God bless you for considering being a part of a St. EAS Summer Mission Team! These pages contain detailed information about our Summer Missions Program: What we do, what we require of team members, location information and more. We appreciate you taking the time to check out the details. The photos on this page are from some of the last mission trips in Steubenville and Cincinnati.

2020 St. EAS Summer Mission Program

More than a Mission Trip!We meet monthly, we work together at our Lenten Fish Fries, we do a team service project, and have a special day just for the Mission Teams. We have tons of fun doing it! We’re a Team before we leave on the mission trip!

St. EAS’s Summer Mission Teams traveled to New Orleans beginning in 2003 through 2013. We helped in rebuilding efforts in Joplin, MO from 2012-2014. We began going to Ohio to work with the Franciscans for the Poor in Cincinnati in 2014 with two Teams, returned in 2015 with two Teams, and returning with one team in 2018. In 2016, we went to Milwaukee, WI and stayed at the Holy Hill shrine. We worked with Catholic Heart WorkCamp in 2017, working in Denver, CO, and 2019, working in Steubenville, OH. This summer, we will be returning to Cincinnati for the 6th time. We will volunteer

with a variety of agencies that serve human needs and build community with each other in a simple lifestyle in the Tau Community House.

St. EAS Summer Missions Program

This trip will begin with a Franciscan Youth Conference in Steubenville, OH. The conference will be held at the Franciscan University campus in Steubenville, OH from July 17th -19th. Steubenville is 255 miles northeast

of Cincinnati. We will stay in dorms on the FUS campus.

Team Composition: - 12-15 teens; 3 adults. Max is 15 teensLocation Profile: - Cincinnati is located in Southwestern Ohio near the border of the Kentucky state line and has a population of just under 300,000 people.

Ministry sites: - Franciscans For the Poor offers a unique opportunity for groups to live out the Gospel message of justice through outreach to the poor and undeserved. We

will be working at a different ministry site each day. This allows team members an opportunity to discern where his/her gifts and talents may lie and how to utilize those gifts and talents back home at other social service work sites. Examples of service include: preparing and serving food for the hungry and homeless, care for young children in community centers,

A few Testimonies from the Steubenville Youth Conferences:“The room came to life with Christ. I saw my faith in a new light. I began to realize what it means to be a Catholic teenager in this day and age, and what a true and beautiful gift it really is.” -Youth Conference Participant

“This conference allowed me to see Christ for the first time. Throughout the weekend I experienced Him, and all the love and grace he has for me and for everyone else. Because of the conference I have become more devoted to Christ and fallen deeper in love with my faith.” -Youth Conference ParticipantFor more information on the conferences in Steubenville, visit www.steubenvilleconferences.com/youth

Fundraising and Financial Commitments

In the past, some people have said that the price of a mission trip discouraged them from looking further into applying. Many Team members pull in an average of over 50% of their personal fundraising goal through our different fundraising opportunities, and some even more than that.Each Team member accepts responsibility for meeting his/her personal fundraising goal of $875 for the Cinci 6 Team. The fundraising goal for each team includes the cost of the Franciscan Youth Conference.In the past, each Team member has had the opportunity to reduce his/her fundraising goal by an average of $300-400 by participating in the Lenten Fish Fries. We hope that the 2020 Fish fries will be as profitable!We will also be selling things we’ve made at the craft show and fish fry and have a few restaurant fundraisers throughout the yearPlease be aware that we need to pay for many of the mission expenses months before the trip begins. The payment schedule is as follows: $75 nonrefundable deposit with application, $100 due ($175 total) by Jan. 22nd, $200 due ($375 total) by Feb. 12th, $200 due ($575 total) by April 15th, $150 due ($725 total) by May 13th, $150 due ($875 total) for by June 17th. Total cost of mission trip is $875.Fish Fry fundraising amounts will be determined and applied by the April 15th meeting. There will be a limited number of scholarships awarded for financial need. Scholarship applications will be available at the January 22nd meeting and are due by the February 12th meeting. Recipients will be announced at the April 15th meeting.

