Full Time Missionary
(Following Him shouldn’t be either.)
Live a life that change lives
Forming leaders who will transform the world.
The Full-Time Damascus Missionary Program offers an in-depth, transformative experience of formation, community, discipleship, and mission. The goal is to equip you to discover and answer God's call on your life to the fullest possible extent; to make a generational impact and become the type of leader that the Church and the world desperately need.
Join the Adventure
Be a Damascus Missionary
About the Damascus Full-Time Missionary Program
A little bit of background.
In 2015, a few ambitious Catholics in Ohio heard a call: to form a community of full-time missionaries committed year-round to the salvation of souls, one that would bring the New Evangelization to thousands of people.
In 2016, the first four missionaries said yes to that call and spent a year preparing to make the dream a reality. In 2017, the first full year began with 15 missionaries. The following year, their number had grown to 33.
Every year since, more and more young adults have answered the same call: to be transformed and to transform the world. The impact has far exceeded the dreams of those first missionaries, reaching tens of thousands of souls every year. We know that the need is still great, and we pray that the Lord would continue to send out laborers to lay their lives down for the sake of bringing revival to the Church!
Want the full-story? Find a more detailed history of Damascus here.
Historical Growth
Where We're From
Our current full-time missionaries represent 20 states and the country of Spain, with two-thirds hailing from outside Ohio.
Life as a full-time Damascus Missionary
Every moment of the 2-year full-time mission program will prepare you for a life of holiness and mission that brings revival to the Church. Year 1 is invested as a year of service oriented toward developing a firm foundation in the pillars of Formation, Community, Discipleship, and Mission. Year 2 builds upon that foundation and allows for greater specialization in areas that develop your individual strengths, skills, and passions.
The Pillars
Formation: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” As disciples of Jesus Christ, our missionaries enter into a formation program. Full time missionaries attend formation events, in addition to full-time training, 112 formation sessions, 8 missionary retreats, group studies, and much more.
Community: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Missionaries will dive deep into a community of young adults on mission. Missionaries live in men’s and women’s households that pray together, live life together, and evangelize together.
Discipleship: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” As disciples of Jesus, we are called to commit to three things: prayer, virtue, and mentorship. In the full-time program, this is done through a commitment to our Missionary Mindsets, a prayer life, a sacramental life, and a pastoral leader.
Mission: “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” Damascus missionaries will serve thousands of people every summer and year. Through committing to a life laid down for the Gospel, our full-time missionaries can expect to bear fruit through our camps, retreats, events, and conferences.
The Weekly Schedule
The typical schedule of a week in the fall or spring semester of a full-time mission year will help you build a life oriented toward the pursuit of holiness and mission.
Monday and Tuesday
These are days of community, growth, and preparation.
Monday is a day of Sabbath, with the schedule open to allow for personal recreation. In the evening, men’s and women’s households gather for dinner and community time to intentionally invest in, encourage, and sharpen one another.
Tuesday begins with Mass, Adoration and opportunities for Confession, followed by prayer with all missionaries and staff. Missionaries split by class to attend two formation classes each week that go deep into key teachings of equipping for holistic lives of holiness and mission. The afternoon includes time to prepare for retreats or work related to specialized roles.
These days are also ideal for pastoral support meetings, wherein each missionary meets regularly with a dedicated staff member who walks with them and champions their growth throughout the year.
Wednesday to Sunday: Retreat Ministry
Retreat ministry is the keystone of the program and an opportunity to exercise formation content in a practical way that brings about life-changing encounter for thousands of people each year.
While the summer brings refinement through commitment to one staff role, the full-time year offers a well-rounded experience with the variety of roles that are necessary for world-class ministry. Each 3-day retreat brings the possibility of serving in one of several roles, the most common of which are counseling (small group leadership), program (activity leadership, speaking, emceeing, worship/production, etc.), or kitchen service. Missionaries in their second year may step into more focused roles in order to develop leadership or skills in a particular area of ministry.
Weekday Retreats (Wednesday- Friday morning)
Bring world-class retreat experiences to classes of students from middle schools and high schools.
Weekend Retreats (Friday evening-Sunday morning)
Can include Confirmation retreats or special programs like Winter Camps, Men’s and Women’s Retreats.
Optional: Youth Group (Sunday night)
Serve on the core team for a Columbus-area youth group, engaging in consistent discipleship with the young people of a parish community.
Yearly Timeline
November - March
Apply, discern, & commit! Launch into Mission Support Raising with training.
Late May
Arrive for summer training and formation at the EQUIP Conference
June - Early August
Serve as a member of a CYSC summer staff
Late August
After a post-camp break, return to Damascus for two weeks of further training and formation
September - April
Live the adventure of missionary life! This time includes holiday breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, as well as quarterly missionary retreats.
May
Mission Support Raising season for First Years/Graduation & Deployment for Second Years
How do I get there?
Apply
Apply during the application window: August 15 to February 15.
Interview
Continue your discernment by attending an on-site or web-based interview retreat within the month of submitting your application. Full-time applicants will then have a second interview by phone.
Commit
Offers will be extended within 2 weeks of the interview. Summer staff assignments will be determined by early March.
Begin the Adventure
The mission begins with Mission Support Raising and serving on a summer staff at CYSC.
Mission Support Raising
An important part of the call to be a full-time missionary is Mission Support Raising: inviting others to join the mission prayerfully and financially so you can have your needs provided for and be fully available to mission.
Specific, hands-on training will be provided in order to help you attain your goal, which you will determine according to your circumstances within the range set by Damascus.
A monthly living cost fee will go to cover living expenses including food, housing, training, etc., after which missionaries receive 100% of everything they raise after taxes up to their limit. This stipend will be disbursed in biweekly installments beginning June 15 and concluding May 30 of the following year.
Questions? Email msr@damascus.net!
Requirements
Age Requirement
Applicants must have graduated high school prior to serving as a full-time missionary. Typical applicants are ages 18-28.
Incoming missionaries must complete the following requirements prior to the start of CYSC. Opportunities for both will be offered during training at the beginning of the summer, and we strongly recommend taking advantage of the on-site opportunities. Once accepted, if you have already completed one or both of these requirements or have questions about the process, please email mission@damascus.net.
1. Background Check
Those who have lived in Ohio for the last five (5) years consecutively must obtain an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI) background check.
Those who have resided outside of Ohio in the last five (5) years must obtain BOTH an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI) AND a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check.
2. Protecting God’s Children for Adults (PGC) / Virtus training session.
All missionaries must complete a VIRTUS Protecting God's Children Training and have a record on file that is either documented with the diocese of Columbus or can be transferred to the diocese of Columbus.
3. Selection.com online background check
All missionaries who have created a VIRTUS account on or after January 1, 2024 must complete an online background check through selection.com. This should be available to complete and should be completed in its entirety immediately when you create your new VIRTUS account online.
What Are You Waiting For?
Discerning a call to full-time mission can feel daunting. What does it mean for my family? My relationships? My finances? It’s normal to ask these questions and weigh the different factors that are affected by the decision.
In any discernment, the most important question to ask is: God, what are you calling me to? Pray for the faith to let His will be done, ask Him to reveal the desires and dreams that He has placed in your heart, and trust that He will provide everything you need to fulfill the call He gives you.