Ministries - Youth Ministry
Mission Trip

In the summer of 2007, we took 30 people from all over the Diocese of Chicago to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to work on Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. In the summer of 2008, we took 57 people to continue our Katrina Relief efforts. In the summer of 2009, we took 38 people to the Mississippi Gulf Coast!  Join us in 2010, there is more work to be done!

For: High School and College students and the Adults who work with them!

Cost:  still being determined, depending on fundraising efforts.

Base cost is about $550 per person.    Youth costs will be partially subsidized so that high school students may attend the Mission Trip.

Final cost has not yet been set, it will depend on the success of our fundraising efforts.
Total cost may be up to $550 a person, we are hoping to keep actual cost under $300.

We ask everyone to participate in fundraising to assist in the cost of their own participation.  This can include fundraisers in your congregation, helping with the Diocesan Fundraiser, contacting family and friends for help.

Travel:  We will be traveling via Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans, renting vans in New Orleans and driving to Mississippi. 

Train Schedule:

Arrival at Union Station on Friday July 30, will be by 6:00 p.m.  All participants must check in with our group.  All tickets are on a group ticket, so we must all board together!

What will we be doing?

Helping to rebuild homes in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.  

The Diocese of Chicago’s 2010 Mission Trip is a ministry to the people whose lives were affected by Hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis, Long Beach, Pearlington, and other areas in Mississippi. Volunteers participating in the activities of the mission trip will be expected to be involved in specific repair and building activities including, but not limited to: gutting houses, cleaning debris, gardening, yard work, roofing, carpentry, dry walling, digging and building steps, plumbing, glasswork, insulating, painting, flooring, masonry, electrical wiring and other facets of repair, remodeling and renovation. These activities include, but are not limited to: the use of power tools such as saws and drills, as well as the use of hand tools. The foregoing activities will also require climbing with and without supplies, tools and materials as well as working in high places such as on roofs and other facets of construction work.

Volunteers may, in their free time, engage in non-sponsored activities including, swimming, or other sports activities of their choosing. Planned evening activities may include, but are not limited to: visiting the local community, traveling to visit places or people of regional interest.

Note: Volunteers are not required to engage in any work or recreational activity in which they feel they are not

physically able to safely participate.

Informational Meeting

**We do require that all participants attend at least two of the Prep meetings and ideally the overnight.  

***ALL people attending the Mission trip MUST have the Keeping God’s People Safe Training.  It will be offered in conjunction with one of our prep meetings for the Mission Trip.

**Adults attending the Mission trip may need to have a background check.

**We also suggest that you visit your local Home Depot or similar store and ask them for training in using tools, power tools etc.  If you tell them you need the skills for a mission trip, they usually offer this service for free.  

Link to pictures from the 2008 Diocesan Wide Mission Trip

Link to pictures from the 2007 Diocesan Wide Mission Trip:

Purpose of a Diocesan-wide Mission Trip:

• To provide a way for young people in congregations that do not have the resources, or who do not otherwise provide opportunities for mission trips to attend a mission trip.
• To provide ways for those who have scheduling conflicts with their own congregational mission trip to attend a Mission trip (i.e. Camp folks)
• To provide more opportunities for mission trips for young people.
• For the Diocese of Chicago to provide resources for Mission and Outreach work. (limited)
• To provide another opportunity for young people in the Diocese of Chicago to come together in ministry.

Facts about Hurricane Katrina:

• Hurricane Katrina was the third strongest hurricane to make landfall in the US.
• Federal disaster declarations covered 90,000 square miles of the US, an areas as large as the United Kingdom.
• Mississippi officials estimate that 90% of the structures within a half mile of the coastline were completely destroyed.
• The recovery process has been approximated to take a minimum of 10 years.

For more information on the Mission Trip for the Diocese of Chicago contact Sue Cromer, Canon for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at (312) 751-6722.