2026 Holy Week Missions send out more than 3800 missionaries across the North American Territory to serve the Church
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
This Holy Week, nearly 4000 missionaries from the United States, Canada, and the Philippines, went out into the world as Christ’s Apostles—rooted, grounded, and anchored in him and in his word. This year’s theme—Unshaken—inspired the missionaries to go out fearlessly and with purpose, to establish a Kingdom founded on the Rock, a Kingdom that the chaos and the storms of the world cannot shake.
Listen to this year’s theme song
What is a Holy Week Mission?
Holy Week Missions are a signature mission experience for Mission Youth & Family, an apostolate of Regnum Christi. Palm Sunday ushers in the holiest week of the liturgical year, during which Catholics remember and celebrate the fact that God became man and died on the cross to save humanity. In numerous sites across the North American territory, Regnum Christi members went into the streets, serving their parishes, the poor, and those in most need, sharing the message of God’s love and mercy.
2026 Holy Week Missions
This year, Mission Youth & Family missionaries at 18 localities spent Holy Week bringing people close to the heart of Jesus, serving with him through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy through:
- Catechesis for children
- Spending time with the elderly and the homebound
- Going out to the streets and to shelters to serve those experiencing hunger and homelessness
- Praying for the deceased in cemeteries
- Visiting families in their homes and praying for help and healing
- Ministering to people on the streets and asking for prayer requests
- Planning Easter celebrations in disadvantaged local communities
- Serving and collaborating with local parishes, pastors, and bishops as they prepared for the Holy Triduum
- Visiting addiction treatment centers and prisons
- Leading Stations of the Cross, Cross Walks, Living Rosaries, Holy Hours, and a Seven-Church pilgrimage
- Providing, inviting to, and participating in the sacrament of confession and the celebration of the Eucharist
- Celebrating and sharing the joy of Easter!
Scroll down to keep reading, or click on the name of a city to read about their mission:
Atlanta
Over 200 missionaries came from all over the Greater Atlanta Area to experience the Triduum in a radically different way, Holy Week Missions. Mercy Missions Atlanta partnered with St. Pius X Catholic High School to bring high schoolers, college students, and young professionals together through impactful service, meaningful encounters, and heartfelt prayer over the three days.
Missionaries were formed through talks and testimony and through team life led by committed young adults, legionary priests, fransican brothers, and consecrated women. Throughout each day mission teams were sent far and wide to blanket the city of Atlanta with Christ’s love and mercy by serving in a wide variety of ministries such as street missions, MARTA encounters, food pantry packing, rehab home visits, soup kitchen service, and many more. Good Friday brings the Lord’s Passion and in remembrance missionaries take part in a live stations of the cross right through the streets of Downtown Atlanta escorted by Atlanta Police.
Through Jesus’ love and mercy, missionaries were able to serve thousands of meals to those in need, encounter people needing comfort and consolation, and stand as a testament of God’s presence to the people of Atlanta. A heartfelt thanks to all those who made this mission possible and Mercy Missions Atlanta partner organizations: St. Pius X Catholic High School, Basilica of the Sacred Heat of Jesus, Salvation Army, AG Rhodes & Rehab, Urban Recipe, Seven Bridges to Recovery, & Atlanta Police Department.
We had two tracks. The overnight track consisted of high schoolers, lead by college students and young adults, from Holy Thursday until Easter Vigil. These 110 missionaries attended all the Holy Week services at Sacred Heart Basilica in downtown Atlanta. They spent the day in teams serving at local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and nursing homes as well as doing street missions in all the homeless areas of the Atlanta.
The missionaries could be found riding the city transit system, the Marta, all day passing out coffee and collecting prayer intentions. God provided beautiful weather allowing hundred of passersby to stop and pray with the missionaries as they remembered the Passion of Jesus. On Holy Saturday, 60 more young adults joined the mission to help serve the homeless living under the bridges of Atlanta. The mission concluded with a Easter Vigil party with food, testimonies and a concert by the RC Music Collective in a local restaurant downtown owned by a Lumen Institute member.
“A highlight for me was participating in the the stations of the cross in downtown Atlanta. I was able to play the part of one of the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus. The weather was beautiful on Good Friday and so many people stopped to pray the stations with us. Our police escort stopped traffic in some of the busiest urban streets of Atlanta allowing the stations to be seen by hundreds. Standing in the shoes of a Roman soldier, I was able to pray the stations like never before and witness up close the patience of Christ and the depths of his love for me and the world.” -Stephen Perenich RC Mission Corps.
Family missions and ECYD missions with about 300 missionaries were also held in the Suburbs of Atlanta, in Forsyth county, where missionaries served at St. Brendan’s Parish and Good Shepherd parish, as well as in the local community.
