Minimal Financial Outlay
The mission is structured for the greatest attendance and impact while asking very little of the parish budget.
Catholic Parish Missions
Ignite hearts. Fill your pews.
Transform your parish from maintenance to mission.
A proven, 3-night Eucharistic parish mission with 4 months of pre-planning and dedicated post-mission discipleship accompaniment.
- 20 years leading the Steubenville Conferences
- Parishes coast to coast
- 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit
Watch: what an Elevated Parish Mission looks likeIgniting hearts. Reviving parishes.
Our Difference
Transforming lives. Transforming parishes.
The typical parish mission
While people may be inspired in the short-term by a dynamic speaker at a typical parish mission, they are often left with a “Now what?” And there is no lasting impact on parish life.
An Elevated Parish Mission
Elevated Parish Missions uses a proven model that incorporates powerful preaching, worship, and Eucharistic adoration to awaken faith and renew hearts. But added to this is our post-mission follow-up that empowers participants to accompany each other as disciples. Elevated Parish Missions move participants beyond their own spiritual renewal. It is designed for spiritual multiplication!
Elevated Parish Missions — promoFrom Surviving to Thriving
Everything your parish needs. Nothing it has to figure out alone.
4 Months of Turnkey Coaching
Roles, timelines, logistics and ready-to-use promotion — plus spiritual formation of your parish core team.
Preaching, Worship & Adoration
A renowned Catholic speaker, a dynamic worship leader and reverent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each night.
Discipleship & Multiplication
A post-mission plan that forms disciples who form other disciples — so the fire doesn’t go out on night three.
- Combined leadership experience at the Steubenville Conferences
- 20 yrs
- Turnkey pre-mission preparation with your core team
- 4 mo
- Preaching, worship & Eucharistic Adoration
- 3 nights
- Nationally known speakers & worship leaders
- 25
What You Can Look Forward To
One mission. Three stages. Lasting fruit.
Preparation → The 3 Nights → Parish Rising discipleship. Not a fly-in, fly-out speaker — an accompaniment.
Starts 4 months out
Pre-Mission Planning
- Information regarding roles/duties, logistical details, and related timelines.
- Accompaniment in the spiritual formation of your parish core team.
The encounter
Three Night Mission
- Led by a renowned Catholic speaker, dynamic worship leader, and an on-site program director to ensure the mission’s success.
- Includes inspiring worship music, reverent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and powerful messages about God’s transformative love and life in the Holy Spirit.
Elevated Parish Rising
Long-Term Follow-Up Plan
- To form parishioners as disciples through authentic community, ongoing growth and transformation, and accompaniment.
- To equip parishioners to form other disciples.
For the whole family
Not just the regular daily-Mass crowd.
Every mission includes an optional Grades K–5 youth session with age-appropriate content, so parents can bring the whole family — and the Adoration, worship and preaching are built to welcome visitors, those newly returning to the faith, and “those who reluctantly stepped into the door.”
Our Impact
Don’t take our word for it.
Hear from those who have participated in an Elevated Parish Mission.
“Nothing prepared me for our Elevated Parish Mission… It made me love being a priest even more.”
Read Fr. Berns’ full testimony
“I’ve been a priest for 27 years, and I’ve seen plenty of good missions and prayerful events in churches. But nothing prepared me for our Elevated Parish Mission (EPM). Hearts and voices swelled as John Paul led us in simple songs that were just prayers calling on the Lord’s power and love. The crowd increased each night, with everyone young and old on fire with holy desire as they listened to the speaker. The spotlight shining on our Lord in the Eucharistic procession in the otherwise dark church embodied EPM’s goal — encountering Love and peace in Jesus who overpowers darkness. EPM staff walked us through the organizing end so clearly and prayerfully that the mission came off without a hitch. Pastors and parishioners, I promise you that an Elevated Parish Mission will light a fire in your congregation that will surprise you. It made me love being a priest even more.”
Fr. Eric BernsSt. Patrick, Pastor · Sparta, WI
“We are still hearing of the miracles that happened one year later.”
Read more
“Elevated Parish Missions had a huge impact on our parish community, way beyond the three days of the mission. What words and music could not accomplish, Eucharistic adoration each evening did, bringing the presence and healing of Christ to our people. We are still hearing of the miracles that happened one year later.”
Fr. Patrick MosesSt. Timothy, Pastor · Laguna Niguel, CA
“To date, the most transformative of all the missions I’ve experienced.”
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“Elevated Parish Mission came to Holy Name and with it came hope and healing, not to mention a lot of joy. The ability to praise God with hearts full of gratitude is something that takes time to cultivate, and this mission did that in an exemplary way. From the very first moment, my parishioners and I felt the stirring of God’s Presence and His plan for us over the next three nights. Our hearts are full now, as we remember the graces that we each received in the course of our parish mission. I wholeheartedly encourage other pastors to consider hosting this parish mission, which to date has been the most transformative of all the missions I’ve experienced. We know better than ever that Jesus is Lord and that He is not afraid to enter our hearts with His mercy and compassion. Saint John Paul II defined parishes as schools of prayer: hosting the Elevated Parish Mission was a quantum leap forward for all who participated in the ways of God. What a blessing it was and always will be that we were able to participate in this magnificent outpouring of the graces of God.”
Fr. Sam MartinHoly Name of Jesus, Pastor · Wausau, WI
“You have the unique opportunity as Elevated Parish Missions to actually form teams within parishes!”
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“During the meetings, you were able to form us as a team and as better Christians. Your prayerful witness, your recounting of stories about your work community and your quad opened our eyes to what it looks like to live as an authentic disciple… You’ve helped us to see how our community can be improved, how we can honestly pray and reflect together, that we can be vulnerable with each other. The mission reminded us that God wants to heal his people and we need to get out of the way, learn to trust Him and He will act. You have the unique opportunity as Elevated Parish Missions to actually form teams within parishes! That is a beautiful gift to the Church. Our community will be forever blessed by your work here.”
JulieSt. Lawrence O’Toole, Parishioner · Brewster, NY
“This mission was a moment our parishioners will not forget.”
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“Elevated Parish Missions provided us with an opportunity to come together and experience a powerful encounter with the Lord and to make this accessible to visitors, those who may be newly returning to the faith and those who reluctantly stepped into the door. From the challenging talks to the moving and beautiful music and all of the logistical elements that helped us enter more deeply into the encounter, this mission was a moment our parishioners will not forget.”
Fr. Daniel P. GiffordSt. Malachy, Pastor · Geneseo, IL
Where we’ve been
Igniting Catholic parishes coast to coast.
From Seattle to South Carolina, Wisconsin to Southern California — parishes of every size have welcomed an Elevated Parish Mission. Tap a pin to explore.
Elevated Parish Missions
Bridging hearts to Christ.
Everyone desires a life with purpose, joy, and peace. At Elevated Parish Missions, we are called to help others discover that such true happiness can only be found in God’s love in the heart of His Church.
With 20 years of combined experience working for the world’s largest Catholic conference ministry, our goal is to assist individuals in deeply encountering the Lord and in elevating parishes from surviving to thriving, from being in maintenance to going on mission. Let Elevated Parish Missions accompany you on this journey, as together we bridge hearts to Christ!
Martin WatjenCEO
Brian HoughCOO
“When I am lifted up, I will draw all to Myself.”John 12:32
Together, we can bridge hearts to Christ and build vibrant, faith-filled communities.
Photo by Travis George
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions pastors ask us.
Still wondering about cost, timing, or what happens after night three?
What is an Elevated Parish Mission?
The focus of an Elevated Parish Mission is to bring people into a transforming encounter with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ and to call them to live a life-long journey as His disciples. Powerful preaching, worship, and Eucharistic Adoration awaken faith and renew hearts, leaving participants empowered and ready to deepen their relationship with Jesus and accompany others on their spiritual journey as disciples.
What does it consist of?
The process of an Elevated Parish Mission includes:
- A 4 month preparation phase where our team works with your parish to help ensure the mission is a success. This includes not only the logistical steps necessary in planning the mission, but also accompaniment in the spiritual formation of your parish core team.
- The 3-day mission is led by an engaging speaker and a dynamic worship leader. We also provide an on-site program director to ensure the mission’s success.
- A follow-up plan with resources that help to:
- Form parishioners as disciples through authentic community, ongoing growth and transformation, and accompaniment.
- Equip parishioners for the mission of helping others become disciples.
- Onboard parish leadership to proven approaches of enhancing parish engagement, then provide related accompaniment in their use to best meet the needs of the parish.
What is unique about an Elevated Parish Mission as compared to other mission offerings?
An Elevated Parish Mission is unlike other parish mission offerings! We provide:
- “Ready to use” promotional resources and related marketing strategies
- 4 month “pre-mission” fully-collaborative planning process
- Nationally renowned Catholic speakers
- Inspiring worship music
- On-site parish mission coordinator
- Engaging Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Powerful messaging about God’s transformative love and life in the Holy Spirit
- Optional Grades K-5 youth session to provide age appropriate content to children
- A “post-mission” follow-up plan, including the implementation of a process for discipleship formation and for increasing parish engagement
When are Elevated Parish Missions offered?
These events are offered any time throughout the year. Due to the 4 month preparation phase prior to the Mission, it is highly recommended that parishes contact us a minimum of 8 months prior to the desired event date.
How much does it cost?
An Elevated Parish Mission is structured in such a way so as to ensure the greatest attendance and impact from the event, yet result in a minimal financial outlay from the parish. To discuss the related details further, please click here to set up an appointment with someone from our team.
Higher Ground Podcast
Sample our voices before you book.
Fresh insights into the Catholic faith, transforming familiar topics into eye-opening discussions.
Listen nowAn ecosystem of accompaniment
Trusted partners who keep the fire burning.
- The Catechetical InstituteFranciscan University — free parish access for one year after your mission
- Amazing ParishLeadership accompaniment for pastors
- myParish AppParish communication & faith-building
- Discipleship QuadsFranciscan University of Steubenville
Take the next step
Ready to chat? We’re here.
A discovery call is the easiest first step. We’ll listen to where your parish is today and walk you through dates, logistics and how the mission is funded.