Priests and deacons visiting Madonna House in Combermere stay at Vianney House, where they are welcome to make retreat or take holidays. Are you looking for a scenic place of great quiet where you have access to a chapel and a beautiful countryside to walk? We offer such a place. You can: 1) be completely on your own (except for meals and liturgy with the community) 2) have a directed retreat 3) join in the daily work schedule of the community. Our foundress, Catherine Doherty, had a great love for priests. Vianney House is part of her vision to help priests “come apart and rest a while”.
“Catherine Doherty’s love for the priesthood radiates… Her growing awareness of the powerful grace of priesthood and its clear identity in Christ are so necessary for priests and for the world today. In these days, we are acutely aware of the humanity of our priests, as indeed Catherine was; but her words suggest that she saw more deeply into the tremendous grace that is priesthood.”
— Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti, Ph.D., D.Min., former President of the St. Luke Institute
Associate Priests
As Madonna House has grown, many diocesan priests have asked to become associated with our apostolate, living out the spirit of The Little Mandate in their home dioceses. We now have approximately 100 priests, deacons, and bishops who are Madonna House Associates and who come from all around the world. The associate priests are often in touch with the Madonna House field house in their area and once a year they gather in Combermere for a week-long retreat.