“I have been participating in family missions for 14 years. This year we were at St. Brendan in Cumming. What consolation it brings me to see my grandchildren desire to do missions! I was filled with how missions awaken the hearts of the missionaries and those receiving! Missionaries went brought cards and Easter candy to inmates in the county jail, provided an Easter meal and bags with notes and gift cards to a local girl home that serves girls who have been abused and a boys’ home that serves boys who have left home for various reasons. Then a trip to the cemetery to pray for the dead and sprinkle holy water on the graves. Saturday was for visiting the nursing homes and bringing cheer and going door to door to invite others in the community to celebrate Christmas with us at the parish.” – Lucy Daniels
Charlotte
In Charlotte, approximately 200 missionaries from St. Michael’s Parish, local Regnum Christi members, and other families from the diocese gathered for Gastonia’s eighth annual Holy Week Missions, serving over 500 people.
Outreach included:
- Feeding the poor (with 200 barbecue sandwich lunches)
- Visiting homebound parishioners and area nursing homes
- Preparing 300 Easter baskets for kids living in poverty and in the local trailer parks
- Completing service work on the parish campus
- Celebrating a Catholic Seder meal
- Praying a rosary for the dead
“Weaving the mission into the Triduum liturgies allows us to be driven by the graces we receive from our blessed Lord. This was our eighth year, and the event has built up momentum. It is getting easier to organize and more and more impactful to the parish community and the surrounding area. Families are changed because of this!”– Matt Tortorich
Chicago
“Seeing so many young people and families join this year’s Holy Week mission brought me immense hope and joy. It was truly inspiring to witness such a strong community presence. I am confident that many lives were deeply moved by these encounters with Christ’s love and mercy.”– Mirta Garcia
During the Triduum, over 100 missionaries from Regnum Christi Chicago gathered to pray, serve, and evangelize to over 500 people.
Their mission began on Holy Thursday, when 30 participants joined the Seven Churches pilgrimages organized by Everest Academy. Starting at St. James in Lemont, Illinois, the group visited various churches throughout the southwest and western suburbs.
On Good Friday, 40 missionaries participated in a three-mile Cross Walk on Michigan Avenue, from Old St. Mary’s Parish to the Bean. They were joined by the Legionaries of Christ and students from the Sacred Heart Apostolic School in Indiana, witnessing to and praying with approximately 300 people.
“One particularly moving moment involved a young woman who was visibly touched to tears by the sight of the cross; though she was unable to speak, she nodded when asked for a prayer intention. It was a powerful reminder of how God’s grace touches hearts in mysterious ways.”– Mirta Garcia, director of Regnum Christi Chicago
The mission concluded on Holy Saturday with 47 missionaries volunteering at the Pacific Garden Mission on the Near West Side. Among the volunteers were Fr. Andrew Kolenda, LC, and Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, Catherine Macora. The missionaries assisted in setting up the tables and serving the Easter brunch. The Pacific Garden Mission serves over 1,500 meals daily to those in need, and it was a privilege to support their important work on such a special occasion.
Cincinnati
Greater Ohio Valley was mission-filled during Holy Week.
For the second year, the Holy Week Mission of Mercy returned to Covington, Kentucky. Partnering with Regnum Christi’s Mission Youth, high school students were invited to spend Holy Week accompanying Jesus and taking their faith to the streets, sharing the love of Jesus with those who perhaps would not make it to church themselves.
This year’s 155 missionaries included:
- 75 high school students
- 40 adult volunteers
- 12 young adult team leaders
- 12 elementary school children
- 7 Franciscan Daughters of Mary
- 5 diocesan seminarians
- 3 Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi
- 5 Legionary of Christ priest
- Countless behind-the-scenes supporters
The Holy Thursday Last Supper celebration was followed by a holy hour at St. Pius and Good Friday Cross Walks in Covington, Dayton, and Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Cross Walk finished at the Church of the Immaculata, where the missionaries joined Archbishop Robert Casey for the celebration of Good Friday Passion.
Door-to-door missions were held in Covington on Good Friday and Holy Saturday with ECYD girls and boys and more youth from throughout the area, directed by Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, Carrie O’Connor. They also hosted a Festival of Hope for children on Holy Saturday at the Rose Garden Mission.
