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Our Work: U.S. Programs — Friends Across Borders (FAB) Build a Better World! Since 1994 Maryknoll Lay Missioners have assisted different organizations such us universities, parishes, dioceses, human rights organizations and others, in helping develop and carry out immersions and service learning trips in several countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania, and at the US Border El Paso/ Ciudad Juarez. Many people have had life changing experiences through their immersion and contact with us. |
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Come with us on one of our Immersion – Service Learning trips and meet incredible people and communities who are working to overcome poverty and build a better life for themselves and their families. You’ll gain new perspective into your own life as you touch and are touched by these people’s lives. You will experience hospitality and warmth, in ways perhaps you’ve never experienced before. |
History and Background of these experiential programs. Mission is the central life and commitment of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. We are called not only to serve the poor in the mission country but also to motivate others to pursue their own vocation and call with their own lives. Despite dramatic changes throughout the world, we continue to see widening economic disparity between the rich and the poor. The lack of basic resources, access to health, education and employment remains the challenge for developing and non-industrialized countries. In nations marred by political conflict and violence, efforts of peace, reconciliation, and democratization are slow and its effects are seen most clearly in the lives of the poor. MKLM inspired by the mission of Jesus lives and works with poor communities around the world trying to respond to these realities helping to raise the quality of life and to restore hope by making contributions and sustainable improvements in education, health, justice and peace, pastoral care and development. |  Our Philosophy:
All of the major religious traditions include pilgrimage as a principal spiritual activity. Your Friends Across Borders immersion experience is pilgrimage in a sense. It’s a journey, a quest, and an adventure. Maryknoll Lay Missioners seek to share their experience of the world and invite you and your community or friends to go on a pilgrimage with us. We call you to experience the presence of God in a sacred culture with graced people. We invite you as a community to meet our missionary community. We invite you to learn about the lives, struggles, joys and hopes of the people in the cultures and lands where we live and work. We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen; we just know we’re called to this encounter. You are a community called to this journey. Other communities will receive you and it is sacred ground you will visit. |
Key components: - Opportunities to meet and learn from local people and grass roots groups and to be introduced to the history and culture where we serve. We do this through presentations, both academic and artistic, and tours to different areas of interest. - Expanding your world vision and ongoing spiritual formation through celebrations and lectures about the social, political, economic, religious and cultural realities in the host country as well as experiential service learning. - To visit MKLM projects and learn about mission and service in world-wide areas such us education, health, justice and peace, pastoral care and sustainable development, inspired by Gospel values and the Catholic Social Teachings. - Listening and enjoying the art, music, dance, stories and ritual of the people we visit. - Guidance to communities and individuals in dedicating gifts and talents in order to build a more just and peaceful world. If your community, group or organization is interested in Mission, Service and Cross-cultural immersion, CONTACT US! |
