The Swedish Church has local parishes in around 45 places abroad. Their mission is to provide community and support for Swedes who stay in foreign countries permanently, or for long or short periods. This presentation will present and discuss results from a research project exploring the Church of Sweden Abroad, with particular focus on migration, ageing and the last phases of life. The project consisted of a qualitative case study, a mapping of the websites of all 45 parishes abroad, and an internet-based survey of all parishes. The case study and the survey highlight the important role that older Swedes play in the parishes abroad. However, while people above the age of 65 in practice seem to “carry” many of the parishes̕ activities – and  also seem to be “carried” by the parishes in terms of receiving support – this age category is virtually invisible in the photographs and texts on the websites. This paradox will be discussed in relation to the phenomenon of ageism and by looking at the marketing of the Church of Sweden Abroad as an expression of the  youth-obsessed culture that is today so prominent in many contexts all over the world.