Spend a Year on Mission Before Settling into a Career
Most entry-level ministry jobs ask young adults to commit immediately to a single parish, school, or diocese. The Charity on Fire Internship provides a year to explore, discern, and serve before making that decision.
Through a combination of formation, mentorship, real responsibility, and extensive networking within the Church, interns gain meaningful ministry experience without the immediate pressure of relocating too quickly, signing a lease, or committing to a long-term ministry position before fully discerning their gifts, calling, and opportunities. During the internship, you will:
Encounter students and ministry leaders from more than 30 Catholic schools and parishes from the Toledo, Lansing, and Detroit (arch)dioceses
Build relationships with youth ministers, campus ministers, teachers, clergy, and Catholic adult and student leaders
Discover what kind of ministry environment best fits your gifts and personality
At the same time, schools and parishes will have the opportunity to know you personally and see you in ministry. Interns often receive job offers during the year.
What You Receive
The paid Internship includes:
Mentorship from experienced Catholic priests and ministers
Extensive retreat and youth ministry experience
$15,000 annual stipend
Room and board
Weekly formation
Live Jesus Ministries mentor training
Assistance connecting with future ministry opportunities
The internship is intentionally designed to make missionary service financially accessible for recent graduates entering the job market. You will not have to fundraise.
What You Provide
Personal transportation
Medical Insurance (which can be purchased through Camp if needed)
During the School Year (August-May) Throughout the remaining ten months, interns serve the many Catholic retreats hosted at Camp DeSales. Summer campers often return with their parishes and schools. This ministry includes both hospitality services and ministry opportunities.
Hospitality Services
Meal preparation and housekeeping
Grounds and facility care
Retreat setup and cleanup
Ministry Opportunities Depending on gifts, interests, experience, and opportunities, interns also assist with:
Small group and prayer ministry
Retreat talks
Worship and lyric slides (ProPresenter)
Altar serving
Games and activities
Retreat planning, implementation, and followup
This combination of practical service and spiritual ministry forms missionaries who are humble, flexible, joyful, and capable of serving the Church wherever needed.
Community Life & Spiritual Formation Charity on Fire is not simply a job. It is a missionary community. Interns live alongside other missionaries committed to prayer, service, fraternity, and growth.
Community life includes:
Daily Mass, Holy Hour, and Night Prayer
Shared meals, recreation and fellowship
Weekly formation, small group, and spiritual mentorship
Youth ministry leadership, retreat planning, evangelization, and prayer ministry
Live Jesus Ministries mentor training
Practical life skills
The goal is not simply to train workers, but to help form mature Catholic disciples capable of serving the Church with confidence and joy.
Rhythm of Life Missionary life is meaningful and full — but also sustainable. The internship includes:
One day off per week
Three week Christmas break, and multi-day breaks for Holy Week, Thanksgiving, and other holidays
Ten personal days
A 5-day annual community retreat
Seasonal rhythms of ministry, prayer, work, and recreation
What Happens After the Internship?
The Oblates and Charity on Fire team actively help interns transition into future opportunities. Because interns spend a year working directly with Catholic schools, retreat leaders, youth ministers, and diocesan leaders throughout Michigan and Ohio, many graduates leave with:
Strong references
Ministry experience
Valuable Church connections
Greater vocational clarity
Practical leadership skills
Recognition and reputation
Increased confidence in Catholic ministry settings
Some interns move into:
Catholic school ministry
Youth ministry positions
Campus ministry
Missionary work
Seminary or religious life
Graduate school
Parish ministry
Other careers pursued with renewed faith and direction
Who Should Apply?
This internship may be a great fit for you if you are:
A single, practicing Catholic at least 18 years old
Open to missionary community life and passionate about youth ministry and evangelization
Desiring growth in prayer and leadership and looking for a meaningful transition year after college
Please note: For 2026-27, we only have housing for male interns. Women interns may apply after March, 2027 - when the women’s missionary house is ready.
Interested?
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Camp DeSales (See the “Contact” link above)
Come spend a year on mission. Grow in faith. Serve the Church. Discover where God may be calling you next.
“The Charity on Fire Internship gave me an incredible year of prayer, discernment, ministry experience, and personal growth. Living in missionary community at Camp DeSales helped me deepen my relationship with God while developing practical skills in youth ministry, retreats, leadership, hospitality, and community life.
One of the greatest blessings of the year was the opportunity to encounter so many different Catholic schools, parishes, retreat groups, and apostolates. Through these relationships and experiences, I am now discerning between two ministry opportunities I discovered during the internship year.
I would highly recommend the Charity on Fire Internship to anyone seeking a personalized, faith-filled, and meaningful year of vocational and ministerial discernment.”
Andrew Larson Franciscan Univ. '25 Internship 2025-26
