Catholic Mission Trips

Can Catholic groups serve with Experience Mission?

Yes! Catholic youth groups, parishes, adults, and young adults serve with Experience Mission (EM) on group mission trips and IMMERSION programs. EM is an interdenominational Christian organization, so teams and participants serve alongside fellow volunteers, local churches and ministries from many Christian traditions, and the daily worship, prayer, and reflection are the same on most EM trips, regardless of the church group or denominations present.

Being interdenominational means EM's staff and community partners come from all different corners of the wider Christian family. You or your group arrive as a welcome part of that family. To learn more about who EM is, read about EM and EM's approach to missions.

Do Catholics go on mission trips?

Yes, Catholics do mission trips, and service sits close to the center of Catholic life. Two of the seven themes of Catholic social teaching, solidarity and the option for the poor and vulnerable, call Catholics to stand with neighbors near and far, as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes them. Many volunteers from Catholic backgrounds have served with EM on group mission trips and IMMERSION programs.

A Catholic mission trip with EM is a service-learning trip. Teams serve on projects and through outreach ministries chosen by local partners, gathering together at the end of each day to reflect on what they experienced and worship together. EM mission trips primarily run in the spring and summer months.

What is it like for a Catholic group to serve with EM?

Your group serves alongside local churches and ministries, usually from multiple denominational backgrounds. EM field staff prepare each trip in the community and handle lodging, food, and ministry project details. Your group leader prepares the team and leads the group on the ground, both relationally and logistically.

Most trips include time set aside each morning for private devotions and time each evening for worship, prayer, and reflection with your team. It's important to note that EM's devotions are the same for every group, and are not based on a specifically Catholic liturgy.

Before groups travel to serve, EM offers cross-cultural healthy service training that helps teams learn to listen first and serve well. Training is optional but strongly recommended. Because EM does not run specific Catholic programming, questions about access to local parishes, Mass, chaplains, and service hours are worth asking early. The questions below cover what EM can and cannot confirm.

Catholic mission trips for youth groups and teens

Catholic youth groups and teen teams of 6 or more serve in the United States and abroad. Trips run 6 or more days depending on the community, and grade ranges vary by community. Every group is required to include at least one adult leader age 21 or older, with 1 adult for every 7 high school students and 1 for every 5 middle school students.

Explore more through these pages:

• Youth mission trips - How youth group trips work, from ages and chaperones to cost and calendar
• High school mission trips - Communities that welcome high school students, with age ranges and lengths

Compare all EM partner communities, open weeks, and prices on the group mission trips page.

Catholic mission trips for adults and families

Parish groups, adult teams, and families can all serve side by side. Adults of all ages are welcome, and families can bring children from late elementary school and up, depending on the community. EM prices group trips per person, so costs are the same for minors and adults. Open weeks and price ranges for every adult group trip are listed on the group mission trips page.

Learn more on the page that matches your group:

• Adult mission trips - Trips for adult teams, with communities, lengths, and what a week looks like
• Family mission trips - How families serve together, with age guidance and cost
• Church mission trips - What a parish or congregation group can expect from pre-trip planning to work on the ground

Each page goes deeper on what to expect, so start with the one that fits your group best.

Catholic mission trips for young adults: IMMERSION and Gap Year

Young adults who desire to serve and learn for more than a week can explore IMMERSION, EM's cross-cultural program for individuals ages 18 to 30, lasting 1 to 9 months. Participants live in a host community and serve alongside local partners.

Gap Year programs run 6 or 9 months. If you are searching for a Catholic gap year program, note that EM's Gap Year is interdenominational, not specifically Catholic. However, many Catholic participants have joined IMMERSION in the past, feeling right at home among a team of Christians from all across the denominational spectrum. Most expenses, including international flights and visas, are included in the cost of IMMERSION and Gap Year programs.

Explore upcoming programs:

• IMMERSION programs - 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month programs with specific dates, local partners, and daily service and cultural opportunities
• Christian gap year programs - 6-month and 9-month programs that pair multiple regions together

Each program page shows dates, partners, and what daily life looks like, so you can compare options before you apply.

Common Questions Catholic Groups Ask EM

Catholic group leaders often ask about Mass, local parishes, chaplains, service hours, EM's Statement of Faith, and working with groups and churches from different Christian backgrounds. Each answer below says what EM can confirm today and where to ask for more.

Ready to plan a trip for your Catholic group or parish?

Explore EM's group mission trips to compare open weeks, communities, and trip costs. Then submit an interest form so EM Support Staff can answer any questions about serving with us as a Catholic group.

Written and reviewed by Experience Mission Staff - Updated: October 2026