Restoration

Written by Madonna House staff, Restoration is an essential part of our witness to the Gospel. Here we share our personal stories and reflections on the Gospel challenges of today, along with writings from Catherine Doherty and the Catholic Church.

Posted June 18, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

Parties, Lectures, and Shopping

by Sandra Lynch.

When I was a working guest in Madonna House, back in 1970-71, I wondered what the local people in the lovely village of Combermere were like. I wanted to meet them.

As it turned out, I met my husband in Madonna House, and nine years after our marriage, after having lived in several other places, we moved to Combermere.

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Posted June 13, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

So Many Prayers

by a staff worker at St. Joseph’s House in 1974.

This month we had the opportunity to visit many of our friends in the valley. We felt strengthened and blessed to discover how many silent prayers rise up to the face of the Father on our behalf each day.

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Posted June 11, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

Let Every Guest Be Received As Christ

by Samantha Baklinski.

There is a sign at the front door of St. Joseph’s House that reads: "Let every guest be received as Christ." The first few times I visited there, I was curious about that sign. What did it mean? How, exactly, did someone treat a guest "as Christ?"

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Posted June 06, 2013 in Milestones:

Milestones (May-June 2013)

New Local Directors: Elizabeth Bassarear, the main house, Combermere; Mary Lynn Murray, St. Mary’s (transferred from Vancouver).

Transfers: Neil Patterson, Edmonton; Martha Reilander, St. Joseph’s House.

Deaths: Associate Fr. Vic Perron; Marie-Therese McLaughlin’s mother, Marita.

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Posted June 04, 2013 in Combermere Diary:

Combermere Diary (May-June 2013)

by Paulette Curran.

This past while, two major influences on our lives, as on the entire Church of course, were the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis.

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Posted May 30, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

Gifts from Strangers

by Brenda Read.

In the early days of Madonna House and into the ‘70s, one major work of St. Joseph’s House was selecting, preparing, gift-wrapping, and distributing Christmas gifts for people in the area who would otherwise not have had any. The following letter, which we received in 2002, is printed with permission of the writer.

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Posted May 28, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

My Way of Praying

by Sandra Wood, a former director of St. Joseph’s House.

Here’s a glimpse into the life of a staff worker of St. Joseph’s House in 2003. Usually only God sees this sort of thing.

I’d like to begin this article by sharing my morning walk with you. That’s what I do every morning when I can. Our parish church is just down the road, and I walk there to Mass, but instead of taking the road I walk through the woods.

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Posted May 23, 2013 in The Pope's Corner:

St. Joseph, the Protector

by Pope Francis.

The mission which God entrusts to Joseph is that he is to be the protector. The protector of whom? Of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then extended to the Church.

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Posted May 21, 2013 in MH Combermere ON:

Growing Up Near St. Joe’s

by Christina Milan.

My earliest memories of St. Joe’s are of the toy box and being bounced on the knee of Marie Therese McLaughlin. That toy box held endless wonders for me while the adults chatted. And the bouncing knee, well, that was just plain fun. My siblings and I would stand in line for our turn of "Here’s the bumpy road. Here’s the smooth, smooth highway. Here’s the pothole!"

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