SSME Packet

8/7/2019 SSME Packet

1/8

Family Missions Company

12624 Everglade Road, Abbeville LA, 70510 | 337-893-6111 | www.fmcmissions.com

June 2011

missions is to the churchas burning is tore! immersion. one month. one mission.

learning. praying. serving. loving GENERAL INFORMATIONABOUT FMC AND SSME.

WHAT IS FMC?

Family Missions Company is a Catholicapostolate of lay singles and families engagedin foreign missionary evengelism and service tothe poor. Our work has its roots in themissionary lives of Jesus and His Apostles.

WHAT DOES FMC DO? Today FMC has trained and sent out laymissionaries who have served in Mexico,Ecuador, the Caribbean, the Philippines,Thailand, India, Spain, Ghana and othercountries around the world. We live andpreach the Gospel. We work to assist the poorin any way we can. Pope John Paul II, in hisencyclical Mission of the Redeemer, says thatMissionary activity renews the Church,revitilizes faith and Christian identity, andoffers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive.Faith is strengthened when it is given toothers! We believe you can discover this freshenthusiasm for the faith through mission life.Every Christian is a missionary by virture of baptism, and it has never been more urgentthat we live out that call!.

... Continued on Page 2

Saint Lucia is asmall island nation

located in theSoutheasternCaribbean.

Information Packet www.fmcmissions.com

S S M E : S U M M E R S C H O

O L O F

M I S S I O N AR Y E V AN G E L I S M

C a s t r i e s , S a i n t L u c i a

C A R M E L I T E S I S T E R S F AM I L Y M I S S I O N S C O M P AN Y

Downtown Castries, Saint Lucia.

View of the Bay. Carmelite Sisters Complex
http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/


2/8


WHAT DOES FMC DO? ...Continued from Page 1 The harvest is plenty and thelaborers are few (Lk 10:2). We needthousands of missionaries yesterday.The need is urgent and the call is now!

Over the years weve received lifechanging reports from those who haveexperienced mission with us, both full-time and short-term. Our missionaryorganization draws upon the more thanthirty years of pioneering mission lifelived by the Summers family and buildson the ongoing relationships betweenFMC missionaries and the localchurches where they serve. Ourmissionary charism centers aroundevangelization and service to the poor.We go out to share the Good Newswith people through a Christian

witness of lifestyle and giving ourpersonal testimonies.

WHAT IS SSME?

This Summer 2011, Family MissionsCompany will be launching its rst everSSME, Summer School of MissionaryEvangelization program. SSME willafford participants the an opportunity to join full-time missionaries for amonth-long mission immersionprogram in Saint Lucia learning aboutthe Churchs mission while living it out!

Students will enjoy an intense life of daily community and personal prayer,fellowship, service in variousapostolates, and Christian formationthrough study. The curriculum willinclude an in-depth study of the Book of Acts, excerpts from the Documentsof Vatican II related to evangelization,Pope John Paul IIs encyclical Mission

of the Redeemer, and core teachingsfrom FMCs S Seor program designed

for forming FMCs own full-timemissionaries. Study will also includevarious guest speakers and a teaching workshop which will equip themissionarie s in methods of evang elism.

Missionary apostolates will includeministry to the elderly, working in a

daycar e/pre-school, feeding the poor,home visits, counseling, working withat-risk youth, speaking in schools,street evangelism, teaching a childrensBible camp, service projects and otherministries around the island. Theprogram will culminate in a moreintense schedule of evangelization andservice, allowing the missionaries achance to apply what theyve learned.

Participants will also enjoy the

... Continued on Page 3

Missionary activity renews the Church, revitilizes faith andChristian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive.

Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! - John Paul II

Beach located on the island of Saint Lucia. Marian Grotto at mission base.
http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/


3/8


occasional excursion to the beach and othersites which make St. Lucia one of Godspristine island beauties. If you feel you are looking for more thana one-week trip and want to journey deeperinto the Churchs mission, then our SSMEprogram is designed for you. Considerspending a month with us this summer,

growing in service leadership, the ability toevangelize, and learning how to apply yourmissionary experience to everyday life.

CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA

This years Summer School of Missionary Evangelism will be taking placein the city and Archdiocese of Castries,Saint Lucia, where Family MissionsCompany currently has full-timemissionaries living and serving.

A traditionally Catholic nation, oncewith a 90% Catholic population, SaintLucia has been struck by a wave of proselytism that has been tearing apart theCatholic Church and leading many of Christs children away from their home.

