Why People Choose Magdalene House

We spent years feeling unwelcome in the Church because of who we are. When we found Magdalene House, Fr. Joseph didn't just tolerate us—he celebrated us. We were able to have our union blessed in the same way any couple would. For the first time, we felt like our love was sacred, not sinful. This community has given us back our faith.

The Roman Catholic Church told me I couldn't remarry or receive communion after my divorce. I felt like I'd committed an unforgivable sin. At Magdalene House, I learned that the Church's compassion is bigger than its rules. I'm remarried, I receive communion every Sunday, and I'm part of a community that sees my second marriage as a gift, not a failure.

I grew up in a fundamentalist church that condemned LGBTQ+ people, people with mental illness, and anyone who questioned authority. I left the faith entirely. But Magdalene House showed me that there's another way to be Christian—one rooted in love instead of fear. Fr. Joseph's preaching is thoughtful and kind. The liturgy is beautiful. And I'm finally healing.

I'm Catholic and my husband is Jewish. Most churches made us feel like we had to choose. At Magdalene House, we're welcomed as we are. Our children are learning about both traditions, and we're raising them in a community that honors all paths to God. This is what the Church should be.

I was drawn to the Eastern liturgical tradition but frustrated by institutional Catholicism's rigidity. Magdalene House gave me what I was looking for: ancient, beautiful liturgy combined with genuine pastoral care and theological freedom. The Divine Liturgy here feels like encountering the sacred, not performing a ritual.