Missionary Cooperative Plan (MCP)

Application acceptance for 2026 Missionary Cooperative plan is now closed.

The Mission Cooperative Plan (MCP) of the Diocese of Davenport promotes awareness of missions worldwide in the parishes throughout the Diocese.  Each year representatives of missionary congregations are invited to visit select parishes to share their experience and ask for financial support and prayers.  Groups applying to the Missionary Cooperative Plan must be in good standing serving in foreign countries or in a diocese in the United States that has been designated as a missionary by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

How to Apply:

• Please submit a formal letter requesting inclusion in the Diocese of Davenport Mission Cooperative Plan.  The letter MUST include U.S. representative contact information, as well as an e-mail address and phone number.  If your organization is listed in the Official Catholic Directory, please indicate the page number in the current Directory or specify if you are authorized to function legally as 501 (c)(3).  Please provide proof of 501 (c)(3) status.  For complete information on what to include in the request letter review the MCP Application Letter Guidelines. (Missions must submit a new appeal each year).

• We have a limited number of placements available each year and it's not possible to accommodate all requests received.

• Request must be received by January 5 to be considered for that year. The selections process is done in February.  The invitation to the selected groups will be send via e-mail at the end of February/early March.  Please list a valid e-mail address. 

• Submission of an application does NOT indicate acceptance in the MCP

How to Submit the Application:

MUST MAIL A PAPER COPY OF YOUR APPLICATION TO: 

Diocese of Davenport
Mission Cooperative Plan
780 West Central Park Ave
Davenport, IA 52804-1901
 

Application deadline January 05, 2027.

What You Should Know if you are Accepted:
 

• A Letter of Good Standing/Letter of Suitability upon acceptance a letter of suitability must be mailed to our office and to the parishes assigned.   This letter should be on letterhead with a seal.  If there is no record of this letter on file, the speaker will NOT be allowed to speak, and no collection will be taken.  This requirement applies to all individuals coming to speak for the MCP in the Diocese of Davenport.
   
   
• Scheduling Visit: Once the Mission receives the approval and the assigned parishes, please complete the scheduling process directly with the parishes. A copy of the Schule must be e-mailed to [email protected] 
   
   
• The Collection: All proceeds from the appeal are kept at the parish.  The parish will then send the final appeal check to the Diocese of Davenport / Finance Department. If money if given directly to the missionary speaking, that money is consider part of the appeal and must be given to the pastor.  Our diocese is comprised of larger urban parishes as well as smaller, rural clusters of parishes. The range of contributions can vary greatly. Our practice is to take the entire amount collected from all invited groups and divide evenly among all groups.
  
  
• Envelopes: Pre-printed pew envelopes must include instructions that parishioners are to make the check payable to the parish or Diocese of Davenport.  CHECKS MAY NOT be payable to the mission.
   
• Mass Stipends: Please do not request Mass stipends through the Missionary Cooperative Plan.
   
• The MCP appeal weekend requires a speaker to appear in person at the Masses to make an appeal for prayer and financial support.  Groups may not request a letter to be read at the Masses and a collection taken in lieu of a personal appearance.
   
• Transportation and Housing: The Diocese of Davenport and its parishes do not provide for or reimburse travel cost, shuttle services to or from the airport, or lodging accommodations.  It is the speaker’s responsibility to provide for his or her own housing arrangements as well as transportation between parish sites and/or the airport.

• May 30.  Please mail all information to Diocese of Davenport, Mission Coop Plan, 780 West Central Park Avenue Davenport, IA 52804-1901.  Also please e-mail a copy of the information to [email protected] no later than May 30.

• The missionary is to report the dates arranged for the appeal to the Diocesan Director no later than September 15.