BENEDICTINE MISSION TRIPS

Mount Michael is proud to provide service to local and international communities through our yearly mission work.

MISSION TRIP LOCATIONS

Norfolk — Norfolk involves the Benedictine Sisters, a Missionary community. They have missions all over the world. Their community also is involved with lots of work with Mercy Meals. MM students helped package over 5,000 dried food meals with the needy of the world while there.

Winnebago/Macy — this trip involves Native Americans, especially the Winnebago and Omaha Tribes. St. Augustine Mission was founded by St. Katherine Drexel. While there MM students met the grandson of Susan la Fleche — the very first Native American female doctor. MM students helped in the classrooms of St. Augustine Mission — the Benedictine sisters of Norfolk also do mission work there in Winnebago/Macy.

Schuyler — this trip involves another Missionary community — Christ the King Priory of Schuyler — besides operating a large Retreat House — these Benedictines raise funds for their missions all over the world as well.

Mexico — for information on the annual Mount Michael Mission Trip, visit the mission trip website

Mission Trip Website

 

Mission Trip Photo Gallery

2022
2022 PHOTOS

 

This year, 2022, Mount Michael was able to do Mission trips again. There were 3 of them— Norfolk, Winnebago/Macy, and Schuyler.

Norfolk involves the Benedictine Sisters, a Missionary community. They have missions all over the world. Their community also is involved with lots of work with Mercy Meals. MM students helped package over 5,000 dried food meals with the needy of the world while there.

Winnebago/Macy — this trip involves Native Americans, especially the Winnebago and Omaha Tribes. St. Augustine Mission was founded by St. Katherine Drexel. While there MM students met the grandson of Susan la Fleche — the very first Native American female doctor. MM students helped in the classrooms of St. Augustine Mission — the Benedictine sisters of Norfolk also do mission work there in Winnebago/Macy.

Schuyler — this trip involves another Missionary community — Christ the King Priory of Schuyler — besides operating a large Retreat House — these Benedictines raise funds for their missions all over the world as well.

2021
2021 PHOTOS

 

Because of the pandemic, the mission-pilgrimage trip had to be abbreviated considerably and limited to only a few students. The trip happened on Monday, March 8. Five students participated, Nick Wehbe, Cameron Detwiler, Aiden Frazier, Wyatt Walters and Colin Robb.

This trip was definitely more a pilgrimage than a mission. It included meeting in Mount Michael’s chapel, St. Patrick’s in Fremont, Christ the King Mission House and Retreat Center in Schuyler, St. Bonaventure in Columbus, St. Michael’s in Tarnov, St. Francis of Assisi in Humphrey and finally visiting the Poor Clares on the north edge of Mount Michael.

 

2019
2019 PHOTOS

 

Monday was a very cold day, but the pilgrims braved it well, beginning the mission at Winnebago, Ne. This year not only were the Benedictine Sisters involved, but members of both the Winnebago and Omaha tribes and the clergy of the St. Augustine Parish and Mission — Fr. Mark Beran, Fr. Mark Bridgman and Deacon Don Blackbird — also principal of the mission school. The Mount Michael group was joined by a group from Wayne State College this year and together we were graced to hear the grandson of Susan La Flesche Picotte teach Native American games and tricks. All were treated to a traditional Native American lunch before working— the fried bread was popular as it always is!

Work included – cleaning the church in Macy and setting up the Thrift Store – also some painting. The Walthill group did work in the Food Pantry— cleaning and stocking.

The group then proceed to Norfolk— Immaculata Monastery, arriving in time for Evening Prayer and dinner. Our group had a taste of the Mercy Meals we would be preparing for the needy of the world that evening. But the sisters provided more besides. All Mount Michael students were delighted to spend the night on the 4th floor of the Monastery, each having a private room. After celebrating the Eucharist with the sisters Tuesday morning (the celebrant being a Conception Monk – who assembled the first metal lockers of Mount Michael), the group was given a glimpse of the mission work these Benedictine Sisters do all over the world. Then it was off to work. Near downtown Norfolk, Mercy Meals are measured out and packed to be sent all over the world. Mount Michael’s group was joined by the 8th graders of Winnebago and so there were three assembly lines. In the time that these groups worked together, there was over 4,000 meal prepared. The organization was duly impressed with how much was accomplished.

The last part of the mission/pilgrimage was visiting St. Francis of Assisi Church in Humphrey, Nebraska. Fr. John’s mother grew up in that area and he wanted to show the students why he was so enamored by Franciscans and had wanted to become a Franciscan when he was a boy.

 

2018
2018 PHOTOS

 

Through Campus Ministry, Mount Michael offers short trips to Benedictine houses close by during Spring Break. Besides being an opportunity to do some mission work, it is almost an opportunity to become acquainted with other Benedictine houses.

There were three trips – all day trips, during Spring Break of 2018.

Benedictines in Winnebago/Macy area who work with the Omaha and Winnebago tribes

Immaculate Conception Abbey — a community that operates a College Seminary — Thursday is the day called Ora et Labora — the seminarians all have work/assignments on that day each week — the abbey is located near Maryville, Missouri— while there the students also tour Clyde — the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Christ the King Priory — Schuyler, Nebraska— this community operates a Retreat Center — a beautiful place for quiet and silence — there is always lots of work there with keeping up all the rooms for retreatants

Each year these trips vary and the work changes.

It is an excellent way for Mount Michael students to become familiar with the different ministries of Benedictine houses.