“I prayed for a person on the street and ended with, ‘that when this is all over, may we meet again one day.’ In the silence of our walk back, I started thinking about that one line. To me, it meant that there’s a chance that one day, if, by the grace of God, we make it to heaven, someone will run up to us and say through tears, “Remember me? You are the reason I’m here today! You met me right where I was and brought me back to him!” Just think about how the work we did could’ve brought home a lost sheep. We are truly the hands and feet of Jesus. I went home with a smile on my face that couldn’t be wiped off.”– Ava, high school volunteer
“I was impressed by the courage of the young adults to speak to strangers about the role of Christ in their lives. All of us need to approach our everyday relationships in much the same manner!”– Ken, adult volunteer
Dallas
“We encountered a man on the street who was moved by one of the youth’s kindness and approached the group to seek help because he was suicidal. We were able to connect him with the help he needed!”– Zuzi Oseguera
Approximately 300 youth, young adults, and families gathered from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area, based in three diocesan parishes: Holy Trinity, St. Cecilia, and Santa Clara. Mission Youth Dallas missionaries served the less fortunate at a variety of locations, including food pantries, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. They also participated in a cemetery restoration, hosted a carnival for underprivileged kids, and did door-to-door missions. The missionaries served approximately 1000 people this year.
Missionaries also had the special privilege of having Fr. Andrew Dalton, LC, give a young adult retreat on Good Friday evening on the Shroud of Turin.
“What an impact to mission as a community of apostles, and expand it beyond the missionaries that were present! One highlight in particular was during the cemetery restoration visit, one of the young adult missionaries, who was praying for the departed souls, had the inspiration to call her mom and invite her to join her in prayer for the souls in purgatory. How inspiring to see one missionary reach out to the woman who herself had been a missionary in years past and who had taught her daughter how to be an apostle and how to expand Christ’s Kingdom!”– Zuzi Oseguera
“The highlight of these missions was seeing the kids on fire for the Lord. It was amazing to see people who genuinely want to be there serving… whether rain or shine, everyone was there on a mission. The high school kids also did an overnight mission, so it was beautiful to see them open themselves up to the Lord’s grace and share their testimonies with everyone. We also did an impactful night activity for them that made them realize how short and fragile life really is.”– Sara Mora
Detroit
“Overall, both missions fostered evangelization, community engagement, and deep spiritual renewal among participants and local communities. Across both missions, a common theme emerged: evangelization is not limited to a single week—it is a way of life.”– Kristy Farrell
This year, Regnum Christi Detroit held both Family Missions and Youth Missions, with a total of 145 missionaries serving approximately 400 community members.
FAMILY MISSIONS
The 2026 Family Missions brought a vibrant and impactful presence to the St. Damian of Molokai and St. Michael parishes in Pontiac, Michigan, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. Kicking off with a meaningful vigil Seder dinner, the missions engaged a substantial force of 170 missionaries, including 65 dedicated missionary families, in a week of profound spiritual service. Their efforts extended into the heart of the community, with missionaries visiting 60 homes, which in some cases included a house blessing. A lively kids’ camp provided engaging activities and spiritual formation for children aged 2 to 12, ensuring the mission’s reach spanned generations.
A key aspect was the active and full participation of both the missionaries and the faithful in the solemn liturgies of Paschal Triduum, including the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Stations of the Cross and the Lord’s Passion with veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, the joyous Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night, and ending with Easter Sunday Mass. This deep involvement in parish liturgies was largely attended due to an invitation from the parish pastor, Fr. Jacob Vanassche, underscoring the strong collaboration between the RC missions and the local Church.
Beyond community outreach, the mission offered healing and prayer ministry. Dedicated healing prayer teams ministered to more than 45 individuals, providing in some cases physical healing, comfort, and intercession. The missionaries also demonstrated a commitment to life through prayer outside an abortion clinic. A notable sign of spiritual hunger and repentance was the presence of long lines for confession and anointing.
“Healing prayer was offered to parishioners and missionaries. A particularly moving testimony came from a participant who experienced healing not just spiritually, but physically. She had come with a lot of pain that had been a part of her life for many years, but through personal prayer, and prayer during the Healing Holy Hour offered on Holy Thursday, she was able to pass a kidney stone that night and has been pain-free since.”– Kristy Farrell
A new and particularly impactful addition this year was the Gethsemane Prayer Corner, offering a sacred space for contemplation and meditation to further deepen the spiritual intensity of this year’s mission experience.
YOUTH MISSIONS
The Detroit Regnum Christi Youth missioned this year at St. Clement of Rome parish in Romeo, Michigan. The joyful missionaries launched an inspiring week of evangelization and service, beginning with a meaningful Seder dinner on Palm Sunday and concluding on Easter Sunday. A dedicated team of 75 missionaries, including 25 young adult leaders, 40 enthusiastic teens, and 10 invaluable chaperones and drivers, brought their energy and faith to the local community. Demonstrating remarkable zeal, these young missionaries conducted 30 home visits in just two days, developing personal connections and spreading the message of Christ. Their commitment extended to street evangelization and a powerful live Stations of the Cross, deeply impacting those who witnessed their devotion.
