Friends Across Borders: U.S.-México Border

Mission Immersion Trip – March 16-22, 2025

El Paso, Texas / Ciudad Juárez, México

“Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of the ability to weep for the other, to feel their pain, to reach out to those who are suffering. Let us not close our hearts, let us not allow the border to become a wall that separates us, but a bridge that unites us.”

Pope Francis, Homily at Border Mass, Feb. 17, 2019 – Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

Welcome to El Paso and Ciudad Juárez!

El Paso (Texas), Ciudad Juárez (México), and Las Cruces (New Mexico) form a bustling urban center of over 3 million people, formerly part of México.

The cities are deeply connected, with up to 40 million annual crossings from Juárez to El Paso, including 100,000 daily workers.

The U.S.-México border is a cultural crossroads where U.S., Mexican, and Central American influences merge.

However, it is also a place of hardship, as migrants seeking asylum or a new life face growing barriers.

Maryknoll Lay Missioners work at the border to support, empower, and advocate for migrants while challenging the structural injustices they endure.

We invite you to join us for a weeklong immersion where you will learn firsthand how Maryknoll Lay Missioners are responding to the challenges at the border.

LEARN about the history, culture, and changing complexities along the border.
MEET individuals whose lives are affected by U.S. policies.
PRAY for awareness and conversion in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
REFLECT on daily experiences and on effective responses.
ACT in solidarity with those on the peripheries.

The itinerary will include storytelling as well as meetings with experts in the areas of migrant care, law enforcement, legal issues, public policy, advocacy, Catholic Social Teaching, and pastoral care.

We will also visit a local community in Ciudad Juárez, México and prepare a meal at a migrant shelter. Each day will include community prayer and reflection.

EXPERIENCE THE CHALLENGES OF REALITY ON THE JOURNEY OF HOPE

Our guides are Maryknoll lay missioner Rick Dixon and Mission Services manager Daniel Lizárraga.

Prior to leaving, Friends Across Borders will provide an orientation which will include education about important cultural and other rules to follow during the trip.

TOTAL COST: $1,140.00 (ground cost plus registration fee).

This covers the program registration fee, all lodging, meals, and local transportation, English-Spanish speaking guides, cultural activities, and local shelter meal sponsorship. Airfare not included.

Please make sure your passport is valid through AUGUST 2025!

Have questions? Contact [email protected].

Learn more about our missioners at the border:

Friends Across Borders Registration

Maryknoll Missioners Immersion Experience Participant Registration. Please complete the form to secure your spot in our immersion encounters. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Friends Across Borders is a program of Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

Part One
Personal Information
Name*
First Last
Date of Birth*
MM
DD
YYYY
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone*
Email*
Emergency contact*
In case of Emergency please contact:
First Last
Relationship*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone
Email*
Part Two
Information and Preparation
Please select the trip you are registering for.*
In a paragraph or two, please let us know why you are interested in this immersion experience:*
What previous experiences may have prepared you for this trip? (Residing in or visiting a foreign country, cross cultural experiences, etc.)*
What are your expectations and how do you envision this experience will help you in your work, studies, or life in general?*
Language Skills*
You will be accompanied by bilingual Maryknoll missioner guide. Help us learn your language skills based on the country you are visiting.
From the option selected above select your fluency level*
Maryknoll Missioners Guidelines*
I will follow Maryknoll Missioner guidelines
While all of our trips are planned in order to provide a safe and meaningful experience for you, we would like to remind you that you will be in settings very different from those found in the United States. We ask that you remain flexible, willing to adapt to a simple lifestyle, ready to follow the safety guidelines provided, and open to experiencing and learning about another culture. Please click the checkbox to indicate you will follow Maryknoll Missioners guidelines.
In-country safety*
I will review the indicated information through Travel.State.Gov
Maryknoll Missioners will do our best to make sure your experience meets your objectives. However, there are risks and realities that are not always within our control. We count on the experience of our local hosts, Maryknoll Missioners and others, to provide you with a support system during your trip. Travel.State.Gov provides some important information regarding safety by country/state. Please click the checkbox to indicate that you will review the link and information provided.
Valid Overseas Health Insurance*
I will secure medical overseas insurance and will provide MKLM a copy.
You will need valid overseas medical insurance. If you have overseas insurance, please send us a copy. Please click the checkbox to indicate you will have valid overseas medical insurance and will provide a copy. If you need assistance with medical insurance we provide resources for you to purchase.
Medications*
I will obtain and pack a supply of all medications and will have all the required immunizations.
We ask that you bring with you sufficient amounts of any medications you may need, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter from your healthcare provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you. We can’t guarantee that you will be able to purchase them in the host country.
For vaccinations and health recommendations we ask you to consult with your physician and visit the CDC webpage: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations and get the needed vaccinations. Click the checkbox to indicate that you will be obtaining and packing a supply of all your medications and you will have all the required immunizations.
Medical/Health concerns and requirements*
I am healthy and mobile to meet the criteria and demands of the trip
Our experiences overseas may entail time spent in stressful and/or polluted environments. While our itinerary is not physically rigorous, at times it will be physically taxing as we engage in community led projects and visit the different areas in the host country. Each participant must be healthy and mobile enough to meet these demands. Please click the check box to let us know you meet the medical and health criteria.
Please answer the following questions:*
How do you appraise your present health?
*
Do you have any chronic ailments?
*
Any physical disability?
Dietary Needs*
- All foods
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
Food Allergies*
- Yes
- No
Please let us know if you have any allergies to food, medicines, insects, or environmental substances*
If you do not have any allergies please indicate N/A.
If allergic reaction is severe, do you carry epinephrine (an epipen)?*
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?*
- Yes
- No
Do you wear hearing aids?*
- Yes
- No
Please list any other current medical problems you are experiencing.*
If none, please type NONE.
Please click the checkbox to indicate you have provided all needed information.*
How did you hear about Friends Across Borders opportunities?*
- Maryknoll Lay Missioners
- Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
- Maryknoll Sisters
- Maryknoll Affiliates
- Parish
- Other
Friends Across Borders is a program of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners.
Questions and Comments
Please list any questions or comments for us here.
Thank you for completing the registration form.*
Please, click the checkbox to confirm you will move to the next phase.
We will be in touch with you as soon as we receive your registration. The next step is to secure your spot by making a payment for the immersion experience.