Programs for Visiting Guests

Programs for Visiting Guests

Volunteer Working Guests

Men and women in good health, usually between the ages of 18–40, and sometimes from other countries and diverse cultural and racial backgrounds, come to Madonna House in Combermere to stay for varying lengths of time as guests, who volunteer to take part in the life of the community. There is a balance of work, prayer, study and recreation.

They come to share the life of a loving Christian family that lives in voluntary poverty, celibate chastity and obedience, as they learn to incarnate the Gospel in simple ways, pray and listen to the Lord speak in their own life.

Come join us! Take a creative and re-creative vacation and experience the fullness of Gospel life, its joys and challenges, which include:

Summer Program

In addition, each summer we offer a special program in July and August. No fee is required (donations accepted).

Major program themes for Summer 2007:

Christ — The Seed and the Sower: The Teacher of our Humanity

Other themes that will be covered during the course of the summer through individual questions and staff witness talks:

July 7-21
Family
The Dignity of the Human Person
Marriage
July 22-August 4
Nature
Apostolic Farming
Poverty & Simplicity of Life
August 5-19
Culture
Current Issues of Our Day
Living as a Catholic in 2007 - Vocation & Calling

"Cry the Gospel with your life." - Catherine Doherty (Artwork by Fr. Eric Lies)Our Daily Schedule

Of course, there is no fee to stay at Madonna House, but all guests are asked to participate fully in the daily schedule of work, prayer, and recreation. The daily routine follows:

We rise at 6:45 a.m. and gather together for morning prayer at 8:00 a.m. Breakfast of porridge, yogurt, brown bread and tea follows at 8:30. We go to our various working places at 9:00 and stay there until noon. Most of our work is manual: laundry, carpentry, gardening, canning, painting, cleaning, maintenance, washing dishes, etc.

We have our main meal at noon, followed by spiritual reading in common, usually from the writings of the Fathers of the Church, spiritual writers, current events, the writings of the Pope as well as Catherine Doherty, our foundress. Work then continues from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a break in mid-afternoon for tea.

Courses, lectures and study are often held in the late afternoon and early evening, depending on the season.

We celebrate Mass at 5:15 p.m. The liturgy is the culmination of the entire day. As Catherine said, “We live our life between two Masses.”

At 6:00 p.m. we have supper, usually consisting of soup, a vegetable, cheese or grains. After supper we clean vegetables, wash dishes or do other chores. By 7:30 p.m., there may be a talk or dorm gathering, or free time. At 9:00 p.m., we gather again for tea and conversation. At 9:45 p.m., we go to our dormitories and get ready for bed, turning our lights out at 11:00 p.m.

Photo: Our guest dormitory for women

Preparing for Your Visit

Important reading for those planning a visit with us:

How to Contact Us

Persons interested in visiting Madonna House can write to the appropriate registrar: the Registrar of Men, Registrar of Women, or Registrar of Priests, at the address below. Reservations are required.

Registrar of Men / Women / Priests
Madonna House Apostolate
2888 Dafoe Rd
Combermere ON   K0J 1L0
Canada

Phone: 613-756-3713

When you contact us, please remember to include your full name and complete postal mailing address.

Thinking of visiting?

Be sure to have a look at the on-line tour of our main house here on our site.

PDF We also have these PDF flyers that you can print:

Travel directions and map

 
Madonna House - A Training Centre for the Lay Apostolate