Internship Program

 

Overview

The internship program at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York provides the opportunity for bright, Catholic, college graduates or graduate students to gain invaluable experience assisting the work of the Holy See in its multilateral work at the UN, seeking to bring the light of Catholic Social Teaching to the debates of the international community. Interns receive a special orientation on the history of the diplomatic work of the Holy See at the United Nations, attend the wide variety of UN meetings, conferences and debates, file reports to be sent to the Holy See’s central offices in the Vatican, assist in running the Mission’s many conferences, regularly attend receptions and cultural events held by the Holy See and other Missions, and many other activities.

 

Internship Cycles and Numbers

There are three internship cycles each year, Fall, Spring and Summer. It is possible for an intern to remain for more than one, doing two cycles or even a full year, but with the number of applications the Mission has been receiving, and the desire to give capable applicants the chance, it is becoming rarer that applicants will be accepted to more than one session, at least initially. The Fall Session extends from the beginning of September through just before Christmas; the Spring Session begins on Monday of the second week of January and extends the end of May; the Summer Session runs from the Tuesday immediately following Memorial Day [the last Monday of May] through the end of August. An orientation and training program is given at the beginning of each cycle. Up to eight interns are taken for any given session.

 

Application Process

Application deadlines are April 15 for the following Fall Session, October 1 for the following Spring Session and January 1 for the upcoming Summer Session. The Application process involves sending a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendations (one from a teacher or academic advisor, the second from a Catholic pastor or chaplain) to arrive by the respective deadline at Internship Program, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, 25 E. 39th Street, New York, NY 10016. A PDF copy of the mailed application should also be emailed by the deadline to office@holyseemission.org with “Internship Application” listed in the subject line. Applicants are encouraged to get in their applications well before the deadline. After applications have been received and evaluated, certain applicants may be invited to submit an essay on one of the themes in debate at the UN as the second stage of the process. After that, interviews may be scheduled via Zoom or, for those in the New York area, in person as the third stage.

Selection Criteria

Because of the nature of the work of the Holy See at the United Nations, interns must be practicing Catholics; understand, appreciate and believe in Catholic Social Teaching and in the values the Church seeks to convey before the international community; have graduated from university or be enrolled in a graduate program (undergraduates enrolled in programs may apply for the internship program, but preference will be given to graduates); be fluent in English and, if possible, in one or more of the six official UN languages; be a good, clear and precise writer, capable of analytic and synthetic thought and sound research in libraries and via the internet; and have the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team. The maximal age to be eligible for the internship is 35 (at the beginning of the internship).

 

Hours

Interns normally work Monday through Friday 9 am to 6 pm. There are occasional nighttime events, as well as, once or twice a year, the need to assist in covering sessions when the UN is meeting on weekends. Attendance at the daily staff meeting after Midmorning Prayer each day at 9 am in the Mission Chapel is obligatory. Every first Friday of the month, and on Holy Days of Obligation, a Mass is celebrated at the Chapel in the Mission that all staff and interns are expected to attend.

 

Fellowships, Housing, and Meals

Interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements while in New York, covering their initial travel to and from New York, purchasing travel/health insurance, and other expenses. However, the Mission offers reimbursement for travel to and from the Mission Office each day and a staff lunch at the Mission at 1:15 pm. is provided daily.

The Mission maintains a list of possible housing options (normally dormitory style setting) in New York City. This information is offered once the intern has been selected for a position. Interns can make arrangements to stay in these locations, find alternative housing, stay with friends/family, or look at possible sublet opportunities and short term rentals.

The Mission has established Fellowship Programs with certain Catholic Colleges and Universities that provide funding for the housing and living expenses for a mutually-agreed upon student or recent graduate to serve as fellows for a semester or for an academic year at the Mission. If the intern is not from one of these established programs, he/she can apply for the Viscogliosi Brothers Fellowship. There is an application process for the VBF and the intern will need to show demonstrable financial need to qualify. These funds can be used for housing and monthly expenses while the intern is in New York City and working for the Mission. The application process for the VBF is shared with the intern upon request.

