Hello Friends and Family!
My name is Mary Ostrich and I am excited to be serving as a missionary for NET Ireland this upcoming year 2021 to 2022.

I visited Ireland a few years ago with my family and I distinctly remember walking into a nearly empty cathedral for Sunday mass. I noticed that very few people in Ireland were actually practicing their faith in a mostly Catholic country. When I left Ireland after the visit I felt a tug on my heart that I needed to go back one day to help reignite this fire.  

When I transferred to Franciscan last semester, I went into college confident that I was home and I would be there for awhile. But as I sat in front of the Franciscan cross last semester, I heard the words in my heart "Mary, go rebuild my church". I would never have imagined in a million years that going into my first year at the college of my dreams I would leave everything behind for a year to follow Jesus into a different country.  But, the more that I fall in love with Christ, the more I want to bring others to experience His love! I knew from the first day of orientation I had a missionary call but I did not know the Lord meant for me to leave Franciscan so soon. But, here I am taking a step in faith for the Lord. I will be back to my sweet home in Steubenville but first I must venture to Ireland to serve His people. 

I am going to take a gap year and serve as a missionary with NET ministries IRL this coming September through May. Currently mass is shut down in IRL because of COVID and it has been this way on and off for over a year.  There is such a great need for missionaries in Ireland especially during this time where they lack the sacraments. Throughout my year in Ireland, I will be serving on a team of missionaries which will help run retreats, small groups, youth group, and ignite a fire and love for Christ and His Church virtually and in person when permitted. 

In order to be able to make this happen, I have to fundraise 6,000 euros ($7,300 USD). In addition, in order to get to Ireland, the Irish government is considering mandating a 14 quarentine in a hotel by the airport for those from the US.  This will cost another $2,000USD plus food.

I am taking a step in faith because I know that the Lord is calling me to this despite difficulties. 

I ask that you join me on this mission through your monetary donations and prayers as I live out Christ's call to "go and make disciples of all nations!"