The national statistics show that the effortsof other churches have been effective, andreveal the Catholic population of the islandis down to 60%; that is a 30% decrease injust a few generations. The spiritual need isgreat and the people are hungry for thetruth! What is needed are young men andwomen to hear the call of Jesus to serve as

missionaries and to bring the truth to thisland!

Family Missions Company and ourmissionaries have a great relationship withthe Church of Saint Lucia, and work alongside the local Church in variousministries. In addition, our missionaries areinvolved in developing new neededministries.

All SSME missionaries will have anopportunity to meet and work alongside theCarmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart,Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity,and Archbishop Robert Rivas, along withthe priests and laity of Castries, andspecically the Sacred Heart parish of Marchand.

In delity to its missionto evangelize, the Churchcommits itself to bringinall peoples to the fullnessof life in Christ through

dynamic missionarydiscipleship and personaland pastoral conversion.St. Lucia Catholic Church

Synod Resolution

Benedictine Monastery - Castries, Saint Lucia Lucian Wildlife
http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/


4/8


DAY-TO-DAY BEFORE ST. LUCIA

Before arriving in Saint Lucia, allSSME applicants who have beenaccepted are expected to prayerfullyprepare for the summer. Pray daily forthe Summer School of MissionaryEvangelism and for those planning andpreparing it. Pray for the time that youwill spend in Saint Lucia, for theoverall mission of the Catholic Churchand above all for those we will servewhile in Saint Lucia.

DAY-TO-DAY IN ST. LUCIA

Arriving in Saint Lucia, themissionaries will soon becomeaccustomed to their daily schedule,duties and way of life.

Each morning, the missionaries willcome together and begin the day incommunity prayer. As full-timemissionaries, we strongly believe that tobe successful in serving our Lord, wemust root every day and all we do inprayer. Following prayer there will bebreakfast and morning chores.

The early morning will either bespent in missionary formation or inministry. The missionaries will be

formed by deepening their knowledgeof the Scriptures and of Churchteachings.

At midday, our mission family willcome together and share lunch. Afterlunch, there will be time for study,prayer and fellowship. After this freetime, the missionaries will then spendthe rest of their afternoon in service bybeginning their directed ministries atthe base or in the community.

Come evening, all missionaries willagain come together for dinner as amission family. After dinner, on someevenings, there will be opportunities toparticipate in a number of workshopsand activities, including ministry at thecenter or in town. Other evenings,participants will have some free timefor themselves and to fellowship withone another.

Before going to bed each evening,all missionaries will come together onceagain for a time of prayer.

One day each week the entirecommunity will have a desert day.

Desert days, an FMC tradition, aredays of prayer and reection inimitation of Christ,who in His life of ministry, often went off to a quiet placeto seek the Father.

While this is a basic outline, asmissionaries, we are aware that thingsmay come up that cause changes tooccur in the schedule. This itinerancyand readin ess to move where the Spiritblows is essential to missionary life.

DAY-TO-DAY AFTER ST. LUCIA

Upon returning home to the UnitedStates, Family Missions Companyshope is that each missionary will stayconnected and involved in the missionof the Church. Our hope is thatthrough those completing the SSMEwill continue to be an active part of theministry and mission of the CatholicChurch.

Strengthened and inspired, SSMEmissionaries will be sent out to theirhome parishes, communities anduniversities to spread their missionaryzeal. Returning home on re formissions, we pray that you will allowthat re to burn bright and illuminateChrist and His mission to all thosearound you, and that you would work to bring others into that same mission.

Daily Life of an SSME Missionary:WHAT TO EXPECT?
http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/


5/8

12624 Everglade Road, Abbeville LA, 70510 | 337-893-6111 | www.fmcmissons.com

NAME: ___________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________

CITY: _________________________________________________ STATE: ________ ZIP: ______________

E-MAIL: __________________________________________________________________________________

PHONE: ______________________________________ DOB: ______________________________________

MISSION TRIP FEES: (for details of costs see page 7)

Once accepted into the SSME, you will receive a payment schedule of mission fees.There will be an initial, non-refundable registration fee, to reserve your space in the programalong with a timetable to follow in paying out the full amount of the SSMEs costs.

Mission Trip fees will cover the costs of room and board, SSME tuition, meals andtransportation while on the island.

Mission Trip fees will not cover personal spending money while on the island or moneyspent while on excursions. Mission trip fees will also not cover airfare and the costs of

transportation to and from Saint Lucia.

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AND ATTACH TO APP:

1. What is your relationship with the Catholic Church?2. Why are you applying to Family Missions Companys SSME program?3. What are you hoping to gain from your participation in this program?

