Marian Acres – Madonna House Missouri
Resting within the beautiful Missouri Ozark Mountains on a 60 acre plot of land, Marian Acres – Madonna House offers a place of solace, peace and full immersion into the Gospel way of life of Madonna House. We welcome young and old, laity and clergy, and single adults, anyone seeking refreshment in the Lord.
Our History
About 30 years ago Muriel Herbrand and Betty Summers settled on this rural property, 7 miles north of Salem, Missouri. They strove to live the spirit of Madonna House as they built up this center of prayer and spiritual nourishment. They arranged that upon their death (in 2016) Marian Acres be deeded to Madonna House. On November 7, 2018 Bishop Edward Rice, in the presence of our Directors General, formally approved this new foundation of Madonna House, and welcomed us into the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Volunteers
We share our Nazareth way of life by welcoming volunteers of all ages into our home. They help us with cooking and cleaning, gardening and other outdoors work, office work—all the ordinary tasks and encounters of the day, which can be a form of prayer.
A Full Immersion Experience
Individuals are welcome for longer stays to experience our Gospel way of life—modeled on the life of the Holy Family at Nazareth and on the Holy Trinity—eating, praying and working together, which nurtures spiritual friendship.We have a cabin available for families who would like to come for a weekend retreat.
Groups
Groups are welcome to come to Marian Acres for a day of retreat, or to come for a presentation on our Madonna House life, prayer and spirituality. We welcome people to celebrate with us the great feast days of the Church; the different liturgical seasons of the year are often times when we are called on to share something of our Madonna House spirituality and life.We are open to giving days of recollection to groups, even larger groups, in their own milieu.
Priests
Priests and other clergy are most welcome to come for a quiet retreat or a few days of respite from their busy schedules in this lovely, peaceful rural setting.
Poustinia
A visit may include an experience of poustinia, a 24-hour period of solitude, prayer and fasting in order to encounter Christ in his Word.
Since we do not charge, and because we live by the Providence of God, donations are gratefully accepted. We pray daily for all of our benefactors who, through their donations, make possible our life and apostolate at Marian Acres – Madonna House.
In all our duties of the moment, whether they be prayer, manual work, speaking or listening, we hold in our hearts the needs of all who come to us and all for whom we have been asked to pray.
