Catholic mission societies, volunteer programs, and networks in the United States.
37 organizations
Maryknoll Lay Missioners send Catholics to serve communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Missioners live and work alongside local communities in healthcare, education, agriculture, and pastoral ministry. Includes 3 months of missioner formation before departure.
Tanzania · Kenya · Cambodia +7 more
The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America — the first Catholic foreign mission society founded in the US. Maryknoll priests and brothers serve in direct evangelization, pastoral ministry, healthcare, education, and HIV/AIDS ministry across 20+ countries.
Tanzania · Kenya · Cambodia +6 more
The Maryknoll Sisters were the first Catholic sisters in the US founded specifically for overseas mission. Serving in 26 countries across 29 nationalities, sisters work in education, healthcare, pastoral work, social justice, and HIV/AIDS ministry.
Kenya · Tanzania · Cambodia +5 more
JVC places young adults in full-time roles with social justice organizations across 19 US cities. Volunteers live in intentional community, work 40 hours/week with partner agencies, and are formed in Ignatian spirituality through 5 annual retreats.
United States
FOCUS missionaries are trained and placed at US college campuses to evangelize and disciple students through Bible studies, personal mentorship, and campus events. Missionaries raise personal support and serve for 2-year terms on 200+ campuses.
United States
NET Ministries trains and sends teams of 8-12 young adults on 9-month service. Retreat Teams travel the country leading parish youth retreats. Discipleship Teams root in one community for the year. All team members raise personal support.
United States
Franciscan Mission Service prepares and sends lay Catholics on 2-year international mission placements. Missioners serve in healthcare, education, community organizing, and parish ministry. Includes 6 months of cross-cultural formation in Washington DC before departure.
Bolivia · Guatemala · Honduras +3 more
The Society of the Divine Word is the largest Catholic missionary society in the world with 5,754 missionaries in 79 countries. SVD serves through education, parishes, refugee support, healthcare, and lay leader formation across four global zones: AFRAM, ASPAC, PANAM, and EUROPE.
Philippines · Indonesia · India +9 more
The Salesians of Don Bosco serve young people — especially the poorest — through education, vocational training, youth ministry, and homes for street children. With 34,000 members across 130+ countries and 1,892 locations, they are one of the largest Catholic missionary presences in the world.
India · Philippines · Brazil +7 more
Founded in 1816, the Missionary Oblates serve in 70 countries with a special focus on the most abandoned — Indigenous peoples, the rural poor, immigrants, and those in difficult mission territories. Work includes parishes, Catholic schools, retreat centers, and justice and peace ministry.
USA · Canada · Brazil +8 more
Jesuit Refugee Service accompanies, serves, and advocates for refugees and forcibly displaced people in 58 countries. Programs include education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihoods, reconciliation, psychosocial support, and advocacy at UN and government levels.
South Sudan · DRC · Uganda +7 more
The Spiritans — founded in 1703 — have sent more missionaries to Africa than any other religious congregation. With over 300 years of mission history, Spiritans serve the poorest and most marginalized through parish ministry, schools, healthcare, youth ministry, and chaplaincy.
Nigeria · Kenya · Tanzania +5 more
Founded in 1868 by Cardinal Lavigerie to evangelize Africa, the Missionaries of Africa now have 1,428 members from 36 nationalities serving in 42 countries across 217 communities. Special focus on Muslim-majority regions, interfaith dialogue, education, and justice and peace.
Nigeria · Kenya · Tanzania +7 more
Founded in 1867 in Verona, the Comboni Missionaries serve in Africa, the Americas, and Asia through education, parish ministry, community development, and refugee support. The Comboni Lay Missionary Program places volunteers in 11 countries across South America and Africa.
Uganda · Sudan · South Sudan +9 more
Founded in Ireland in 1917, Columban Missionaries serve in 18 countries with focus on justice for migrants, biodiversity protection, interfaith dialogue, and peace. Columbans serve in some of the most challenging mission contexts including Muslim-majority regions and areas of conflict.
China · South Korea · Japan +11 more
Founded in Milan (1850) and Rome (1874), PIME has sent over 2,000 missionaries to the most challenging missions. With 500+ missionaries in 18 countries, PIME focuses on first evangelization, local clergy formation, and work in areas closed to or neglected by other missionaries.
India · Bangladesh · Myanmar +5 more
Founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in 1732, the Redemptorists now have 5,500+ members in 82 countries. They preach parish missions, staff shrines, serve immigrants, and are known for devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Strong presence in Brazil, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
Brazil · Nigeria · Thailand +5 more
CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the US Catholic Church. Serving 130 million people in 110+ countries, CRS works in emergency response, HIV/AIDS, health, agriculture, water, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. 93% of expenditures go directly to programs.
Ethiopia · Kenya · Malawi +9 more
Caritas Internationalis is the confederation of Catholic humanitarian organizations — 162 members serving in 200+ countries. Regional presence across 7 zones. Current emergency focus on Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and DRC. Programs include healthcare, literacy, microfinance, and sustainable agriculture.