Please ll out and sendin completed

Application Form to :

Family MissionsCompany

12624 Everglade RdAbbeville LA, 70510

Applications will belooked at and reviewed

on a rst-come, rst-serve basis.

Please e-mail James Franke [email protected]

with any questions aboutSSME or the application

process.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fmcmissons.com/http://www.fmcmissons.com/


6/8

12624 Everglade Road, Abbeville LA, 70510 | 337-893-6111 | www.fmcmissons.com

As an organization of lay Catholic Missionaries, Family Missions Company encourages all of our full-time and short-termmissionaries to enter into any mission eld, foreign or domestic, having a formed missionary heart . The following listlays out what it means to have a missionary heart and the commitments that go along with attending SSME. Please readexpectations below and initial in each available spot.

1. Have an attitude of gratitude. In all things give thanks! Let us out do one another in s ervice: NO GRUMB LING!

2. Respect their culture; the American way is NOT necessarily the right way. We will learn many things from thepeople of Saint Lucia. Their way is founded on their experience.

3. Be careful not to exclude your hosts (the people of Saint Lucia). If you are in a conversation with others of ourgroup and a local approaches, motion to them to draw near. SMILE! Make friends.

4. Unmarried couples leave romance at the border. We are seeking Gods love on this mission. Be a part of the team,dont pair off (not even with your best friend).

5. Submit to leadership. Seek peace and run after it. Unity comes in nding the common good.

6. Go the extra mile. Pick up, keep order, volunteer for work, cooperate. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

7. Jesus said, Eat what is set before you. The food is prepared with care and love. Missionaries trust God and receiveHis gifts.

I commit to living in accord with the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church which is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic:

________________

I commit to not drinking alcohol while a member of the Summer School of Missionary Evangelism: _______________ I commit to not using any type of illegal drugs before, during or after SSME: ________________

I commit to not pursuing any type of romantic relationship during my time in the SSME program: ________________

I commit to following the leaders of SSME in all that they ask of the missionaries: ________________

I commit to conducting myself as an FMC missionary: ________________

I am aware that if I violate any of these commitments, I may be asked to leave Saint Lucia and the SSME program at myown expense. ________________

Signature: _____________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________

Missionary HeartDID NOT OUR HEARTS BURN WITHIN US..? (LUKE 24:32)
http://www.fmcmissons.com/http://www.fmcmissons.com/http://www.fmcmissons.com/


7/8


COSTS:

The total cost for the four week SSME program to be held this summer in Saint Lucia will be$2950. This gure will include the cost of tuition, room and board, daily meals, transportationwhile on the island, outings and excursions. This cost will not include your travel to and fromSaint Lucia. It will also not cover personal spending money you may want tobring along with you for individual spending, gifts or souvenirs, and any almsmoney you may want to carry. Any unforeseen medical costs will also be at theexpense of the participant, as we do not provide health insurance.

BREAKDOWN OF FEES :**

Tuition: $1400*

Room and Board: $1150

Transportation and Excursions: $400

*Tuition costs will include donations to the local Church as well as other misc. expenses.

**Accepted applicants are encouraged to fundraise towards their tuition and fees to defraytheir costs. For tips, ideas or advice contact James or Joseph at the e-mail below.

TRAVEL INFORMATION :

The beginning date of Monday June 13th, is the day for the missionaries to arrive into SaintLucia. Being from all different parts of the country, each accepted applicant is required tosecure their own ight plans to and from Castries, Saint Lucia. Date of departure will beFriday July 8th. Prior to booking your tickets, please check itinerary with James Franke orJoseph Summers at [email protected].

Airport Information:George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU)

Mission House Information:Marian Home - Carmelite Sistersc/o MissionariesLeslie Land RoadCastries, Saint Lucia

Go into all the world and preach the gospel tothe whole of creation.

He who believes and isbaptized will be saved;

but he who does not believe will be

condemned... they went forth and preached

everywhere, while theLord worked with themand conrmed the

message by the signsthat attended it. Amen

Mark 16:15-16

SSME - St. Lucia Mission Trip and School:BREAKDOWN OF FEES & TRAVEL INFORMATION

Students at Combined School in Castries
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/http://www.fmcmissions.com/


8/8

Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit, teaching

them to observe all that I have commanded you;and lo, I am with youalways, to the close of

the age.

Matthew 28:18-20

F R O M :F A M I L Y M I SSI O N S C O M P A N Y

1 2 6 2 4 E v e r g la d e R o a d A b b e v ille L A , 7 0 5 1 0

MAIL TO:

Family Missions CompanySummer School of Missionary Evangelism

But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preachunless they are sent?? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news:

Romans 10:14-15