A significant new dimension to this year’s Youth Mission was the integration of overnight stays at the parish, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared spiritual experience among the missionaries, further enriched by opportunities for personal sharing. In a powerful display of solidarity and conviction, the youth missionaries also joined their counterparts from the Detroit Family Missions in prayer and witness outside an abortion clinic, uniting their voices in a shared commitment to life. This immersive and active mission experience undoubtedly left a lasting impression on both the missionaries and the community of Romeo.
Houston
“In every encounter, the unshaken love of Christ was shared in a unique and personal way.”– Rosalia Gutierrez
This year’s Holy Week Missions in Houston were a powerful witness to Christ’s love in action. A total of 973 missionaries, organized into 30 teams across 33 mission sites, were sent out to serve communities throughout The Woodlands, Conroe, Houston, Katy, and surrounding areas. Among them were over 180 youth missionaries, with more than 100 committing to a three-day overnight mission experience.
Thanks to the generosity of Sts. Simon and Jude Parish, missionaries were able to distribute hundreds of Easter baskets, homeless care packages, and clothing and shoes to those in need. Throughout the week, thousands of families and community members were encountered and evangelized through both word and witness.
This year’s theme, Unshaken, was prayerfully developed by the youth, centering on the Unshaken Love of Christ. That message deeply marked the spirit of the missions rooted in peace, prayer, and a joyful urgency to share Christ with others. Each team was guided by team leaders, many of them couples, who accompanied missionaries both spiritually and practically.
Missionaries served in a wide variety of ways: visiting the elderly in nursing homes, supporting women’s shelters, hosting Easter celebrations for children in underserved communities, serving at food banks, reaching out to the homeless, renovating spaces for foster children, and more. As well, for the first time, they also had a group of missionaries at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Houston, which is assigned to the Legionaries of Christ, prayerfully accompanying Mary in her sorrow on Holy Saturday.
“It had a great impact on us to go on a mission to a public school in Conroe, where we observed a principal and a coordinator with hearts incredibly open to expressing the things of God to the students and their families. We were struck by the fact that they took the risk of inviting a group like ours to share the meaning of the Paschal Mystery, knowing that it is a public school and there may be people whose faith is not Christian, much less Catholic. Their attitude, their openness, and their willingness for us to speak about our Lord Jesus Christ touched our hearts. We believe this is a sign of these times, where our Lord is touching hearts so that—just as he asked of us—we may evangelize every creature.”– Linda and Abelardo Cruz
“For me, Holy Week missions were a moment to come back down to earth and truly realize how good God has been to me. Having the opportunity to serve Christ through the missions was something beautiful. Becoming a disciple of God and being able to share even a small part of the love he gives us fills my heart with joy.”– Fernanda Pelaez
Miami
The Regnum Christi team in Miama, made up of 32 missionaries, participated in a Cross Walk through the Coconut Grove area. They collected prayer intentions from passersby and those who approached, and added these intentions to their cross along the way. At the end, the team returned to St. Hugh Catholic Church, we they prayed together for all of those they had encountered along the way. They concluded by praying the Stations of the Cross together as a team in the church.
New Orleans
“Across these days, what emerged was more than a series of activities. It was a lived experience of the Gospel: young people stepping out in faith, encountering Christ in others, and allowing themselves to be transformed by the mystery they proclaimed.
By Easter morning, the missionaries did not simply celebrate the Resurrection—they carried within them the joy of having walked closely with Christ and shared Him with the world.”– Fr. Jaime Lorenzo
The Regnum Christi Louisiana Holy Week Mission 2026 brought together 42 missionaries from across southern Louisiana and beyond, uniting ECYD members, high schoolers, and young adults in a shared desire to live Holy Week with depth, purpose, and apostolic zeal. Participants traveled from Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, and New Orleans, forming a vibrant community rooted in faith and mission.
Guided by Fr. Jaime Lorenzo, LC, and Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, Margie Lademan, the mission ran from Wednesday of Holy Week through Easter Sunday morning, immersing participants in both the liturgical life of the Church and direct evangelization. Each day was marked by a powerful rhythm of prayer and mission. In the afternoons and evenings, the group entered deeply into the sacred mysteries of Holy Week through the liturgies at St. Louis Cathedral, celebrated with Archbishop James Checchio. From there, they were sent out into the heart of the city.