 

Further Inquiries and questions

Those with questions not answered here are invited to email office@holyseemission.org or contact Fr. Mark Knestout (212.370.7885 x127; mknestout@holyseemission.org).

 

Internship Application Checklist

 

1.  Cover Letter
   • Briefly explain your background, how you came to find out about the internship program and why you would be interested in serving as an intern for the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN.
   • State clearly the Session(s) you are interested in applying for (Fall, Spring, or Summer)..
   • Describe your field of study and any particular qualifications you have for the work of the Holy See at the United Nations.
   • Mention where you practice the Catholic faith and your awareness of Catholic Social Teaching.                                                                          
2. Curriculum Vitae
   • A standard curriculum vitae detailing your academic, work and volunteer history, special skills, languages and other competencies will suffice.
   • Please make sure all of your contact information — mailing address, cell phone, email, Skype and social media accounts — as well as your date or birthis included.           
3. Recommendations
   • A recommendation from a College Professor, Academic Advisor or the equivalent who can speak about your academic qualifications. If you have been out of school for a while, a recommendation from one of your work supervisors is sufficient. 
   • A recommendation from the pastor of your Catholic parish, the chaplain of your University Newman Center, or a Catholic priest or deacon who is able to describe for us briefly the level of your knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith, character, etc.
   • If there are particular circumstances making the providing of either of these recommendations particularly difficult, please explain the situation in your cover letter.                                                                                                                                                                                                 
4. Deadlines and Addresses
   • The deadline for applications hoping to begin an internship in the Fall is April 15; in the Spring, October 1; in the Summer, January 1. The application (cover letter, CV and Recommendations) should arrive (not be postmarked) by those days. The earlier the application, the better.
   • The Applications should be sent to: Internship Program, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, 25 E. 39th Street, New York, NY 10016. (USA).
   • A PDF copy of the mailed application should also be sent by the deadline to office@holyseemission.org with “Internship Application” listed in the subject line.

 

 

SPRING 2023

L-R: Benedetta Viviano (Italy), Ciara Hogan (United Kingdom), Marcello Marcello (Italy), Nicholas Bonfiglio (USA), Patricia Onuoha (Nigeria), Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Johannes Bonnelycke (Denmark), Carlos Garcés (Ecuador), Alexandre Kubala (France), and Daniela Saffie Budnik (Chile)

FALL 2022

L-R (Seated): Nikki Alcantar (Philippines), Carlos Garcés (Ecuador), Rosario Carrillo (Honduras), Ana Ruiz (Mexico);

L-R (Standing): Benedetta Viviano (Italy), Péter Juhász (Hungary), Mária Smutelovičova (Slovakia), Ciara Hogan (United Kingdom), and Anna Whitehead (United Kingdom)

SUMMER 2022

L-R: Megan Gooley (USA), Angelina Soriano (Mexico), Seb Javier (Philippines), Savannah Willard (USA), Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia - Permanent Observer to the UN, José Latorre (Spain), Felipe Chertouh (Brazil/France) Jerome Green (UK), and Matthew Remedios (Canada)

Spring 2022

L-R: (Seated) Ewa Rejman (Poland), Saramarie Wade (USA), Lauren Frawley (USA); (Standing): Conall Preston (UK), Rosario Carrillo (Honduras), Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Father Roger Landry, Aude Lajouanie (France), Camillo Pérez (Colombia). 

Fall 2021

L-R: (Seated) Peter Corkery (Canada), Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Harry Rawcliffe (UK); (Standing): Daisy Vanderputt (UK), Camilla Magis (Germany), Lauren Frawley (USA), Elizabeth Sadusky (USA), Ewa Rejman (Poland), Kristine Leonardo (Philippines). 

Summer 2021

L-R: (Seated) Sara Maragno (Italy), Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Hannah Kelley (USA); (Standing): Jonathan Green (UK), David Dry (USA), Diego Loras Gimeno (Spain), John Hale (USA), Jeremy Puntel (USA), Gautier Parthon de Von (Belgium/France).

