In order to become a missionary for the Catholic Mission to the Carolina Indians all persons must meet the following requirements: 

1. Be at least 18 years of age and no older than 50 years of age. Exceptions to the age requirements are made by the Board of Ministers.

2. Have been baptized into the Catholic Church or have been received into full communion in the Catholic Church and have received all three Mysteries of Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist.

3. Be a practicing Catholic in good standing for a period of not less than five years prior to the date of application.

4. Have the written and expressed permission from your Parish Priest, or Spiritual Director.

5. Be a citizen, a naturalized citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America.

6. Be of good physical and mental health.

7. If married:

• Have been validly married in the Catholic Church and legally registered by civil authority;
• Have been married for at least five years (waiverable by the Board of Ministers);
• Have the positive, expressed consent of spouse;

8. If single:

• Be willing to accept the discipline of the Church requiring chastity. 

9. If widowed:

• Have a reasonable re-adjustment period of not less than two years prior to the date of application.

10. If remarried:

• Have a decree of nullity granted by Church authority;
• Conform to the prescriptions in #7 above.

Furthermore, serious attention will be given to the following factors when considering an individual for the application process:

• Ability to relate well to people regardless of their age, ethnic or racial background, gender, religion, social or economic condition;
• Ability to serve as a Church leader;
• Demonstrated leadership ability within his parish or community organization;
• If married, ability to balance the demands of family life and parenting in concert with the demands of the missionary training program;
• Eagerness for prayer and the acceptance of spiritual direction and formation;
• Reasonable ability to understand spoken and written English.

Those who have met the above requirements must submit the following documents for consideration as a Missionary: 

1. Write to the General Minister requesting information about the program and indicate interest in applying for the program;
2. Complete the formal application which will be sent by the director and return it to him along with the requested documents.
3. Begin the screening process, which is essential to admission to the program. An interested individual may begin the course of study on his own initiative and at his own expense, but he is not considered in any way a candidate or participant in the Missionary Formation Program until he has successfully completed the admission and screening process, which includes the involvement of the spouse if married.
4. A person becomes an official Missionary-Elect when he receives an official letter of acceptance from the General Minister and the Formation Director.

Application Materials

• Letter of inquiry stating desire to pursue call to the missionary life sent to the director
• Resume or curriculum vita that includes any previous formation, theological studies, and parish and liturgical service.
• Autobiography (1,000 to 1,500 words in length) – This is a conventional autobiography: when and where you were born, your parents names, your siblings, your upbringing, your education, when and where you got married if married, along with your spouse’s name and names of children if any. In addition write your development in the faith, how you came to understand that you are being called to be a missionary, who you spoke with about this life.
• Three letters of support: (1) parish priest; (2) spouse/close friend; (3) personal reference.
• Letter from General Minister approving entrance into program.
• Documentation of Mysteries of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist), Mystery of Crowning or Marriage if applicable.