On Holy Thursday, missionaries encountered Christ in the poor through homeless outreach in the French Quarter, offering not only material support but presence, dignity, and prayer. Good Friday brought a bold public witness, with street evangelization and live Stations of the Cross, inviting passersby into the mystery of Christ’s Passion. On Holy Saturday, the mission extended to a rural parish, where participants went door-to-door, sharing the hope of the Resurrection with families.
“As director and chaplain, I saw how much our missionaries so beautifully gave of themselves to the people they served each day. There was no hesitation in sitting with the homeless people on the street, approaching people to pray with them, or when going door-to-door in rural neighborhoods, inviting people back to church. The hope they brought and the hope they also received was so powerful and real that there was no doubt that God was at work. Rarely were our missionaries treated with negativity or rejection. Most of them would come back sharing the multiple moments of joy, blessing, and hope that they encountered in the many diverse people they met on the road. And most of the time, the only message we all wanted to give was the love of Jesus and the desire to pray with them. We are also so grateful for the archbishop and other clergy, who so positively affirmed and thanked the young missionaries for the work of hope they did these days. It was meaningful to hear that to remind us that we were building up the Kingdom of God these days!”– Fr. Jaime Lorenzo
New York
“About 85% of those who went to confession or entered the church to pray were under 40 years old, mostly in their 30s!”– Mary Rohe
Holy Week Missions in New York took place at St. Patrick Cathedral for one day, and St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, for four days, reaching out to the people on the streets of NYC and inviting them back to the Lord. The 130 missionaries were made up of Regnum Christi members and friends, seminarians from Cheshire, and, for the first time, some FOCUS missionaries.
“We would strike up conversations and try to make meaningful connections, ultimately inviting them into the church to pray or to go to confession.”– Mary Rohe
Orlando
“The most touching part was the passionate dedication of the Body of Christ in our RC family, spanning all ages, to showering love on our community, which also represents all seasons & stages of life, and our RC family’s unwavering desire to keep doing so.”– Amy Kubelka
This was the second year of Holy Missions for RC Orlando. Activities included:
- Serving the unhoused by providing meals and cleaning the facilities and the grounds
- Visiting the elderly in nursing homes, singing songs and handing out Easter cards made by the “mini-missionaries”
- Praying with and for people they encountered on street missions
- Praying for the souls of the deceased at two cemeteries
- Holy Saturday Cross Walk and candle light rosary
“Thank you to Fr. Ben O’Loughlin, LC, for his formation and accompaniment of our Orlando missionaries! His guidance helped us all to allow our hearts to be more in sync with the heart of Christ as we loved others!”– Amy Kubelka
Philadelphia
Mission Youth Philly’s Holy Week 2026 mission brought together approximately 400 participants across multiple life stages, including 133 high school and college missionaries and archdiocesan priests and seminarians, 72 participants in the ECYD Family Mission, and about 200 additional individuals who joined the Living Stations in Center City Philadelphia.
Throughout the week, missionaries encountered and served over 600 people through evangelization, accompaniment, and works of mercy across the archdiocese.
Mission efforts included:
- Parish Missions: door-to-door evangelization at two parishes, inviting families back to the sacraments, and offering prayer
- Kensington Outreach: street evangelization and breakfast service to those experiencing homelessness and addiction
- Pro-Life Outreach: service with local organizations and prayerful witness outside an abortion facility (twice during the week)
- ECYD Family Mission (Center City): families and young missionaries evangelizing together in a visible, joyful witness
- Living Stations of the Cross: a public downtown procession engaging passersby and drawing approximately 200 participants
Missionaries were primarily high school and college students, accompanied by young adult leaders who were formed through daily prayer, apostolic work, and community life.
The week concluded with a half-day silent retreat on Holy Saturday and a 4:00 a.m. Easter Vigil Mass at sunrise, followed by a shared Easter breakfast.
“While going door-to-door at one of our parish missions, a missionary knocked on a door, not knowing what to expect. The person who answered shared that they had been going through a difficult time and hadn’t been back to Mass in years. After a simple conversation and praying with them right there, the missionary invited them back to Mass at the parish, and they were genuinely open to it. It was clear that God had been preparing that moment long before we arrived.”– Malorie Leach, director of Mission Youth Philly
Raleigh
“When we went out into the community to pray and to spread the Good News, Jesus reminded us that these are his people and that there is much work to do in his vineyard.”– Jan Cox
Approximately 50 missionaries served in Good Friday and Holy Saturday missions at St. Joseph’s Parish in Raleigh. This included adoration and a bilingual reenactment of the Stations of the Cross,
“The live bilingual reenactment of the Stations of the Cross in English and in Spanish made us appreciate all the suffering that Jesus did for us because he loves us. At the end of the Stations, our sadness was replaced with a tremendous love for our Savior who died for us and bore the weight of our sins on his shoulders.” –Jan Cox and Greg Roman
On each night, missionaries went out to different localities throughout the city to hand out food and religious articles, and ended both days by sharing their evangelization experiences.
