There are a variety of topics to research and with which to familiarize yourself before embarking on your mission journey. There are also resources that can guide you upon your return. Together, all of these topics will help you to gain a greater perspective of mission. If you have a favorite resource, please share that with us so we can add it to the list- this is your resource page!

Mission: History, Theology, and Spirituality

• What is the Mission of the Church? A Guide for Catholics, Roger P. Schroeder (2008)
• Missionary Movement in American Catholic History, Angelyn Pries, OSF (1998)
• Constants in Context: Theology of Mission for Today, Stephen B. Bevans and Roger Schroeder (2004)
• Reading the Clouds: Mission Spirituality for New Times, Anthony J. Gittins (1999)
• Changing Frontiers of Mission, Wilbert R. Shenk (1999)
• Mission in Today’s World, Donal Dorr (2000)
• Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, David J. Bosch (1991)
• Catholic Social Teaching in Global Perspective, Daniel McDonald, S.J. (not yet released)
• In God’s Womb: A Spiritual Memoir, Edwina Gateley (2009)

Mission Experience

• CONNECTIONS: A Directory of Volunteer Opportunities Across the Country and Around the World, provided by St. Vincent Pallotti Center for Apostolic Development, published each year.
• RESPONSE: A Directory of Full-time, Faith-based Volunteer Opportunities, Catholic Volunteer Network, published each year.
• Maryknoll Magazine
• Salvador Witness: The Life and Calling of Jean Donovan, Ana Carrigan (2005)
• Martyr of the Amazon: The Life of Sister Dorothy Stang, Roseanne Murphy (2007)

Region Specific

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola, Michelle Wucker (1999)
• Dominican Republic: Beyond the Lighthouse, James Ferguson (1992)
• I…Rigoberta Menchu: An Indigenous Woman in Guatemala, Rigoberta Menchu (1984)
• Sharing Faith Across the Hemisphere, Mary M. McGlone, CSJ (1997)
• Return to El Salvador (DVD), A documentary about life after the civil war. Directed by Jamie Moffett (2010).

Africa

• Why Africa Matters, Cedric Mason (2010)
• What is the What, Dave Eggers (2007)
• The African Continent: An Insight Into Its Earliest History, Luc Croegaert (1999)

Asia

• Christians in China, A.D. 600 to 2000, Jean-Pierre Charbonnier (2002)
• China: Its History and Culture, W. Scott Morton & Charlton M. Lewis. Eds (2005)
• River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, Peter Hessler (2001)
• Holy Spirit Study Centre, Diocese of Hong Kong. www.hsstudyc.org.hk 

Making the Journey Home: Re-Integration Resources

The From Mission to Mission website provides a variety of reintegration resources for returned missioners including workshops, publications, and an opportunity for membership in their network. 

The Global Citizen: A Journal for Young Adults Engaging the World Through Service. This journal is published by The Krista Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated for forging leaders of commitment in a complex world. They provide resources and mentorships for volunteers before, during, and for several years after service.  

Overseas Ministries Study Center (OMSC) is an organization that seeks to strengthen the Christian world mission by providing residential programs for missionary renewal, research and public forums for the advancement of mission scholarship, and continuing education in cross-cultural mission.