In May of 2021, two employees from The Catholic Company made the 1100-mile trek from Charlotte, North Carolina to rural Maine. There, they met up with two other Missionaries sponsored by The Catholic Company and Catholic Coffee to launch our new not-for-profit ministry: The Saint Isidore Corps. Named after the patron saint of farmers and rural life, the mission of The Saint Isidore Corps is to serve rural, impoverished communities by performing Christ’s beatitudes. Our summer missionaries worked in the communities of Jay, Livermore Falls, and Farmington, Maine, alongside our friend and partner in this work, Father Paul Dumais from the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

Our second summer, 2022 saw four new missionaries join our full-time missionary for two months of service in Jay, Livermore Falls, Farmington, and the surrounding areas.  Focusing on the ministry of presence, SIC missionaries made over 150 “parish visits” to the homes of  parishoners of St. Rose of Lima and St. Joseph.   It is our belief (especially in today’s world) that to be present to others by visiting them in their home environment is a way to connect with those in the community and in the parish family in a unique and personal way.

Service commitment for SIC missionaries:

Our summer program usually runs from mid- June to the 3rd week of August.  During the missionary experience there are opportunities for spiritual direction from Father Paul Dumais.  There is also time for hikes in the mountains or trips to the ocean with fellow SIC missionaries during the time-off periods. Each missionary will receive a weekly stipend pay. Room and board are provided.

For information on what a day in the life of a SIC missionary looks like see A Day in the life of a SIC Missionary.

The deadline for submission of the application is May 1, 2023.

Other projects we are involved in:

Closer to home, The Catholic Company has had a long-term relationship with The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) who have a monastery in Monroe, North Carolina, only about 45 minutes from our offices in Charlotte. The Saint Isidore Corps is a part of our ongoing contribution of resources and missionary help to the MOP and to other organizations in rural North Carolina that need spiritual and material assistance.

Every purchase of Catholic Coffee supports the work of The Saint Isidore Corps.

For more information about St. Isidore Corps, or to inquire about an application, please email Whitney Hetzel at [email protected]

Board of Directors

Our board of directors serves to plan, prepare and financially support The St. Isidore Corps

Photo of James Hetzel

James Hetzel

CEO of The Catholic Company
Photo of Whitney Hetzel

Whitney Hetzel

Board member
Photo of Fr. Paul Dumais

Fr. Paul Dumais

Pastor

Staff and Missionaries

2021/2022 staff of missionaries

Photo of Christopher Spiegel

Christopher Spiegel

Full time Missionary
Photo of Annie Hetzel

Annie Hetzel

2021 Missionary
Photo of Dale Brown

Dale Brown

2021 Missionary
Photo of Mary Catherine Pankus

Mary Catherine Pankus

2021 Missionary
Photo of Fr. Paul Dumais

Fr. Paul Dumais

Pastor of St. Rose of Lima, and St. Joseph's in Maine
Photo of Grace Hetzel

Grace Hetzel

2022 Missionary
Photo of Alessandra Lopez Del Rincon

Alessandra Lopez Del Rincon

2022 Missionary
Photo of Thomas Thierfelder

Thomas Thierfelder

2022 Missionary
Photo of Andrew Leccese

Andrew Leccese

2022 Missionary

A Day In The Life Of SIC Missionary

 

Daily Routine of SIC Missionary (subject to change depending on the needs of Father Paul Dumais)

8 am // Parish Rosary / Personal Prayer Time 

8:30 am // Mass – M, W (St. Joseph’s Farmington-SJ) T, TH (St. Rose of Lima in Jay -SR)

9:00 am – 10 am // Adoration M,T 

9:30 am or 10 am – 11:55 am // Morning Work Period (Missionary Activity such as home visits) 

12 pm – 12:55 pm // Angelus / Lunch 

1 pm – 4:30 pm // Afternoon Work Period (Missionary Activity such as home visits)

6 pm – 8 pm // Evening Work Period (Missionary Activity) 

5 pm // Community Walking Rosary / Community Social

6 pm // Community Dinner 

8/9 pm // Community Night Prayer

Thursday OFF/ Friday OFF until evening

Saturday Farmer’s Market/Mass

Sunday Mass // Parish activity// Possible Evening Teen Bible Study

The Missionary Activity will vary but will usually be related to any of the following: Home visits with parishioners, work at the thrift store at Saint Rose of Lima, Bible Study with teens/prep for Bible Study, Social Ministry events, garden chores, and other work around the parishes, Ora Bread support (baking bread/slicing/bagging to sell at Farmington Farmer’s Market).