San Antonio
“Community life was a recurring theme: praying the rosary, spending time in adoration, and sharing the mission with other families created a strong sense of unity.”– Eduardo Ross
This year, Holy Week missions, carried out in Spanish, took place in the northern area of San Antonio, where most of the missionary families belong to Holy Trinity Parish. The 139 missionaries took part in:
- A large Via Crucis organized by the archdiocese in downtown San Antonio
- Service to their sister parish, St. Timothy, where they were able to prepare food and gifts for the homeless who live in the area
- A procession and rosary in the park in front of St. Timothy to offer their condolences to the Virgin Mary
All the services of the Easter Triduum at Holy Trinity, including creating the lighted barrier for the Holy Thursday Blessed Sacrament repose procession
“Many missionaries shared that their greatest highlight was experiencing Holy Week as a family—praying together, attending the Triduum liturgies, and growing in faith side by side. They were moved by seeing children and families live their faith with enthusiasm, learning something new each day, and deepening their understanding of the meaning of Easter and the beauty of the liturgy in our Church. Serving others—especially helping at St. Timothy and connecting with people in need—made God’s presence tangible. Above all, participants felt welcomed, supported, and strengthened by a loving community that walked through the Holy Days together, making the experience both spiritually rich and deeply meaningful.”– Eduardo Ross
Washington D.C.
“While preparing for this mission, we initially wanted to organize something extraordinary for the high school participants. However, we soon realized that what Jesus truly desired from us was to create opportunities for the high schoolers to encounter him while serving others and sharing his message.”– Jennifer No
The High School Holy Week Mission in Washington, DC took place from Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning. In addition to the celebrations at Nativity Catholic Church, they carried out three main missions.
The first mission, called “Light the City,” took place on Thursday night. Missionaries went out into the streets to speak with people, ask for their prayer intentions, and remind them that Jesus gave his life to save them.
Missionaries encountered many individuals facing addiction, illness, or concern for loved ones, as well as others worried about peace in the world. Through prayer, music, conversations, and hot soup, they experienced Jesus in a powerful way during this first mission. Missionaries were especially blessed to invite some of the people they met on the streets to come with them to Eucharistic Adoration.
“There, before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, they were able to enter into a moment of silence, prayer, and personal encounter with Christ—an experience that revealed in a profound way that he was waiting for them, loving them, and desiring to meet them exactly where they were.”– Jennifer No
On Friday morning, missionaries carried out their second mission, “Bringing the Love of Jesus,” where they visited families in their homes to share Christ’s love. In preparation, the high schoolers organized reflections, games, and a list of food and essential items, which they purchased at a nearby Walmart as the first step of the visit. This process helped them think of others, appreciate what they have, and generously give their time.
“It is striking to realize that while we think we are bringing the love of Jesus, we often receive even more than we give. The families welcomed us warmly—they wanted to be heard, they longed for companionship, and they were deeply touched to be reminded that Jesus loves them and understands their suffering, just as He suffered for us on the Cross.”
“What initially seemed like a challenging task became a beautiful experience, as the high schoolers prepared and served food to the women at the shelter, then sat with them to talk and listen to their stories.”
Being nourished through the parish celebrations and the opportunity to serve and share the Word of Jesus through these missions created many meaningful encounters with him for each of the missionaries.
“During this Easter season, we continue to pray for all those we encountered—that the message may grow in their hearts, that they may feel Jesus’ love, and that we may continue saying ‘yes’ to being his apostles.”
Calgary
“One of the highlights this year was collecting almost 700 pounds of food donations on Tuesday night and donating that food to the Okotoks Food Bank.”– Carissa Weimer
This year, Regnum Christi Calgary supported two groups of missionaries: a youth track and a young adult track.
YOUTH MISSIONS
Calgary saw 89 youth (ages 13-17) participate in seven consecutive days of mission beginning on Palm Sunday and ending with the Easter Vigil. They also had an incredible support/formation team of 40 adult volunteers.
On Thursday evening, missionaries gathered for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at two different churches, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart Parish. Bishop William McGrattan thanked Mission Youth Calgary during his homily for their efforts with the homeless on the streets of Calgary.
