Restoration
Column: MH Combermere ON
This column contains articles related to the Madonna House field house in Combermere, Ontario, called “St. Joseph’s House” (or “the R.A.” for “Rural Apostolate”). (For entries related to the main house training centre in Combermere, see the column entitled “Combermere Diary.”)
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... (May 21, 2013)
Helping at St. Joe’s — by Toni Austin. In the fall of l961, I was assigned to work at old St. Joe’s to help with the preparations for Christmas. I was a young working guest from Toronto, twenty years old.... (May 16, 2013)
Memories of the Early Days — by Trudi Cortens, first director of St. Joseph’s House. "Nothing is alien to the apostolate except sin," Catherine often told us, and that left her, and us, wide open to take on just about any kind of work to... (May 14, 2013)
Our Good Neighbours — by Lorna Tonack. My memories of St. Joe’s stretch back to the spring of 1980, when my husband Carl and I moved to Combermere from Edmonton, Alberta, with our two young daughters. We were a young family hoping to... (May 07, 2013)
Fifty Years of Friendship — by Melanie Murphy. There is movement in the quiet village of Combermere. Cars line Highway 517 on both sides as far as the eye can see. Clusters of people and vehicles are also gathered on the southeast corner where the... (May 02, 2013)
Notes From Near and Far: St. Joseph’s House, Combermere — by Carol Geiske. Though it has been a time of staff changes, the rhythm of our life, of course, continues. Mass, lauds, vespers, communal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and our Saturday home Mass, keep us praying together for... (November 26, 2012)
A Retreat House for Priests — by Fr. Blair Bernard. And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mk 6:31) In the mystery that is Madonna House, visitors from all walks of life pass through our... (February 15, 2012)
Notes from Near and Far: St. Joseph’s House, Combermere — by Alma Coffman. Life at St. Joe’s is never dull. One day, I was making a birthday cake, and when I turned the cake out of the pan, I knew I was in trouble. The bottom was still gooey, unbaked... (September 25, 2008)
We Can’t Move Trees — Interview of Jo-Anne Paquette by the editor. Jo-Anne is the director of St. Joseph’s House, the MH mission house that works in the Madawaska Valley, the area where Combermere is located. St. Joe’s, as it’s called, is on the highway... (October 09, 2006)
St. Joseph and the Windowpane — by Tom Kluger. At Madonna House we try to live the life of Nazareth, the quiet, hidden life of the Holy Family: Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. As far as quietness goes, St. Joseph was definitely the most silent of the... (September 25, 2006)
Notes from Near and Far: Combermere, Ontario — by Emmanuella Kim, St. Joseph’s House, Combermere. St. Joseph’s House is our mission house for the local area. Emmanuella, who is from Korea, is a new staff worker. It is a few months since I moved to St. Joseph’s House.... (December 30, 2005)