Sudan · Gaza · Ukraine +3 more
Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation supporting suffering and persecuted Christians worldwide. Running 5,000+ projects annually in 137 countries with $150M+ (2024), ACN supports seminarian and priest formation, transportation, construction, and Mass Stipends that support 10% of priests worldwide.
Nigeria · Burkina Faso · Lebanon +4 more
CMMB provides long-term, community-based health solutions in Haiti, Kenya, Peru, South Sudan, and Zambia through the CHAMPS program for mothers and children, medical supply donations, volunteer placements, HIV/AIDS services, and tropical disease prevention. Volunteer options include 6-month+ international, internships, and remote positions.
Haiti · Kenya · Peru +2 more
CVN is the national network for Catholic volunteer programs. Their RESPONSE directory lists 200+ vetted volunteer programs covering every length of service from weeks to years. CVN annually supports 10,000+ volunteers in domestic and international service.
United States and 108 countries
USCMA is the national network of Catholic mission organizations — religious congregations, lay associations, diocesan offices, and individuals committed to global and local evangelization. Provides formation, networking, and advocacy for the US Catholic mission community.
United States — members serve globally
The four Pontifical Mission Societies — Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter Apostle, and Missionary Union — support the universal Church's mission through prayer, awareness, and fundraising in every US diocese.
195 US dioceses — global mission support
Founded in 1950 by Mother Teresa, the Missionaries of Charity have 5,000+ sisters in 130+ countries serving refugees, former prostitutes, the mentally ill, street children, lepers, AIDS patients, and the elderly. Programs include Nirmal Hriday (Home for Pure of Heart) and Shanti Nagar leprosy colony.
India · Kenya · Ethiopia +4 more
Xaverian Missionaries pursue intercultural mission, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for the poor. The Lay Xaverian Missionary Program places volunteers in mission. Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary focus on evangelization, catechesis, healthcare, and human promotion.
Brazil · Cameroon · DRC +7 more
Founded in 1720, the Passionists preach Christ crucified through service to the poor and suffering. Missions include Haiti, Honduras, and Jamaica with schools, clinics, and outreach; China, India, Japan, and Africa. Programs include urban youth ministries, medical care, and literacy education.
Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica +4 more
Founded by Vincent de Paul in 1625, the Vincentians (Congregation of the Mission) have 3,100+ members in 95 countries. They evangelize the poor, form diocesan clergy, serve in parishes in small towns and villages, and run seminaries. Closely linked to the Daughters of Charity and Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Brazil · Ethiopia · India +5 more
St. Joseph's Missionary Society (Mill Hill) was founded in 1866 and has served in Borneo since 1881 — one of the longest continuous Catholic missions. Mill Hill Missionaries run formation centers and missionary parishes across Africa and Asia.
Kenya · Uganda · Tanzania +4 more
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul — distinct from the Vincentian congregation — is a lay Catholic organization providing direct charitable service to the poor. Founded in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam, SVdP operates in 150 countries through home visits, food pantries, emergency assistance, housing support, and disaster relief.
USA · France · Ireland +3 more
The Claretians have 3,000+ priests and brothers in 70 countries reaching 850,000+ people worldwide. Known for quality Catholic education, biblical publishing, parishes, social welfare, environmental advocacy, and UN representation. Volunteer programs through Proclade in multiple countries.
India · Philippines · Brazil +3 more
The Augustinians have served in mission for 780 years, with notable long-term work in Peru (50+ years, Diocese of Chulucanas — 22 parishes, 1 hospital, 1 Catholic university, soup kitchens, pharmacies) and Japan. Work spans pastoral ministry, education, social outreach, and social justice.
Peru · Philippines · Japan +3 more
The General Secretariat for Franciscan Missions (US) coordinates 600+ missions worldwide in India, Philippines, Vietnam, Argentina, and Mozambique. Programs include poverty relief, disaster relief, food and water provision, education, healthcare, women's and children's assistance, and seminary/vocations support.
India · Philippines · Vietnam +2 more
Cap Corps places young adults in year-long service with Capuchin Franciscan soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, and healthcare clinics. Volunteers live in community, receive formation in Franciscan spirituality, and serve the most vulnerable in Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York, and Milwaukee.
United States
With 2,000+ sisters operating 160+ service organizations with tens of thousands of staff and volunteers, the Sisters of Mercy serve through teaching, medical care, and community programs across the Americas, Caribbean, Guam, and Philippines. International missions in Honduras (since 1959), Peru, and India.
USA · Puerto Rico · Guam +4 more
SEDOS is a Rome-based service organization for 85 member congregations engaged in global mission. It provides documentation, research, seminars, and formation programs for missionary institutes. Members include major congregations from the Union of Superiors General and International Union of Superiors General.
Vatican City — members serve globally
Cross Catholic Outreach connects donors with global Catholic missions providing food, shelter, water, education, and orphan care in 30+ countries. Partners with local Catholic organizations and missionaries to ensure effective delivery.
Haiti · Guatemala · Honduras +4 more