When people imagine missions, some may associate the call with heroic acts of sacrifice or even the prestige of a ‘holier’ life. Even the disciples wrestled with these thoughts.
In Luke 22:24–27, we find them arguing among themselves about who was the greatest. Jesus responds by overturning their expectations: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
In these words, Jesus teaches that God’s Kingdom does not follow the logic of the world. Greatness is not marked by visibility or recognition, but by a posture of humble service. Often, this is practised quietly and unseen.
Since 2022, for nine transformative weeks each summer, a group of young Christian adults has been invited to live into this vision of the Kingdom through the Montreal Missions Internship (MMI).
Designed as an action-reflection program, MMI encourages participants to deepen their faith through service, and being attentive to God’s presence. Participants between the ages of 18 and 25 are placed alongside some of Montreal’s most vulnerable communities: refugee claimants navigating uncertainty, migrant workers far from home, low-income families facing systemic barriers, and at-risk youth searching for stability and hope.
What sets this experience apart is not only where participants serve, but how they are invited to serve. From the very first days, the program emphasizes that service is not a solo pursuit or a performance, but a shared way of life. One participant recalled a defining moment from orientation week during a hike up Mount Royal: “I remember we were given the opportunity to take the easier path or the harder path, and everyone chose to take that harder path together. We were panting and we were tired, but we all took that path together… And I felt that was such an impactful moment because you’re on the top of the hill with all these people that have supported you going on your way up.”
That early decision, to take the harder path together, becomes a symbol for the rest of the summer. Some participants may struggle with the workload while others become challenged by the routines and silences. The experience often reshapes their understanding of ministry. Another past participant reflected: “MMI made me realize that ministry isn’t all about preaching or big actions or beautiful vestments. It’s more about the quiet moments—the still, small voice of God in dark places where you wouldn’t expect to hear Him. It’s also about experiencing and taking on the sufferings of the world around us, and—through that—being a light to the world.”
Across shelters, community centres, urban gardens, and neighborhood organizations throughout Montreal, participants encounter Christ not through grand gestures, but through presence.
Each week, the program regroups at the Montreal Diocesan Theological College to reflect on experiences theologically. Participants reflect on what it means to wait anxiously alongside a refugee claimant for a court decision, share meals with migrant workers separated from family, or showing up consistently for young people who experienced traumatic events. In these moments, Scripture begins to feel less distant and more embodied. As one participant shared: “It’s easy to read the Gospels or Paul’s letters and think, ‘This was written 2,000 years ago. Does it really apply to me?’ MMI shows you how the Gospel can be lived out—right here in Montreal.”
By the end of the nine weeks, participants often leave MMI changed. They carry with them a quieter, more grounded faith. They have learned to recognize God’s presence not only in moments of clarity and strength, but also in fatigue and struggle like that first hike up Mount Royal.
I invite you to share this opportunity with young people in your congregations and ministries. Enrollment for the 2026 cohort is now open. Visit our website: montrealmission.ca for more information. This summer, we invite young Christians to join us in serving, reflecting, and discerning together. Participants receive a $5000 stipend for participation in the program. We also invite the church to pray with us in supporting the growth and maturation of the participants.
To learn more about what Montreal Dio has to offer people of all ages, go to www.montrealdio.ca.