Another highlight for the youth this year was the Cross Walk morning on Good Friday, and serving coffee downtown and at one of the transit stations, where missionaries were also able to collect prayer intentions and distribute care packages to those in need. The youth were able to be the hands and feet of Christ to all they encountered and had the opportunity to pray with and for those in need. On Friday afternoon, the missionaries performed a “Living Stations of the Cross” to St. James Parish in full costume.
During Mercy Mission Saturday, missionaries were sent to serve at one of two locations. At The Calgary Dream Centre, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals overcome homelessness and addiction, around 70 youth prepared and served lunch, visited with the residents, cleaned, and decorated for Easter. At the Calgary Drop-In Sorting Centre, another group of 20 youth had the opportunity to sort clothing and other donations, folding and bagging clothes to be handed out to low-income and homeless people throughout Calgary and area. Saturday evening, following the Easter Vigil, the youth celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection with a potluck feast and dance party.
“My highlight of Holy Week Missions this year was street missions on Good Friday. It was such a humbling experience to encounter people just like me in drastically different situations. It built compassion in me during each encounter. One, in particular, that stood out to me was a woman I met who was in so much pain because she had hurt her leg and had been using a single crutch to get around Calgary. When we asked in what way we could pray for her, she merely asked that we pray that she has a good day. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since”– Sophia, 16-year-old missionary
“My highlight of seeing God at work through Holy Week Missions was viewing the smiles on people’s faces when they were noticed.”– William, 16-year-old missionary
YOUNG ADULT MISSIONS
The Regnum Christi Young Adults Holy Week Missions in Calgary brought together 35 young missionaries, including 13 committed team leaders, for a deeply prayerful and transformative experience of the Holy Triduum. Rooted in formation, community, and apostolic charity, these days became a true encounter with Christ—both in prayer and in those they served.
The mission began on Holy Thursday with formation led by Fr. Kenneth LeBlanc, LC, who invited participants to reflect on the essence of the Christian vocation: to be missionaries, called and sent to bring Christ to the world. This moment of formation prepared their hearts to enter more fully into the sacred mysteries celebrated later that evening at St. Mary’s Cathedral. There, the group participated in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and remained in Eucharistic Adoration, accompanying Jesus in his agony with a spirit of love, gratitude, and fidelity.
Good Friday opened in recollection, as the missionaries gathered for morning prayer, guided by a meditation from one of the team leaders and Fr. Kenneth. Strengthened by this time with the Lord, they went forth into downtown Calgary for homeless outreach missions, working in small teams and accompanied by Regnum Christi families. Through simple yet meaningful encounters, they offered presence, listening, and compassion to those most in need.
After sharing a moment of rest and fellowship over lunch, the missionaries continued their apostolate through a Cross Walk, engaging passersby in conversation and inviting them to share prayer intentions. The day culminated in a reverent celebration of the Stations of the Cross in a nearby park, where the group entered more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s Passion. In the evening, they returned to St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Good Friday Liturgy, and many remained afterward in silent prayer for the veneration of Christ, closing the day in profound communion with His sacrifice.
Holy Saturday began with a moment of reflection and planning among the team leaders, followed by communal prayer inspired by a testimony from one of the young adults. After a time of missionary formation, the group was sent out once again into apostolic service. Half of the missionaries visited a senior center, bringing joy, companionship, and signs of Christ’s love through their presence and small gestures. The other half carried out a food drive in the surrounding neighborhoods of Clear Water Academy, generously supporting the Calgary Food Bank through door-to-door collection of non-perishable goods. Both apostolates became concrete expressions of charity, allowing the missionaries to encounter Christ in others.
Reunited once more, the group shared a meal before going out again in mission—this time in prayerful witness outside a cemetery and an abortion clinic, offering intercession for life, hope, and mercy. Later, they returned downtown to continue their street missions, sharing food, conversation, and above all, the joy of the Gospel with those experiencing homelessness.
The day concluded in a spirit of gratitude and fraternity, as the missionaries gathered to share the graces and highlights of the mission. Finally, united as one community, they celebrated the Easter Vigil at St. Mary’s Cathedral, rejoicing in the Resurrection of Christ—the source and fulfillment of their missionary calling.
These Holy Week Missions were a powerful witness of faith lived in action, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts of the young adults and all those they encountered. Through prayer, service, and community, they experienced in a profound way that to be a missionary is not only a task, but a response of love to the one who first loved us.
