Madonna House Apostolate facts for kids
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| Formation | 1947 |
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| Founders | Catherine Doherty |
The Madonna House Apostolate is a special group of Catholic Christians. It includes everyday people (called laypeople) and priests. Everyone in Madonna House makes promises for life. These promises are about living simply, being pure, and obeying God. Their main goal is to love and serve Jesus Christ in everything they do.
Madonna House was started in 1947 by a woman named Catherine Doherty. It began in a place called Combermere, Ontario, in Canada. Since then, it has opened many special houses, called mission houses, all over the world. The Catholic Church officially recognizes Madonna House as a group of faithful Christians.
Contents
History
How it Started
Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896–1985) was the person who started Madonna House. She was born in Russia to a wealthy family who were very religious. She learned that every person is important, like Christ, and that we should especially help those who are poor. For her, prayer meant showing love by serving others in all parts of life.
Catherine went through some very tough times, including a big war and a civil war in Russia. In 1919, she and her husband, Boris de Hueck, became refugees in England. While there, Catherine became a Catholic. In 1920, they moved to Toronto, Canada. Catherine worked hard to support her family.
Even after she became successful again, Catherine felt a strong pull inside her. She felt called to give away her things and live with and help the poor. This idea was quite new for her time. The Bishop of Toronto, Rev. Neil MacNeil, supported her. Other people saw her good example and wanted to join her. This was the start of a place called Friendship House in Toronto. They collected food and clothes for people who needed them. Catherine also shared Catholic teachings to help people.
A New Beginning
In 1936, Friendship House had to close because of misunderstandings. Catherine then moved to Harlem in New York. There, she worked to help African Americans. She spoke out against how some Catholics treated Black people unfairly. Again, a community grew around her, and it spread to other cities.
Later, Catherine married Eddie Doherty, a newspaper reporter. This caused some problems within Friendship House. Her bigger ideas for helping others were not understood by everyone she worked with. To avoid more disagreements, Catherine and Eddie moved to the quiet village of Combermere, Ontario. They planned to retire there.
But once again, people came to join Catherine. The Bishop of Pembroke, Bishop Smith, invited her to start a new group in Combermere. This new community was called Madonna House. It became her most successful and lasting group.
Young men and women came, wanting to give their lives to God. Later, priests also joined them. In 1952, a leader in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Giovanni Montini (who later became Pope Paul VI), suggested that Madonna House make its promises official. The community decided to make lifelong promises of living simply, being pure, and obeying God. In 1955, Catherine and Eddie also promised to live a celibate life (meaning they would not have children). Fourteen years later, Eddie became a priest.
On June 8, 1960, Bishop William Smith officially approved Madonna House. The first mission house opened in Whitehorse, Yukon, in 1954. Other missions followed in places like Edmonton, Alberta, and Winslow, Arizona.
Since Catherine passed away in 1985, the community has continued to grow. In 2022, Madonna House had about 200 members. They also had 16 mission houses in six different countries.
How They Live
The people in Madonna House try to live like a Christian family. They follow the example of the Holy Family in Nazareth. They try to live the teachings of the Bible in all the small things they do every day. Jesus taught them to "love one another as I have loved you." This means serving the people they live with and everyone they meet. Love is the most important part of their faith. They believe that loving others is the reason for all their work.
Welcoming Guests
People who come to stay at Madonna House in Combermere are an important part of their life. They become part of the family and join in the daily prayers and work. The work includes everything needed to keep the community going. Catherine Doherty believed that welcoming someone into your heart is just as important as welcoming them into your home.
Prayer Life
Prayer is a big part of life at Madonna House. They pray while they work and serve others. They also have special prayer times together. Members and guests gather for daily Mass (a church service) and other prayers in the morning or evening. They also pray the rosary after their evening meal. They believe that "preaching the Gospel with one's life" means that every activity, from working to eating or playing, becomes a way to show love for God and others.
Simple Living
Madonna House does not get money from the government. They live completely on donations from others. They wear clothes that are second-hand. Much of their food comes from their own farm. Living simply helps the members of Madonna House depend completely on God for everything they need.
Doing What's Needed
The idea of "duty of the moment" is very important to them. It means that God's plan is shown in whatever needs to be done right now. Simple, everyday tasks done for God and others give meaning to everyone at Madonna House. It means that ordinary work is more than just work. It is filled with love, faith, hope, and kindness. These things give dignity to people.
Working Together (Sobornost)
Sobornost is a Russian word. It means a deep unity of heart, mind, and soul that happens when a group listens to and follows God's Spirit. Catherine Doherty thought sobornost was a key idea for Christian communities. She saw it as a way to help people work together instead of being too focused on themselves.
This idea of sobornost is seen in how Madonna House is set up. Priests, laymen, and laywomen all live and work together like one family. Each of the three groups has a leader called a Director General. This leader must be chosen by everyone in that group, showing sobornost. The three Directors General also work to be deeply united.
Quiet Time (Poustinia)
Poustinia is a Russian word for 'desert'. In Madonna House, a poustinia is a small, simple cabin or room. People usually spend 24 hours there in prayer and fasting. They read the Bible and listen for God's message in their hearts. In Combermere, there are about 20 such cabins for members and guests to use. Catherine Doherty wrote a famous book about this called Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude and Prayer.
Helping Others
The Farm
Madonna House has a special farm called St. Benedict's Acres. This farm grows much of the food for the community. It also helps members and guests learn about God in a deeper way. They learn this as they take care of the land.
Sharing Stories
Madonna House publishes a newspaper called Restoration. It comes out 10 times a year. Madonna House Publications is a non-profit group. They make books by Catherine Doherty and other members available. They also have cards with art by community artists. They run a website and an online newsletter called "Pass It On."
Summer Camp
Every year, a summer camp called Cana Colony welcomes families. Families can spend a week learning about Christian living, prayer, and thinking deeply about their faith.
Places Around the World
Besides the main training center in Combermere, Ontario, Madonna House has mission houses. These houses are opened when a local bishop invites them.
Where They Are
In Canada, you can find these houses in Combermere (St Joseph's Rural Apostolate), Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor, Ontario. There are also houses in Regina, Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whitehorse, Yukon.
In the United States, there are mission houses in Washington, DC; Roanoke, Virginia; Salem, Missouri; Alpena, Michigan; and Winslow, Arizona.
Around the world, there are houses in Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies; Robin Hood's Bay, England; Resteigne, Belgium; and Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
What They Do
Each mission house helps in different ways, depending on what the local church needs. This is always agreed upon with the bishop of that area. For example, houses in Edmonton and Regina help people who are homeless. They provide food, clothing, and friendship. Many missions are called "prayer/listening" houses. People can visit them for quiet prayer time (poustinia) or to share their worries with someone who will listen.
A Special Statue
The bronze statue of Our Lady of Combermere stands on the grounds of Madonna House in Combermere. An artist named Frances Rich created it. Bishop William J. Smith of Pembroke officially placed and blessed the statue on June 8, 1960.
See also
- Catherine Doherty, foundress of Madonna House
- Eddie Doherty
- Poustinia
- Friendship House
- Joseph Raya
- Catholic Worker Movement - A similar Catholic organisation offering accommodation
