Two Catholic College Students Will Experience Mission with Maryknoll in Asia

Contact: Mike Virgintino, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, 914-941-7636 ext 2219

MARYKNOLL, N.Y., May 17, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Danielle Alio of Pennsylvania and Joseph Houde of Maine, two college students completing their junior years, have been chosen the winners of the 2011 Maryknoll Explore My Mission contest. During this centennial year celebration of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Ms. Alio and Mr. Houde will participate in and learn about mission with Maryknoll in Asia.

Each year, the Maryknoll Explore My Mission contest asks Catholics from 18 to 35 years of age to submit amateur videos that show a personal commitment to Gospel service. Founded during 1911 as the overseas mission society of the U.S. Catholic Church, Maryknoll's initial overseas mission assignment was to China. As this year's contest winners, Ms. Alio and Mr. Houde will symbolically return to Asia. Each student will receive a free two-week mission trip during July to visit several of Maryknoll's commitments in Taiwan and South Korea.

Ms. Alio, from North Wales, Pennsylvania, is a junior at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania. A communications major, Ms. Alio's submission showcased her commitment to Gospel service through her media skills. The video shed light on people most in need in Haiti, Sudan and Swaziland along with immigrants to the United States.

Mr. Houde, from Topsham, Maine, is a junior at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. A marketing and communications major concentrating in multi-media, Mr. Houde's video showed his commitment to Gospel service during a recent school spring break trip to Ecuador with the college's "Missions of Peace" student outreach service program.

Both Ms. Alio and Mr. Houde will have the opportunity to learn more about mission by joining Maryknoll at various locations. These will include Father Joyalito Tajonera's Filipino immigrant ministry (Taichung, Taiwan), Father Cuong Nguyen's ministry with victims of human trafficking (Taichung, Taiwan) and visiting a Korean Zen monastery in South Korea with Father Alfonso Kim.

Ms. Alio and Mr. Houde will follow in the footsteps of past winners of the Maryknoll Explore My Mission contest who had the opportunity to experience mission with Maryknoll in Brazil during 2009 and in Tanzania during 2010.To learn more about the Maryknoll Explore My Mission contest and to view the winning video submissions, visit the video gallery at www.ExploreMyMission.org.  

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is the overseas mission outreach of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, following Jesus in serving the poor and others in need in 28 countries that include the U.S. All Catholics are called to mission through baptism, and Maryknoll’s mission education outreach in parishes and schools throughout the country engages U.S. Catholics in mission through vocations, prayer, donations and as volunteers.

During 2011, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is commemorating its centennial with a theme of The Gift of Mission -- The Maryknoll Journey. These missionaries will celebrate as they continue their journey into the next 100 years to share God's love and the Gospel in combating poverty, providing healthcare, building communities and promoting human rights. For more information, visit maryknollsociety.org.

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