Our Work: U.S. Programs — Friends Across Borders (FAB)

Frequently Asked Questions Print this Page

Q. What will we do in our Immersion/Service Learning Trip?

A. FAB provides more than a short, hands-on service experience. We provide opportunities for engagement and interaction with communities. Our participants meet and learn from local people and grassroots groups. We provide a variety of activities such as lectures, liturgical celebrations, artistic and other community events and celebrations, and time for reflection. We focus on knowing the culture, the reality, and the people we serve as well as the lives and works of our missioners through visits to Maryknoll Lay Missioner’s projects.

Q. You mention Maryknoll Lay Missioners projects.  What type of projects? 

A. Maryknoll Lay Missioners serves in a variety of ministries and services to the poor.  We work in health specific program such as primary health care, health education and rehabilitation, nutrition, education, formal and informal, sustainable development, leadership training, promotion of women and children, ecology, legal assistance and a variety of pastoral works. This is a rich experience for all. 

A. We Lay Missioners commit ourselves to three full years of service and one of preparation. We know that service requires a longer commitment. However, we consider these immersion/service-learning experiences as a taste of mission. We share with you our experience and work by providing an opportunity for you of giving a brief time of your talent to a specific community. 

Q. What does spirituality have to do with our Immersion/Service Learning Trip? 

A. We've witnessed again and again, that when people from our country receive  the warmth and hospitality of people living in conditions of poverty,  and sharing with us their lives and faith perspective, we experience both deep gratitude for what we have at home and also a deep connection with the people who have helped us to discover that knowledge of God's goodness.  This is spiritual growth, a kind of reawakening. 

Q. Do the local people get anything out of the encounter? 

A. People who have been working in this field continue to "sit with" this question.  It's a question which must always remain in the forefront during our trips.

People we've visited in the past thank us for coming to visit them as much as we thank them for hosting us and opening their lives to us. When we have asked members of the a visiting communities what message they had for us.  They said, "Well it's a message of friendship. We are all sons and daughters of God, and we just have to find ways to eliminate these barriers which separate us."

We are committed to relationships of mutuality.  Friendship implies a commitment to each other which is expressed in concrete ways.  We hope that our trip participants will discover ways to stay connected with Maryknoll Lay Missioners and the people it serves.  We also hope that the Spirit will guide each in a life response to work to improved conditions of life and overcome poverty for all people in the world.