Spring 2021

L-R: (Seated) Jean Maloney (USA), Kayla Auza (USA); (Standing): Andres Polanco Achury (Colombia); Juan Pedro Dubié (Argentina/Italy), José Melendez Garcia (Nicaragua), Pedro Perez (Cuba/USA).

Fall 2020

L-R: (Seated) Jean Maloney (USA), Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Marisa Martinez (USA); (Standing): Juan Francisco Padin (Argentina), Pedro Perez (Cuba/USA), Thomas Murphy (Canada), Father Roger Landry, Francesco Teruggi (Italy), David Lewandowski (USA)

(There was no Summer 2020 class because of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

Spring 2020

L-R: Jeremy Faust (USA), Colleen Leahy (USA), Martin Okoye (Nigeria), Rensi Pua (The Philippines), Ricardo Sanchez ( Peru), Sofia Lesmes (Colombia/USA), Francesco Terrugi (Italy), Elia Berlingerio (Italy)

Fall 2019

L-R: Veronica Czarnik (USA), Sofia Lesmes (Colombia/USA), Christabel Fernandez (Singapore), Aaron Humphriss (UK), Patrick Fernandez (The Philippines), Carmen Tate (USA), Colette Power (UK), and Emily Ghazoul (USA) (not pictured: Chiara Mocchi)

Summer 2019

L-R: Melinda David (USA), Olivia Owino (Uganda), Pedro Weizenmann (Brazil), Siobhan Heekin-Canedy (USA/Ukraine), Johannes Ludwig (Germany), Portio Berry-Kilby (United Kingdom) and John Ketchum (USA).

Spring 2019

L-R: Roxanne Heidrich (Germany), Jose Villanueva (Peru), Lia Alejo  (The Philippines), Chiara Mocchi (Italy), Luke Miller (USA), Corrinne Burns (USA), Alexander Mac Donald (Canada),  Giulia Iop (Italy) (not pictured: Juan Daray)

Fall 2018

L-R: Janina Talamayan (USA), Anna Fata American Attaché, Giulia Iop (Italy),  Fr. Roger Landry American Attaché and Internship Director,  Juan Daray (The Philippines), Alexander MacDonald (Canada) and Reyna Anderson (USA).

Summer 2018

L-R: Maroun Maalouf (Palestine), Michelle Rioux (Canada), Leo Keay (UK), Giulia Maniezzi (Italy), Marco Bachmann (Italy), Giuseppe Beretta (Italy), Jonathan Van Pham (USA), and Augustin Gick (France) (not pictured: Michelle Perez, Aaron Salvan)

Spring 2018

Crisostomo "Sunny" Ala (The Philippines), Aaron Salvan (The Philippines), Michelle Perez (USA), Kathleen Mullally (USA), Michelle Rioux (Canada), Kathleen "Kit" Driscoll (USA), Giulia Maniezzi (Italy), Koreen Cueto, and Nalisha "Mena" Men (China) (not pictured: Camille Mascarinas and Marco Bachmann)

Fall 2017

Christopher Jay (USA), Nalisha Mena (China), Michelle Rioux (Canada), Camille Mascarinas (USA), Catherine Doolan (USA), Rebecca Rethwisch (USA), and Kirsten Rischert-Garcia (USA).

Summer 2017

Theresa Mensdorff-Pouilly (Austria), Ugochi Okpe (Nigeria), Andrew Salyer (Florida), Catherine Doolan (New Jersey), David Szmigielski (Illinois), Tessa McGowan (Connecticut), Louis Cona (Rockville Center).

Spring 2017

Anna Marie Landis, Jackie Yap, Veronika Picker, Stefano Zordan, Lauren Holcombe
(Not pictured: Maggie Hutchison, Giorgio Mazzoli, Eugenio Voticky, Theresa Mensdorff-Pouilly)