If you are thinking about joining us for all or part of this year’s Summer program, you might like to know the kind of thing you might be able to expect from reading about our experience last year!

Living the Gospel Without Compromise was an amazing and graced 6-weeks - encompassing a tremendous range of activities and presentations. On the activities front we had ‘Get it Right!’ our very own quiz show. Even Captain Jack Sparrow turned up for our ‘Questing Madonna Treasure Hunt’. A beautiful Cultural Heritage Night saw displays from twenty different countries including some of their traditional foods. There were bonfires, games nights and various skits and DVDs connected to the theme and even a little opera! Indeed, something for everyone.

On the more serious side the Program began with a week on Conversion which Pope John Paul tells us is always the fruit of the ‘rediscovery’ of the Father who is ‘rich in mercy’. Many staff shared their own initial conversion and ongoing conversion stories. This was followed by a week entitled: Get a life! A spiritual life! We heard and had experiences of prayer: lectio divina, praying constantly, intercessory prayer, the prayer of suffering, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the rosary, the Byzantine rite Akathist to the Mother of God, Taizé prayer, and of course our usual daily Mass and praying part of the Office of the Church together. Staff shared from the depths of their hearts about praying through struggles and difficult times, how they approached that and what they learned from it. There was even an experience of prayer as a walking pilgrimage to St. Anne’s shrine in Cormac. We also had a day of recollection.

Moving on we looked at some areas related to social justice. There was an overview of the Social Doctrine of the Church and a more detailed look at Pope John Paul II’s Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. There was also an excellent presentation on Critical Thinking with helpful criteria for discerning the mass of information and opinions we are confronted with. The staff gave many nitty-gritty examples of connecting the Church’s social teachings with our own daily life. We looked at our environment through the eyes of our farmers and gardeners and at the secular view that that people are seen as an ecological problem and how to counter that by creating a civilization of love.

Vocation and Discernment was next on the agenda. Again staff told their stories of vocational discernment often connecting these to what St. Ignatius of Loyola says in his rules for discernment of spirits. Expanding this we looked at the saints and Mary and their vocation in the Church and their influence upon us as models of Gospel life and how the saints often seem to introduce themselves to us rather than vice versa.

Each week there was a lively Seminar with our three Directors General – which gave our guests a chance to ask questions about their faith, the spiritual life, the Church, Madonna House, our foundress, Catherine Doherty - or whatever topic interested them.

The 6 weeks closed with a wonderful celebration of the feast of the Assumption – always a ‘big day’ at Madonna House, which is, after all, the House of Our Lady. Although it is quite a full schedule there is also plenty of opportunity to look at and deepen your own spiritual journey and prayer, opportunities for spiritual direction, conversations with Madonna House staff and just the experience in living part of the Liturgical Year in community.

So, why not consider coming to join us next summer? Our theme is Hope and it promises to be a rich experience.

Want more information?
Web site: www.madonnahouse.org/programs
E-mail: registrar@madonnahouse.org
Phone: 613-756-3713