About
Our Vision
Our vision is rooted in the words of Pope Benedict XVI in his encyclical Spe Salvi:
“The true measure of humanity is essentially determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer. This holds true both for the individual and for society. (…) To accept the “other” who suffers, means that I take up his suffering in such a way that it becomes mine also. Because it has now become a shared suffering, though, in which another person is present, this suffering is penetrated by the light of love. The Latin word con-solatio, “consolation”, expresses this beautifully. It suggests being with the other in his solitude, so that it ceases to be solitude.”
By offering our simple, faithful presence, we strive to bring both the consolation of Christ’s mercy, and the balm of Mary’s compassion.
Our Story
Since its inception in 2003, Con-solatio has worked tirelessly to spread a culture of compassion. We seek to offer the consolation and hope of God’s abiding presence through personal, life-transforming relationships that reveal the beauty and dignity of each person.
From the favelas of Brazil to the lost youth of Japan, from the elderly crying from loneliness in a cold nursing home to the young mother in need of support, “charity urges us on” (2 Cor 5:14) to respond to every cry with a consoling visit, a listening ear, and a message of hope.
Presence inculcates all our efforts and activities. We are grateful to have seen countless lives deeply transformed over the years, both in the people we serve and among ourselves, missionaries and staff alike.
International Missionary Program
Con-solatio offers young people the chance to “leave everything and follow Him” (Luke 5:11). Our missionaries take a leap of faith outside their comfort zone and allow themselves to be enriched, stretched, and deeply formed by an encounter with Christ in the poor and suffering. By dedicating 1-2 years to God and those He loves the most—the lonely, the forgotten, and the rejected—Con-solatio missionaries offer hope and consolation in some of the world’s most troubled areas. In return, they receive the life-transforming joy of seeing their own existence as a gift.
Through a network of partnered nonprofits throughout the world and collaboration with their local dioceses, our missionaries are sent to serve in mission homes in 18 different countries.
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Domestic Presence
Based in Brooklyn, our mission expands across the country and beyond. We strive to bring hope to the city that Saint Teresa of Calcutta insisted “needed compassion most in the world.” Through visits to nursing homes and shelters, cultural and spiritual events, and hospitality of heart and home, we reach out to people from every walk of life.
Our ever-growing community of returning missionaries carries Con-solatio further and deeper, all over the country. We are dedicated to our missionary alumni as they navigate their return home, transformed by their experience abroad. We offer mentorship, visits, retreats, re-entry weekends, and annual family events. In turn, returning missionaries bring their deepened gaze of compassion to their families, workplaces, schools, and parishes.
Stories from the Field
Explore the latest news from our missionaries and discover the stories and people that have marked them the most.
Witness how God works in the lives of our missionaries and in the lives of those they serve, through their deep gift of self.
Come Abide compiles dozens of raw and consoling letters from our missionaries, revealing the power of a simple presence.
Invite Us
Share the powerful testimony of God’s abiding presence among us and help inspire the next generation to reflect the Presence of Christ in the midst of the world. Invite a missionary to visit or speak at your school, university, or parish!
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Con-solatio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.