Before you fill out your ApplicationCarefully and prayerfully study the options, explanations and requirements. Ask questions. Talk with those who have been on previous Mission Teams. Discuss applying for a Mission Team with your family. Call or email the Youth Ministry Office to help you discern if a mission trip is right for you. You will be committing to a very active missions program from December through the next summer, NOT just a mission trip! All expectations and mission money schedules must be met.Priority will be given to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton teens, adults and those actively involved in our Youth Ministry Program. We’ll consider applications from non St. EAS parishioners beginning November 1st on a first come, first served basis.

Mission Meeting Dates! Mark your Calendars!Nov 6th, Dec 11th, Jan 22nd, Feb 12th, March 4th, April 15th, May 13th

Mission Retreat Day: TBD- Sometime in June/Early July

A couple of things are needed to fully complete the formal application for a Mission Team:☐Completed Application:

Parental permission is required on the mission application for anyone who will be under 19 at the start of the trip. Applications are available in the parish office or on the parish website. (www.elizabethannseton.org)

☐$75 nonrefundable deposit per mission team:Applications received without deposit will not be considered until deposit money is received. (Checks payable to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church [St. EAS]) This deposit is refundable for those not selected. For those who are selected and later need to withdraw, all money turned in is non-refundable if a paying replacement cannot be found.

Send Application and deposit to: 2020 Summer Mission Teams

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1023 McHenry Ave,

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Important Notes• Teams have limited available spots. Application does not guarantee acceptance.• Adult Team members also need to: complete background check forms and

complete a Rockford Diocese required Protecting God’s Children online training. Adults also need to complete the Adult Applicant Expectation Agreement.

Questions?Call the Youth Ministry Office: 815.459.3033 Laura Knipp ex. 231

Mission Applications and Support Letters are also available online at www.elizabethannseton.org

How to Apply for Missions

Fundraising Opportunities

Lenten Fish Fry - Four Fridays from March 6th to March 27thIt takes over 75 volunteers on many work crews to run each of our Friday Fish Fries. We serve an average of 300-400 dinners each night. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for our summer missions and teens can raise a lot of money to put towards missions depending on how many hours they help. It is expected that ALL mission families will somehow help with our 17th season.

Fundraiser at Fish FryWe will be having a fundraiser at Fish Fry with a poster board saying how much it costs for each expense on mission with envelopes for people to donate.

Potbelly FundraiserWe will most likely be having a fundraiser at potbelly in which the restaurant donates 25% of all proceeds for those who mention St. EAS Mission Trips. We are still trying to finalize this one. We may do this at a few other restaurants as well.

We need the help of all our Mission Team members and parents to make sure all our fundraising goals are met.

Past Cincinnati Mission Team Testimonies

Jolie Felton

Before the mission trip, my family had never been that involved in church or going to Mass every week. When I started Confirmation class, I met some people who were going on the mission trip, so I decided to give it a try. I was not sure I would like it or if I would be accepted, since I wasn’t that involved with our religion at the time. Once we got to Steubenville, I experienced our Lord in a way so powerful, that I thought it couldn’t get any better. Little did I know, the next week would be the best experience of my life. The people going into the mission trip were just some acquaintances, but when the week was done they were my brothers and sisters in Christ. We grew so close that the day after we got home, we had to hang out already. On the trip, we experienced miracles and helped to better people’s lives.We strengthened our relationship with God, Mary, and each other and made memories we wouldn’t trade for anything else in the world. The mission trip has impacted my life so greatly and I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to go every year. My relationship with God is stronger than ever and I love the people we went with.

Anonymous

This mission trip was spiritually fulfilling on an even deeper level than my first trip. It opened me to experiences that pushed me to be more for those around me. I was initially nervous about interacting with the community, but found from the first day that the work came easily when He was with me. I was able to verbally pray with others in a way that I have never done before, even with a stranger. At each site, I was able to make a difference through service. One of the most amazing things, though, was that He actually spoke to me through my own mind, helping me to discern where it was that I was meant to be. I learned to listen to His voice, letting him guide me to the different sites. I came to realize that God has a different relationship with each of his children and that He communicates with us in different ways.