Domestic Violence Ministries
Service Area
INTERNATIONAL LAY MISSION PROGRAM: Current placements are in Bolivia, Jamaica and the US-Mexico Border.// DC SERVICE: Washington, DC.//SHORT-TERM TRIPS: Washington, DC.
Service Length
INTERNATIONAL LAY MISSION PROGRAM: At least two years; renewable up to six years.// DC SERVICE CORPS: 12 months// SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS: 7-14 days.
Requirements
INTERNATIONAL: Catholic, single or married, 22-65+, U.S./Canadian residents. Application, references, interviews, and medical clearance. // DC: Single, ages 21 – 35. Application and interview.
Financial Arrangements
Room and Board | Stipend | Medical Insurance | Transportation | Loan Deferment/Forbearance
Living Arrangements
LM: Live simply in intentional community with fellow missioners.// DC SERVICE CORPS: Volunteers live in intentional community in DC. Private rooms. // SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS: Shared rooms.
Training
LM: 3-month training: Catholic Social Thought, Franciscan charism, cross-cultural skills, etc. Lang. school abroad. 2-wk Re-Entry Retreat. // DCSC: orientation, weekly leadership training & retreats.
Application Deadline
LM and DCSC: Priority: March 1; accepted on rolling basis until spots are filled (usually by June)
Address
415 Michigan Ave NE, Suite #240
Washington , 20017
Phone: 202 832-1762
Website
https://franciscanmissionservice.org
Primary Contact
Maggie
Affiliations
Franciscan Mission Service (FMS) is a Roman Catholic independent lay mission organization that partners with congregations of Franciscan friars and sisters as well as with Secular Franciscans.
Secondary Contacts
Elizabeth Hughes Russ & Megeen White Testa Meghan Meros Maggie Conley Rose Hardwick Christopher Diego Julia Pinto David Adah-Ogoh