Short-Term

Mission Trips

Give one week to Christ.

Spend one week encountering Jesus in the Eucharist, in Sacred Scripture, and in the poor.

Start the Conversation

Come and See

Going on a mission trip is about more than serving others.

It is an invitation to encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, authentic Christian community, and service to the poor.. As you share Christ's love with others, you'll discover that He is already there waiting to meet you.

A Francis Institute mission trip isn't measured by the projects you complete, but by the relationships you build and the ways Christ transforms your heart.

Our prayer is that you return home not simply with unforgettable memories, but with a renewed desire to live each day as Christ's missionary—wherever He calls you.

What You’ll Experience

Every Francis Institute mission trip is built around three ways of encountering Christ. Whether you're going with a priest to bring the sacraments to remote communities, praying with families, or working with your hands, each ministry invites you to make Christ's love visible while discovering His presence in those you serve.

  • SACRAMENTAL MINISTRY

    Nothing reaches the villages like the Mass and the sacraments. That's why we ask every group to bring their own parish priest, or invite one they know, to join the trip. Walk alongside him as he ministers to God's people, assist in the mission, participate in the liturgy, and discover the joy of a life centered on the Eucharist. 

    Encounter Christ in the Eucharist.

  • HOME VISIT MINISTRY

    Visit families in their homes. Hold the hand of someone who hasn't had a visitor in weeks. Pray with the sick and elderly, listen to their stories, and simply be present. It's often these small, unhurried moments — not the big projects — that missionaries remember most.

    Encounter Christ in the poor.

  • SERVICE MINISTRY

    Serve through practical acts of love that meet real needs within the community. Whether building, repairing, or helping however the need arises, every task becomes an opportunity to love with the hands of Christ.

    Encounter Christ through self-giving love.

Brother Adam’s Story

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Short-term mission trips are currently offered in our missions where Francis Institute leadership is living and serving (currently Peru or Costa Rica), so a qualified missionary trainer can personally accompany and lead you throughout your time on mission.

  • Costs vary depending on location and length of the mission. Full pricing details will be given during the initial conversations.

  • The mission trip cost includes lodging, meals, local transportation, and ministry materials. Flights and personal expenses are separate.

  • Your safety is a priority, and trips take place in communities where our missionaries live and serve daily, with established local relationships and support.

  • Most trips involve physical activity such as walking through a village and moderate physical labor. No physical training is required, but a willingness to serve is essential.

  • No prior experience is necessary.  Our missionaries and local hosts will guide you through every part of the week.

  • There is no age limit. Mission trips are open to anyone and everyone!  We warmly welcome and encourage entire families with children of all ages to come on mission trips. Children oftentimes make the best missionaries.

  • No. Missionaries will be with you throughout the week. Learning a few phrases is helpful but not required. No matter how much or little you speak of the local language, you’ll find that the language of love is universal.

Lives Transformed

  • “The week that I got to spend in Picota, Peru, serving with the Francis Institute, was one of the most impactful weeks of my life. Heading into a mission trip, in a third world country, I expected to spend the whole week building houses or doing physical labor. While we did do that, the thing that we spent most of our time doing was praying with people. We would ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and then we would go out and just pray with people. I realized that I had almost nothing to give these people, except for prayers. At first this was hard to swallow because I felt like that wasn’t enough. But then I realized that praying with these people was one of the greatest possible things I could give to them. I begged God to come more fully into the lives of these people and I watched miracles happen, right before my eyes.

    Coming home from Peru, I knew that I should never underestimate the power of prayer. When we ask our Father for things, He hears us and He provides for us. I am so grateful for this week with the Francis Institute. I am even more grateful to know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me endlessly and who hears every prayer. Thank you, Lord.”  

    —Grace Kenney, Texas

  • "Serving with the Francis Institute was a wonderful experience. I encountered the love of God in a new way, and walked away with a greater trust in the Lord and a refreshed childlike joy. All of the missionaries were so hospitable and made our team feel comfortable and at home. Returning to the mission post at the end of the day truly felt like returning home!

    Serving the poor was a true blessing to me, and I encountered Christ in the face of the poor. I would encourage anyone and everyone to serve with the Francis Institute! The joy, peace, and fun I experienced is a clear example of the abundant life Christ has for each of us!"

    —Kaitlyn Majek, Ohio

  • "My Spring Break in Peru was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Before the trip, my life was filled with the woes of a productivity-centered culture. Anxiety and stress to be the best from the culture were tearing at me. What I experienced in Peru was the opposite. I went with the intention to evangelize and serve the Peruvians. In the small villages we visited, we were met with incredible hospitality. The Lord showed me the gift of presence. True holiness is loving the person right in front of you.

    All of my problems and struggles seemed small compared to the worries of those I encountered in Peru. I discovered the simplicity of the Lord's call to love those in front of me; I could do nothing but love and pray for them. I am grateful for the adventure of my week serving in Peru!"

    —Jacob Angus, Texas

Life on Mission

Every mission field is unique, but every Francis Institute mission trip follows the same rhythm of prayer, community, service, and reflection.

  • Arrival & Orientation

    Meet your team, settle in, and prepare your heart for the week ahead.

  • Daily Prayer & Formation

    Begin each day rooted in Scripture, prayer, and the Eucharist whenever possible.

  • Mission Ministry

    Serve through one of our three ministry teams while building authentic relationships with the people you encounter.

  • Community Life

    Share meals, conversations, laughter, and friendship as one missionary family.

  • Evening Reflection

    End each day reflecting on where you encountered Christ and how He is working in your heart during a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration.

  • Recreation & Cultural Experience

    Experience the beauty of the local culture while deepening friendships with your team.

  • Return Home on Mission

    The trip may end, but your missionary life is only beginning.

Your Mission Begins Here

Jesus continues to call ordinary men and women to extraordinary lives of love.  For one week, leave behind the routines of everyday life and immerse yourself in a rhythm of prayer, community, and mission. By the end of the week, you'll likely realize that the greatest gift wasn't the one you brought – it was Whom you encountered.  

Return home ready to live as a missionary of Christ—wherever He leads you.

Contact Us to Get Started

Begin a Conversation About Mission

Once you submit this form, we will contact you to set up an inquiry call where we can talk more in depth about your desire for a short-term (7-10 day) mission trip. Click here to inquire if you are interested in a 1-3 month trip or becoming a full-time missionary.