Nicaragua Mission

June 13-20 and June 20-27

Online Registration is Now Open: January 6 – February 13, 2020
Information Meeting: Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 1 pm in the church

You may register now for for Trip One or Trip Two. Please click on the link for the trip you wish to register for. When you have finished your registration with Amigos for Christ you will be directed to pay your registration to Holy Spirit Parish. Do not pay your deposit to Amigos for Christ. Here on the links to register for your trip. Be sure to select the correct link.

The 2020 mission trips are for adults and high school age minors. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Registration for the Holy Spirit Mission trip to Nicaragua will open January 6 and closes February 13, 2020. The cost of the trip is $1450 per person (includes travel insurance). A non-refundable deposit of $200 must be paid at the time of registration.

The two trips will accommodate up to 60 missionaries per week. Missionaries will be accepted on a first come/first served basis. All missionaries are expected to travel with the group package provided by Avianca Airlines.

Payment of final balance for the trip will be due by March 16. Deadline for finger printing and Safe Environment training is April 30.

An information meeting for this trip will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 1 pm in Holy Spirit Church. This meeting is especially important for those traveling to Nicaragua for the first time.

Click here for FAQs

For questions and/or to be added to our mailing list, please send an email to hs.amigos@yahoo.com.

If you would like to help outside of mass on the weekends of Dec. 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22, please sign up here.

Important Update from Fr. Brendan

Dear Missionaries: 

I am deeply saddened to bring you this news regarding the mission trip to Nicaragua summer 2018.

We had previously communicated to you that we were closely monitoring the civil unrest caused by actions of the Nicaraguan government. At that time, the protests and civil unrest were localized to Managua and on the University campuses. Chinandega had remained quiet and we had hoped the overall situation would improve, however the reality is different.

Unfortunately, the conditions have worsened. Negotiations organized by the Catholic Church between the government and the citizens have not been fruitful and have shut down as of May 24. The families of the US Embassy staff have been evacuated and the embassy is only providing services by appointment. On the evening of May 23rd, there was a clash in León between anti-government and pro-government citizens in which at least two people died and fifty were injured. León is a city between Managua and Chinandega and we travel through it going to and from  the Amigos for Christ compound. Multiple organizations are beginning to pull missionaries from the country including the Mormon Church and the German government. We have been in contact with Catholic Relief Services who are on the ground in Managua and they are advising us that the situation in Nicaragua is unstable and unpredictable. As of 11:00pm on May 23, Amigos for Christ have canceled their servant leader program for the summer and are sending current servant leaders in Nicaragua home.

With all of this, I have made the decision, in consultation with our mission planning team, that both of our July missions trips will be canceled. The safety of our missionaries is, and always will be, our number one priority. And given the current situation and the unpredictable nature of it, I do not feel that we can maintain adequate safety this year.

My heart is aching for our partner organization, Amigos for Christ. In speaking with John Bland today to notify him of our decision, both Mike Ferrero and I were profoundly saddened to share the news and it brought us to tears to share it. We have partnered with them for over 10 years and have grown to love the people who work for Amigos as well as the Nicaraguan people we have come to know. The ordinary people of Nicaragua are suffering and it feels like we are abandoning them in their time of need. However, the unpredictable situation leaves the future of the mission in the hands of God.  I am confident that God does have a plan for Nicaragua, Amigos for Christ and for Holy Spirit. And I know that he will make good out of this sad, sad situation.

We are working with the airlines and Amigos for Christ with regards to unraveling our plans. We hope to be able to give a refund to all missionaries. In the meantime, I ask each of you to prayerfully consider making some donation of your original trip deposit of $450 that can be directed to Amigos for Christ in support of their continuing mission. We do hope to be able to continue our missions with Nicaragua soon and I am sure you will share my sadness of this decision.

MAKE A DONATION

Please hold the Nicaraguan people and Amigos for Christ in your daily prayers. We pray fervently that peace will come to the country soon.

The Holy Spirit Mission team will follow up with details on refunds and donations over the next few days

God Bless,
Fr. Brendan

2018 Nicaragua Mission Trips, First Youth Trip

Commemorating our 10^th year of partnership with Amigos for Christ and our mission in rural Nicaragua, Holy Spirit is planning three mission trips to Nicaragua for 2018. Since our first trip in 2009 with 26 missionaries, the trip has blossomed into a popular annual sojourn with over 100 missionaries and two other churches. Part of its success has been its unique blend of youth, adults and families.

In 2018, we will have our first high school youth trip, our traditional family focused trip, and a first-time adult-only trip, each providing its own unique experience.

Our 2018 schedule will include the following: