Public invited to discover, network with local ministries at Mission Partners Expo

Dozens of ministries, service organizations to be on hand Aug. 8 at Madonna University to engage faithful, promote collaboration

LIVONIA — It’s hard to put into words just how much the Catholic Church and its partner organizations do to offer corporal and spiritual works of mercy in southeast Michigan.

But visuals help.

On Aug. 8, dozens of Catholic and service-based ministries will set up showcase booths and offer presentations and networking opportunities during the third Mission Partners Expo at Madonna University in Livonia.

The expo, hosted by the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, is open to everyone and will feature as many as 50 local “mission partners” showcasing their work in a diverse set of ministries, including advocacy, pro-life, health care, marriage and family, faith formation, education, bereavement and more.

The expo, which will take place inside Madonna’s gymnasium and activity center, will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone to drop by to learn more about the ways in which the Church serves in southeast Michigan and network with the many agencies and organizations in attendance.

The expo is a chance for clergy, parish staff, ministry leaders and interested lay Catholics to build a culture of collaboration with and through the dozens of ministries serving the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit, said Deacon Fred Billotto, associate director of evangelical charity for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“The expo is set up like a ministry fair, where we bring in organizations from around the archdiocese that do works of evangelical charity for the purpose of collaboration,” Deacon Billotto told Detroit Catholic. “Everybody is invited to this, and we want everyone to come and learn about what these organizations do.”

Besides an opportunity for the lay faithful to get to know how the Church is serving in their community, it’s also a chance for priests and ministry leaders to network with other ministries and nonprofits for potential collaboration opportunities, helping ministries expand their reach and engage more of the faithful, he added.

Although the expo hall is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there is no expectation to stay for the entire time, Deacon Billotto explained.

“People can come for as long as they want — this isn’t an all-day commitment,” he said.

This is the third year the Mission Partners Expo has taken place, Deacon Billotto said.

“The first one took place in 2021, and we were just coming out of the COVID pandemic,” Deacon Billotto said. “It was originally a way to bring everybody back together, along with the obvious benefits of networking and collaboration.”

The first expo received such positive feedback that the archdiocese decided to bring it back, he said.

For example, Deacon Billotto said, the Mission Partners Expo has played a significant role in helping parishes connect with local pregnancy resource centers as part of the Church’s “Walking with Moms in Need” initiative, which aims to better connect Catholic communities with the resources available in their neighborhood to help women and families get the help they need during challenging pregnancies.

“We’re seeing that collaboration take place between mission partners when they get to know each other,” Deacon Billotto said. “People really liked it, and many of our partners have decided to return.”

This year’s expo will feature a diverse lineup of ministries, including educational institutions, apostolates dedicated to evangelization and catechesis, health care ministries, pregnancy centers and human service organizations, funeral and cemetery services, financial institutions and fraternal organizations.

Many of the attending organizations will bring literature and have staff and volunteers available to talk to those interested in learning more, or possibly even getting involved.

Those interested in attending may RSVP by July 31, but Deacon Billotto said even those who don’t register are invited to come and experience the expo.

“Our mission partners really benefit from getting their message out and making the community aware of what they do,” Deacon Billotto said. “And hopefully parish staff and clergy can come and find ways to collaborate with them, support their ministries and find ways to get their parishioners and everyday Catholics engaged in acts of evangelical charity.”