- Volunteer Working Guests and our Summer Program
- Cana Colony: Retreats for the Whole Family
- Spiritual Formation for Men Considering the Priesthood
- Associate Priests
- Staff Worker Applicants
Programs for Visiting Guests
Apostolic Life Agreement
Dear Friend in Christ,
A visit to Madonna House is an opportunity to join us in our Catholic apostolic life as a working guest. You will be invited to participate fully in the daily schedule of work, prayer, family meals, and recreation. We are not a retreat house.
Our life is one that practices the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. (For further understanding of these evangelical counsels please see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 914: “The Consecrated Life.”)
Poverty
For some, the poverty experienced will be in using outdoor toilet facilities or our limit of one shower per week. For others it is our large one-room dormitories and the scarcity of free time. We ask that our guests not use cell phones, notebook computers, or audio players during their stay.
Obedience
You will experience obedience as you will be asked to serve one another in love through an assignment to a particular department each day. Our work is ordinary and often manual. You will find Madonna House to be a hierarchical community as you come to experience the “Grace of State” of your house parent, department head, local director and director general. If you have any physical limitations or are taking medication, it is your responsibility to inform your house parent.
Chastity
Chastity is required of all Christians. In manner as well as dress we ask you to respect our celibate community life. Please no tank tops, shorts or sweat pants. We also discourage tight fitting clothing. We celebrate Sunday as a major feast of the Lord. We have a different schedule with special foods, special liturgies and we dress-up to honour the Lord.
You will be living with many others in a Christian celibate community. There are some behaviors we avoid like using abusive or foul language and making off-colour jokes or comments. We try not to intentionally pair off with one member of the opposite sex for walks, or private conversations. We are prudent about displays of affection.
We cannot accept inappropriate behavior. If it occurs, it should be reported to a responsible staff member: house parent, local director, or one of our priests.
If a person is unable or unwilling to abide by this agreement, they will be asked to leave.
