Teacher Resource Portal

Getting Started with Mission

Resources to help teachers better 

appreciate God's mission and 

how we are called to live it

What is Mission and Why Teach It?

This resource offers a Scriptural basis for what mission is, how it has been lived in our tradition, and how we discern our own role in living the mission of God.

The Classroom as Small Christian Community

Practical starting points for forming classroom communities as communities of missionary disciples through communal prayer and discernment.

Moving Towards a Culture of Mission

This longer text outlines principles for embracing a missionary transformation in our Church communities.

How We Live the Mission - Seven Paths

This resource breaks down different ways we can live out the mission, as outlined by St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Missio. A great guide for discerning how to invite students into mission.

Going Forth in Joy Blog

Discover more reflections on mission at the Maryknoll blog.

How to Form Communities of Missionary Disciples

Resources to help in your discernment about how your classrooms and school/parish communities can live the mission together

Forming Communities of Missionary Disciples

A resource for teachers to begin to plan how to engage students in mission. A great exercise for individual teachers, teams of teachers, and entire school faculties. 

Service-Learning Framework/Discernment Tool

Teachers can use this framework and discernment questions to develop mission-minded service and outreach programs for students.

Rubric for Missionary Discipleship

What makes service and outreach "mission"? Students (middle school and up) and teachers alike can use this rubric to assess their own mission activity.

Discernment Quotes from Pope Francis

These quotes on what it means to be a Church driven by mission can help teachers and ministers reflect upon their own community and how it can more fully live the mission.

Discerning Your Mission Territory

This activity is excellent for discerning where you as a school or parish community are called to love more deeply.  You can also invite students to do this activity.

Classroom Resources

Ready-to-use lessons and multimedia materials

Discover Your Neighbor Program

DYN by Maryknoll offers religious educators catechetical resources with a global perspective. We offer lesson plans, activities, prayers, Scriptural reflections, missionary action suggestions and more. Our educator guides are tied to four global themes throughout the year: Care of Creation (fall), Migration (Advent), Economic Justice (Lent), and the call to Go Forth (Easter/Pentecost). Explore DYN today!

Never Again: Executive Order 9066 of the Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII Activities

This lesson offers various activity options for students to break open the experience of Japanese Americans during their internment of WWII: taking a look at fear, courage, and when we feel called to take a stand. 

(Further resource: Mass Tips and Prayer of the Faithful Resources)

Videos by Young People from Around the World

PLURAL+ is an initiative and contest dedicated to bringing the power of multimedia into the creative hands of young people. Maryknoll is a partner in this effort. These videos are available free online for classroom use! (Sample entry from Haiti)

Children of the Earth DVD Series

This set of 18 stories introduces students to other young people from around the world. They look at family. interests, culture and the joys of teens in Haiti, Tanzania, Guatemala, Philippines, Japan, the United States and  eleven other countries. This series will enhance social studies, geography and religion classes. 

Living God's Mission Lesson (Grades 7-12)

This lesson plan invites students consider God's nature as love, how we show love, and who is on the margins that they are called to love as Christ does.

Missionary Discipleship World Tables Lesson

This hour-long lesson is great for working with large groups of middle school students to learn about our world and reflect on discipleship..

High School Mission Trip Handbook

This is an excellent resource for engaging high school students before, during, and after a mission trip. Great for youth group trips, as well!