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“Man… cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” Gaudium et Spes 24
Echo Community is a community of missionary disciples who strive to go outside of themselves to love and serve others, sharing the Gospel through the lens of the Theology of the Body. We provide opportunities for young adults to make a gift of themselves in a particular way by giving up time to serve alongside us in our mission. Our desire is that these opportunities help them to prepare for, discern, and live out their unique vocations to love. Whether you only have one day, two weeks or an entire year, there are missionary experiences available to you with Echo Community! |
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PILLARS OF MISSION
All of our missionary experiences have the same core elements, with the same values and heart behind them. They vary according to how much time and availability you have as a missionary!
Our missionaries are called to have hearts that are ready and willing to live AS SINCERE GIFT, prepared to meet the various needs of the moment. Most often, our missionary experiences invite missionaries to make a gift of themselves in the following ways:
Our missionaries are called to have hearts that are ready and willing to live AS SINCERE GIFT, prepared to meet the various needs of the moment. Most often, our missionary experiences invite missionaries to make a gift of themselves in the following ways:
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PRAYER & INTERCESSION
Through daily prayer and intercession, we remember who we belong to, how much we are loved by God, and we enter into the intimacy with God that makes our lives make sense. It is the foundation of not only our identity, but also our mission as all missionary activity flows from sitting at the feet of Christ. Our lives become intercession as we seek to do all things with God in whatever space He calls us. |
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HOSPITALITY
Missionaries will practice radical hospitality by welcoming others with open hearts. We create and cultivate physical spaces where men and women can encounter God, and we also create spiritual space through the ways we see, approach, and love the people He calls us to serve. A culture of hospitality will foster trust, openness, and a sense of belonging, enabling people to encounter Christ in authentic ways. |
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TEACHING & WITNESS
Every missionary is called to be a witness to Christ’s love through their actions, words, and lives. In addition to witnessing to the Gospel, missionaries will also be trained to teach others about the truth of the human person, the Theology of the Body, and the way to live as a disciple of Christ in the modern world. Missionaries are invited to consider how Christ has entered into their own story to draw them into the freedom only found in Him, and learn to share that story with joy and conviction. |
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RELATIONAL MINISTRY
We say at Echo Community that "our ministry is only as strong as our relationships." By engaging in meaningful conversations, having our hearts open to encountering "the other," supporting each other’s growth, and living out the Gospel in everyday actions, missionaries will be equipped to walk alongside others with reverence. |
RESIDENTIAL MISSIONARY COMMUNITY
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We’re not just called to be missionaries during the mountain top experiences of ECHO retreats, but also in the valley of day-to-day life. Our residential missionary community offers a year-long missionary experience for those young adults who are called to “do life” alongside the Echo Community Staff for a longer period of time.
Rooted in the Echo Community Rule of Life, which centers around prayer and sacraments, missionaries are invited into a slower and simpler way of life in order to allow God the space and time needed for growth in relationship and character. Missionaries will be involved in serving ECHO retreats and other young adult events, but will also be part of the behind the scenes running of the ministry and stewardship of the LOLEK property. Each day will include daily Mass and a daily Holy Hour, but could then be filled with vastly different activities, including discipleship formation, retreat preparation, gardening/yard work, cleaning and preparing spaces for guests, or taking a desert prayer day. With a posture of receptivity, a humble teachable heart, and a desire to make a gift of ourselves, all of these activities become part of the wider mission of Echo Community! |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
do i need to go to an echo retreat in order to apply for the residential missionary experience?
If you’ve never been to an ECHO retreat, we are still willing to enter into discernment with you about whether being part of the missionary community is the right choice for you at this time. However, we do suggest that you plan on attending one of the week-long ECHO retreats in the summer so that you can get the fullest experience of participating before becoming a missionary.
how old do i need to be to apply for the residential missionary experience?
You need to be at least one year out of high school in order to apply to be a missionary. The upper age limit for missionaries is 26 years old during the missionary year. If you fall outside of these conditions and still think we should consider you, please contact the Missionary Team Director on [email protected] explaining your circumstances.
what is the application process for becoming a missionary?
Once you’ve filled out the online application form and sent in your application video, you’ll have an initial conversation with the Missionary Team Director over video call. You may then get invited to visit the LOLEK site (The Echo Community Headquarters) to meet other members of the Echo Community, get a tour, and have a face-to-face interview. There then may be follow-up conversations as part of the discernment period before a final decision is made.
is everyone who applies guaranteed a spot?
Everyone who applies is guaranteed to have at least an initial conversation with the Missionary Team Director, but sending in an application does not guarantee you a place as a missionary. It is simply the first step in a process of discernment between you and Echo Community. We want to maintain a balance between male and female missionaries, as well as wanting to make sure that now is the right time for you to join us. This is all taken into consideration before a final decision is made.
can i live in the residential missionary community and still work full or part time?
