“Every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ.” This prompting by Pope Francis might seem like a tall order in western Ohio, but for Sarah Niekamp, a lifelong member of St. Bernard Church in the St. Henry Family of Parishes, the calling to become a missionary came as a challenge to deepen her relationship with Christ.

“I had this idea that I wanted more. [I had] a desire to build my relationship with God.”

So, she did what any Gen Z Catholic would do and typed “Catholic mission work in the U.S.” into Google. Numerous opportunities with various groups and religious orders appeared. It took time to sift through the list then apply to the one she chose.

With no formal training in education, Niekamp prayed about the offer from the SOLT (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity) Community to volunteer at an inner-city school in Detroit, then accepted the position.

SOLT is a religious community of sisters, brothers and priests who team up with laity to serve the Church wherever there is a great need. Niekamp joined the community at Holy Redeemer School in the Mexicantown neighborhood of Detroit, where she was an aide in a third-grade classroom.

“Something I could not have imagined are the friendships made while on mission,” said Niekamp, who lived with other young women serving in the school. They formed a community to support each other in their ministry and faith. Initially, the mutual support manifested in their encouraging each other to attend a six a.m. holy hour before school. That challenge eventually became second nature for her.

The Spanish language barrier was another struggle, said Niekamp. “Many of the students are first- or second-generation immigrants from Mexico, and many parents didn’t speak English. I had to be an example of Christ through actions rather than words.”

A missionary by her presence, Niekamp took interest in parish events, school activities and classroom projects. Throughout the year, she worked closely with one boy struggling in school and made it her mission to get him engaged in the classroom, so he could see that learning was valuable and fun. “He got to the point of asking for help,” she said, and that’s when she knew she had made an impression.

Eventually, the challenges of being away from home and living life in a new rhythm gave way to inner peace. Service and community life lead Niekamp closer to God, and she found fulfillment.

Now back home, Niekamp recently began a new ministry as the Director of Evangelization for the St. Henry Family of Parishes. “In my role as Director of Evangelization, I minister to all age ranges and journey with people as they build their relationship with Christ,” said Niekamp. While on mission she primarily worked with youth, additional outreach with the Hispanic Community and families in Detroit gave her a good base to begin ministry in St. Henry.

“As a Church we are called to be missionaries, to bring everyone to Christ,” Niekamp said. We all might not be in a place to give a year of our lives in service to our fellow Christians; however, we can be a witness of Christ to the people around us. Doing that might also help us find fulfillment in ways we never thought possible.

This article appeared in the October 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.