“For me, as a Mexican Regnum Christi missionary serving this year in Calgary, Canada, after many years of going on mission every Holy Week in Mexico, I was truly amazed to see how—despite being such a different culture and country—God’s love is universal. It is the same love that, in Mexico, is brought to places with great economic need, to rural areas and communities experiencing deep poverty. Here in Canada, I had the opportunity to encounter that same love while visiting elderly people in nursing homes, the homeless on the streets, and especially in each of the missionaries who came and offered their Holy Week to serve Jesus, the only King of our lives. It has been a true honor to offer him this year, despite the challenges that arise. After these missions, I am certain that whatever my vocation may be, I want to give my entire life to that Jesus who gave his life for me, who loves me, and who is never outdone in love and generosity.”– Maria Jose Zuniga
Ontario
“After spending time with some of the homeless people in Hamilton who were not open to the faith or the food we wanted to give them, Good Friday hit differently: that Jesus went through all that for them, and to this day, he is still rejected.”– A missionary
Hamilton Mission Youth missionaries included 80 youth, 30 people in the family track (8 families with young children), 65 young adults, and 25 helpers. Over two and a half days, these missionaries prepared food and distributed meals to the homeless on the streets of Toronto, Kitchener, St. Catharines, and Hamilton. They spent time with the elderly in nursing homes, playing games, making crafts, and singing songs. They also engaged with the public by giving away hot chocolate, iced tea, and blessing cookies to people walking at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, serving approximately 600 people in total.
“Most of the people at Spencer Smith Park were surprised by our joy and that we were giving away hot chocolate for free. The blessing cookies included a Bible verse and a challenge, and most of the people were so open to the challenge—one young lady asked us to explain the Bible verse to her, which was about accepting God’s grace. After praying with one homeless man, he told us he wanted what we have, but couldn’t grasp what it is. We spent more time with him, and talked to him about Jesus. I think we helped him encounter Jesus.”– Tima Borges
Philippines
“My favorite part of missions is seeing the little kids and a newer generation come together to build something beautiful and put themselves out there during Holy Week.”– Oseña family
This year, Regnum Christi Manila held missions in five different underserved communities.
The family and adult missions involved 146 adult volunteers and 115 youth, visiting the communities of Laguna, El Dorado shantytown in Parañaque, and Pineda compound in Pasig. The youth missions, with another 47 young missionaries, were held in Cabuyao and Santa Rosa.
Missionary families from Everest International Academy in Taguig, along with priests, a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, and volunteers from Pineda performed house-to-house visits, a Visita Iglesia, and organized a children’s program, serving approximately 500 people.
“As first-time site leaders, we were nervous about organizing the activities for the three-day missions. However, with the help of the other families and missionaries involved, we feel we touched the lives of the Pineda families for the better by bringing them joy, help, fellowship, and prayer. The door-to-door visits were valuable in connecting the Everest families with Pineda families, and were praised by several new families who joined. The well-organized, friendly basketball game involving a mix of Everest and Pineda kids was a well-received addition to the program. Distributing food and ice cream, new slippers, pre-loved basketball shoes, Kapatid Boxes, ayuda bags, and sponsor gifts—all donated by Everest families—was a truly worthwhile endeavor.”– Arjay and Trixie Co
In the province of Laguna, students and families from Everest Academy Nuvali—missionaries from the ages of 3 to 73—helped the community of Santo Domingo, which is made up primarily of families who have been displaced during the rapid urban development in the area.
The Laguna Missions was designed to bring missionary families closer to their neighbors. On Thursday, volunteers went door-to-door to pray with each family and invite them to a big community lunch. The day ended with separate catechism activities for parents, teens, and children. On Friday, they walked the Stations of the Cross together with the soldiers based in the area, and prayed a living rosary together with the community and missionary kids. Saturday was Missionaries’ Day, when the parents attended a reflection and film, while the children created crafts, watched a movie, and played as a way to reflect on what they had learned during Holy Week. Missionaries served approximately 350 people in Laguna.
“This is our first year doing Family Missions. My favorite part was going out to the communities and seeing the families up close, seeing my kids in that environment where they see people in need. In fact, it’s really not us giving service to them, but them giving service to us. They also touched our lives. It made our Holy Week a lot more meaningful and it will become our family tradition.”– Castelo family
“My favorite part of Family Missions is giving something to the families that they can use”– Nuyda family
“To sum it up, I would say it’s about renewal. For most people, Holy Week is all about going on vacation. We chose to stay put. It’s so fulfilling because we were able to connect with communities that we do not really see on a day-to-day basis. It was a reminder that life is diverse and there are still so many things we can do to help out.”– Alipio Family
Jill Dominy, originally from Texas, entered in the Candidacy in Monterrey, Mexico in 2015. She was consecrated in 2017, and moved to Madrid to continue her formation and studies. After formation she spent two years in Germany accompanying RC young adults. Jill now lives in Atlanta, where she serves as the RC Young Women’s Section Director. Her passions include spiritual accompaniment and outdoor adventures.