Our desire is to foster a particular rhythm of life during the missionary year, which would not be compatible with a work or study schedule. The invitation is to be fully committed to the year-long missionary experience and all that God desires to unfold for you during that time.
how much support will i need to fundraise?
The fundraising target for each missionary will be between $20,000 and $23,000 over the year. As soon as your place as a missionary is confirmed, Echo Community will send you fundraising tools to help you get started. The pack will include ideas for fundraising events, a letter template to send to prospective mission partners, and the outline of a speech that can be given at your parish or youth group to ask for funding. All missionaries will also have their own online fundraising platform built by Echo Community.
does the support need to be raised prior to starting?
It is a goal that missionaries have between 40-60% of funding in place before the missionary year begins. This could either be through one-off donations and events, or from people who have pledged to donate monthly throughout the year. We will have check-ins at the beginning of each trimester (September, January, and April) to make sure you stay on track throughout the year.
what are the living arrangements like for missionaries?
Male and female missionaries will have a shared community life, but will be accommodated in separate buildings. Male missionaries will live at Joseph’s Lodge, situated next to the main house. Female missionaries will live at Eden’s Rest, situated a short walk through the woods at the other side of the property. We will give a full tour of the LOLEK site to any prospective missionary candidates when they come for an interview.
SUMMER MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE
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Join us to serve as a missionary at one or both of our summer ECHO retreats.
If you’re busy working or studying, but feel a strong call to be a more active missionary, then this short experience could be for you. After participating in a formation retreat weekend, each service opportunity involves one week of preparation and one week of retreat; this means you can serve with us for two weeks or four weeks over the course of the summer. This opportunity is also perfect to get a taste of missionary life if you’re discerning the year-long residential missionary experience, or as an early launch if you’re already committed to the residential missionary experience for the following year. You’ll get a condensed version of a longer experience, where you’re still able to encounter a taste of discipleship formation, community life, community prayer, retreat preparation, relational ministry, and sharing personal witness. |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED TO HAVE BEEN TO AN ECHO RETREAT IN ORDER TO SERVE AS A MISSIONARY?
If you’ve never been to an ECHO retreat, we are still willing to enter into discernment with you about whether this missionary experience is the right choice for you at this time.
HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE TO APPLY FOR THE SUMMER MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE?
You need to be at least one year out of high school in order to serve as a missionary. The upper age limit for missionaries is 26 years old during the missionary year. If you fall outside of these conditions and still think we should consider you, please contact the Missionary Team Director on [email protected] explaining your circumstances.
when is the formation retreat weekend and is it mandatory?
The formation retreat weekend will be Friday May 29 through to Sunday May 31 2026, at LOLEK, the Echo Community property in Folsom, Louisiana. Ideally missionaries would arrive for dinner at 6pm on Friday and leave around 4pm on Sunday. This is an important and necessary time for the missionary community to gather, so it would be difficult for missionaries to miss all or part of the weekend. If you have a problem with these dates, please contact the Missionary Team Director before applying to be a missionary.
what are the dates for the two summer echo retreats?
ECHO Stillwater will be June 12-18, but missionaries will need to be available from June 8 through to June 20. ECHO Maryhill will be July 17-23, but missionaries will need to be available from July 13 through to July 25.
what are the fundraising goals and what is covered by fundraising?
We have kept the fundraising goals as low as possible. If you serve as a missionary with Echo Community at one ECHO retreat this summer, then the fundraising goal will be $975. If you serve as a missionary on both ECHO retreats this summer, then the fundraising goal will be $1750. The largest part of the fundraising goal covers your registration for the ECHO retreat(s) you will be serving on as a missionary. It also covers food, utilities, and insurance for when you stay on site at LOLEK, missionary community outings, program resources such as printing, and gas for travel to LOLEK and ECHO retreats. The fundraising goals are based on missionaries living within a 250 mile radius of Folsom, Louisiana. If missionaries live outside of that radius, further fundraising may be needed, or missionaries will have to cover their own travel expenses.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
If you aren’t able to give the amount of time needed for the residential or summer experiences, you can still make a gift of yourself and be part of our mission at LOLEK Center for Evangelization, the Echo Community headquarters in Folsom, LA! If you're interested in volunteering, feel free to fill out the form below!
If you aren’t able to give the amount of time needed for the residential or summer experiences, you can still make a gift of yourself and be part of our mission at LOLEK Center for Evangelization, the Echo Community headquarters in Folsom, LA! If you're interested in volunteering, feel free to fill out the form below!