Columban Invitation to Mission Programme 2019

Invitation to Mission at US/Mexico border

The Columban 'Invitation to Mission Programme' is now into its 5th year. Nearly 40 people have taken part in this learning experience, growing in faith and understanding through preparation in the UK, a 10-day visit overseas, and follow up on return.

The Columbans in Britain are now inviting applications for participation in the 2019 programme, visiting the Philippines during Holy Week 2019. People are invited to see and learn from a different reality, looking at faith and a range of issues based around where Columban missionaries live and work.

Several days of preparation beforehand will include activities exploring mission, Columban spirituality, injustice and intercultural learning. The time in the Philippines will be based on the island of Luzon and explore issues connected to poverty, human rights, and climate change. It will include celebrations of the Holy Week services with a variety of communities. There's also talk of a Filipino cooking lesson! The 'follow up' back in Britain will help participants to reflect on the whole experience, drawing out learning and making plans for how it will impact their lives here.

Applications are invited from friends of the Columbans in the UK and people engaged in interreligious dialogue, education, youth ministry or justice and peace. Participants need to be adults under the age of 60, physically and mentally well enough to take part in the programme, which will include eating different foods and time in a different climate.

The Columbans are subsidising this experience (including food and accommodation). Participants (or their institutions/organisations) are asked to pay £800 in order to cover the costs of flights and to arrange their own vaccinations and insurance.

Interested?

Please contact invitationtomission@columbans.co.uk with queries or to request an application form. The deadline for applications is 1 October 2018.

Please read blogs of participants in previous trips on the regional Columban website, for a taste of their experiences: www.columbans.co.uk/join-us/invitation-to-mission/