Charlotte Carpenter
Director of Benefits and Risk Management
100 East Eighth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 421-3131 ext. 2852
Trips - Domestic & International
Archdiocesan priests, staff, faculty, students and parishioners regularly travel both domestically and abroad for ministry related purposes. International travel may pose health and safety risks, and for this reason, travelers are encouraged to carefully and thoroughly plan for trips prior to departure. Preparation for travel should take into consideration government warnings, Archdiocesan policies, health insurance including medical and security evacuation, and country-specific requirements.
Informational Links
- Key Points for Planning
- Permission & Release Form
- Planning Check List
- Safe Environment for Children & Youth
Resourceful Links
- US Department of State
- CDC Traveler’s Health
- Passport Health USA
- Gallagher Charitable – Travel Insurance
- Foreign Trip Coverage
Why Should We Go On Immersion/Mission Trips
- Not so much to do for others on short trips but to being with others, developing longer-term friendships with prayer and solidarity, growing together in Christ.
- Not to view others as objects of our pity but to become sisters and brothers in Christ, learning to eliminate the causes of ignorance, poverty and oppression together for the long haul.
- Not so much to convert, help, or teach others, but to invite our hosts to seek our conversions toward God together through dialogue about faith, struggles and dreams for God’s reign.
Why should we travel? Pope Francis says, “To get acquainted with other people and other cultures” as this experience “makes us grow”. “If we are isolated in ourselves, we have only what we have, we cannot develop culturally; instead, if we seek out other people, other cultures, other ways of thinking, other religions, we go out of ourselves and start that most beautiful adventure which is called ‘dialogue’”. Dialogue does not allow for closure and conflict, “because we talk to each other to find ourselves and not in order to quarrel”.
How shall we travel and dialogue? The Holy Father ask that we travel “With meekness! Develop the ability to find people, to find culture peacefully; develop the ability to ask intelligent questions like, “But why are you thinking like this? Why does this culture do this? Do this by “first listening, then speaking. All this is meekness.” 2013-08-22 L’Osservatore Romano
For an excellent mission trip planning booklet, “What about Short-Term Mission” A Guide for Leaders and Participants for Short-Term Mission Experiences” order from www.missiontomission.org.
The Third Wave of Mission is a source for video modules and services to help plan and improve mission trips and parish twinning relationships. Learn more.
The Archdiocesan Mission Office is ready to serve you as well at: mission@catholiccincinnati.org.