Fr. Mike Schmitz’s biggest regret is ignoring God’s promptings to apply for NET. Don’t make the same mistake. If you feel a pull on your heart... that sense you’re being called to greater things... apply and discover if God is calling you to this adventure that you won’t find anywhere else.
Peter was scared to get out of the boat, to do the unexpected, and brave the unknown. But like him, you do not need to journey alone. Jesus is standing there, hand outstretched, ready and waiting. And so is our helpful Recruiting Team! We'll walk you through what to expect, how to apply, and how to prepare.
We’re looking for passionately Catholic young men and women who want to grow in their faith and become true disciples. Applicants must be non-married, practicing Catholics between the ages of 18 and 28, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent before training begins in August of their missionary year.
NET Missionaries spend nine months learning how to be missionary disciples through training and serving on a NET Team. Retreat teams travel within a particular region, proclaiming the Gospel to young people by giving talks, leading small groups, sharing their personal testimonies, and praying with thousands of young people. Discipleship teams share their faith daily within the same community, helping young people grow as disciples through leading small groups, mentoring youth one-on-one, and participating in the life of a parish or school in which they serve.
Through training in discipleship and immersion in the Church fully alive, NET Missionaries learn how to effectively share the Gospel, what it means to minister and live in community, and how to feel confident in their ability to share Jesus Christ with the world.
As a missionary, you will learn lifelong skills that will benefit any future vocation or career. Some of these are:
It costs about $60,000 to recruit, train, and send out each missionary for a year of service. To help cover the costs of training, meals, transportation, a monthly stipend, and other expenses, we ask each missionary to raise $7,000–8,000 in partnership funds. Every missionary who prays, plans, and executes the strategies we teach will easily reach or exceed their goal. Each missionary who raises a minimum of $7,000 is given a $150 monthly reimbursement.
God is calling you to an incredible adventure you won’t find anywhere else. Through the NET experience—the training, the community, the people, and the mission—God will do amazing things you never dreamed of. And you’ll finally find that something you’ve been looking for.