A CELIBATE COMMUNITY FOR FAMILY SANCTIFICATION
Feel drawn to dedicate your life totally to God through prayer and mission? We invite you to take a closer look at the Catholic Corps.
Totally Dedicated to God, In Service to the Family
If you desire to dedicate your life totally to God and to lead families to an encounter with Jesus Christ, the Catholic Corps vocation might be for you.
The Catholic Corps are men and women who have consecrated their entire lives to God—through private vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience—and to the Apostolate for Family Consecration® (AFC) mission.
The AFC supports and challenges Catholic families to grow together in holiness and truth, so that they can become fully alive in Christ.
A LIFE OF PRAYER
The Catholic Corps community is centered on the Eucharist, the Holy Family, and fidelity to the Church and her Magisterium.
The daily prayer and sacramental life includes: communal morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, Mass, Divine Mercy Chaplet, a personal Eucharistic Holy Hour, and a night visit to the Eucharist.
It also involves regular Confession, formation, days of recollection, and an annual silent retreat.
A LIFE OF SERVICE
The Catholic Corps is a membership branch of the Apostolate for Family Consecration® (AFC).
Through their prayers and various roles of service within the AFC’s ministry, the Catholic Corps devote themselves to the urgent need of supporting and challenging families to grow in their Catholic Faith.
They believe that “the future of the world and the Church passes through the family.”
– Pope St. John Paul II
A LIFE SHARED WITH OTHERS
The Catholic Corps live together in a family setting.
Committed to the continual growth in holiness of each member, the Catholic Corps support, encourage, and care for one another in a life of shared prayer, mission, formation, recreation, meals, gatherings, and retreats.
They look to the Holy Family as their model of life.
MEET THE CATHOLIC CORPS
Get to know the men and women who’ve dedicated their lives totally to God and to leading families to an encounter with Jesus Christ.
CATHOLIC FAMILYLAND®
The Catholic Corps members live, work and minister at Catholic Familyland®—a place set apart for families and home of the Holy Family of Fatima Prayer Site.
~20 minutes from Franciscan University of Steubenville
~45 minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
CATHOLIC CORPS FAQs
What type of work/ministry do Catholic Corps do in their vocation?
Throughout the year, we fulfill many of the AFC’s practical and administrative needs by working in one (or a few) of its departments: facilities management, groundskeeping, accounting, purchasing, liturgy, events, development, and more. We seek to serve joyfully in any area where our gifts are needed.
During AFC events, we take a more up-front role in ministry by leading activities and interacting with the families and individuals who come to each event. Many families share with us how they are being impacted by our mission. It’s a great blessing to hear their stories and spend time with them!
No matter what we are doing, we seek to offer everything to Jesus, through Mary, in union with St. Joseph.
Where do Catholic Corps Members live?
Catholic Corps Members live and work at Catholic Familyland®—a place set apart for families—in Bloomingdale, OH.
Our men's community and women's community live in separate family style homes, each with 5–10 people. Each community (separate for men and women) shares meals, fun activities, chores, and prayer together.
Who can join the Catholic Corps?
We invite men and women, ages 18–35, who are in good physical and psychological health and feel drawn to a life of singular devotion to God, to discern with us.
Discernment Process
If you think God might be calling you to the Catholic Corps Vocation, or if you’d like to learn more about our way of life, here’s what you can do next.
2
Come for a short visit
A key part of discernment is meeting the community members and experiencing
daily life them. You can come for one of our regularly scheduled discernment weekends or contact us to schedule a time that works for you.
3
Join us for a “Come & See” visit.
You can come back for a six-week “Come & See” visit if you are still interested in our way of life after your brief visit. This longer visit allows you to really get to know the community and participate in our prayer and ministry.
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Invitation to further discernment.
Further mutual
discernment would take place through a series of
commitment periods.
Struggling to hear God’s will for your life? Join us for a virtual discernment discussion.
Catholic Corps Interest Form
If you think God might be calling you to the Catholic Corps Vocation, or if you’d like to learn more about our way of life, fill out this form.