We are given ample opportunities to seek Christ in the fruitful seedbed of silence. Once a month, each missionary takes a “Desert Day”–a time away from noise, technology, and the demands of the mission–to relax, recharge, and pray. Twice a year, we also make an extended retreat. These days of recollection are normally made offsite so that we can immerse ourselves in the beauty of God’s creation.

In our silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, we bring the intentions of all we meet before Christ; it is in His Gaze that we discover what it means to be truly present with another. Prayer is our foremost school of love, in which the life of Christ is nurtured and cultivated. It is here that Our Lady, who leads us to the foot of the Cross, shows us how to fulfill Christ’s request: “Be where I am.” (cf. John 17:24)

Our community’s mission–to give Christ a home–is first accomplished within our own souls. Our life is structured such that each missionary receives the Love of God through four schools of love: prayer, community life, the streets of Baltimore, and daily formation. Authentic formation requires engagement of the entire person, so each missionary is immersed in a community of loving relationships–the most powerful catalysts of personal transformation. As we learn to receive love, we are empowered to generously share what we have received.

Our formation is taught by priests, consecrated men and women, professors, psychologists, and the missionaries themselves. Over the course of a year, we are exposed to a wide range of topics such as Catholic social teaching, Theology of the Body, scripture, psychology, pirates, addiction, and farming. Nothing is off the table as the Gospel is translated into our everyday life. The Baltimore Basilica has become an established hub for famous Catholic speakers such as Archbishop Barron, Cardinal Sarah, Matt Fradd, and Cardinal Dolan. And, to round it all off, each missionary finishes the year with a certificate in Catholic theology from the Augustine Institute.