During our visit, however, I began to see. Even though there was no one there that Joe knew, these people knew the same staff workers he did, and they remembered stories they had heard about him. Their shared experience of Madonna House created a bond with him. I got the sense of a joyful, caring community.

Then in 1997 when we made our first visit to Combermere, everyone was so glad to see Joe! The first day, after we’d only worked half the day, one of the staff gave us a tour showing us every part of Madonna House, and then another day another staff worker took us to see a provincial park not far away.

What struck me was what Madonna House calls “the chit-chat apostolate.” Each person we saw on our tour obviously had other work to do, but I felt as if they considered talking to Joe and me the most important thing they had to do.

This made me feel important, and it made me look at my own behavior. After that trip, I made more of an effort to stop working when someone came by my desk at work to talk to me. I began to see listening as part of my calling.

In 1999 after working in the Austin, Texas public schools for 29 years, Joe and I retired. I also broke my right leg attempting to ski.

When we went to Madonna House that summer I was still recuperating and so could only work sitting down. Because of this, I was assigned to help type labels for audiotapes.

That was something I could do very well. I can type fast and I have had a lot of experience.

I was told that the person I was helping wanted to finish this job by the end of the summer, and I thought that in the week I was there, I’d get her well on her way. When I take on a task, I often work at it compulsively until it is done.

Imagine my surprise when on the first day of work, I was assigned to help with the breakfast dishes before starting my typing of labels! And then there was a break for tea midmorning and another one in the afternoon. And more dishes to do after lunch and supper!

I was getting frustrated. I thought we were trying to finish those labels!

Old Equipment

Then there was the outdated equipment we were using. Having been on the computer for a long time, I had not touched an electric typewriter or used whiteout or tried to re-align my typing after making a mistake, for years.

The work was going very slowly. It went even slower when I was sent to get another ribbon for the typewriter!

This was not like shopping at a store like Office Depot. I had to search through boxes of donated ribbons for the one I needed. Then when I didn’t find one, I had to use another typewriter.

Needless to say, we did not finish this job by the end of my week at Madonna House.

From this I learned that my focus on speed and efficiency is not necessarily the best way to work. At Madonna House the needs of people come first.

I also realized that I had been relegating tasks such as cleaning to a secondary place. In my mind, tasks requiring more “education” had taken a higher priority. I began to re-valuate my priorities. I began to see another way to live.

After that we continued to visit Combermere every other year, coming in 2001 and 2003. Each time I was the recipient of gracious hospitality and joyful welcoming, and each time I received valuable lessons in how to live.

The Kitchen

During our last visit, when I helped in the kitchen, for example, each simple task I did was appreciated and praised, and I was concretely taught to live in the present moment. The value of a slower-paced simple lifestyle was reinforced for me.

In June 2003, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I told them this, the staff at Madonna House gave me hugs and prayers and shared their own experiences with me. I was also given the Sacrament of the Sick at a Healing Mass.

The spirit of Madonna House has been permeating and shaping our lives for the better. Joe and I live simply, do a lot of service, go to Mass almost daily, and (accompanied by our cats!) pray together morning and evening.

I can never thank the staff of Madonna House enough for the blessing they are in my life.