Frequently Asked Questions

  • Each hermitage has all that is needed for daily Mass. All that a priest needs to bring is an alb and cincture.

    As the chapel is a shared space, typically priests will celebrate private Mass in their hermitage but the chapel also has all that is needed for Holy Mass in the sacristy.

  • To guard the contemplative aspect of the hermitages, we ask that priests stay for a minimum of four nights/five days. A typical retreat will be 5-8 days with the possibility of a longer retreat if a priest has a spiritual director.

  • The Blessed Sacrament is only reserved at the Chapel of Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest. In obedience to our local Ordinary, priests are asked to not reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their hermitages.

  • Most priests will do spiritual direction via phone with an off-campus spiritual director. The chaplain for the Missionaries of the Word, Fr. Tom Farrell, also has limited availability for priests desiring in-person spiritual direction. If this is of interest, please email and we will put you in direct contact with Father.

  • The closest airport to the hermitages is in Green Bay, WI. We are unable to provide transportation and are a little over an hour north of the airport. If this would be an obstacle to you coming, please email.

  • A hearty meal is offered daily at the Motherhouse Priest Guest Parlor at 4:00pm. Please indicate on one’s application if you would like to come for this meal. It may be either taken in silence at the parlor where there are individual tables or carried back to one’s hermitage. (The distance between the hermitages and Motherhouse Parlor is about .25 mile, a priest may either walk or drive.)

    Priests should plan on bringing food for the other two meals. Each hermitage has a full efficiency kitchen for meal preparation.

  • As the Motherhouse can be a busy place with guests, apostolate, and formation we ask that priests please use the chapel on the hermitage grounds provided for them as it will better safeguard their silence and privacy.

  • Sorry, no pets are allowed on the campus.

  • Yes for priests coming from outside the diocese of Green Bay, please send copies both to the chancery of the Diocese of Green Bay and to the Missionaries of the Word:

    Chancery:

    Diocese of Green Bay
    Attn: Tammy Basten
    P.O. Box 23825
    Green Bay, WI 54305-3825

    Tammy Basten: Tbasten@gbdioc.org

    Missionaries of the Word

    Attn. Mother Mary Catherine, 7403 Memorial Drive. Egg Harbor, WI 54209

    priesthermitages@missionariesoftheword.com

    If a priest desires to come on retreat without being able to send a letter of suitability, please email Mother Mary Catherine at priesthermitages@missionariesoftheword.com. Please address the email to Mother Mary Catherine, MW.

  • Yes. In the winter months we may not be able to accommodate preferences as we need to make sure all of the hermitages are being rotated through during the cold months.

  • The Hermitages are dedicated for ordained Catholic Priests but the sisters hope to welcome you in the future!

  • Priests may arrive any time daily between 8:15am-5:00pm, or 6:45pm-8:30pm. Priests are welcome to stay as long as they are able on their final day, there is no set departure time.

  • The hermitages are set aside specifically for silent retreats. To make sure the hermitages are available as much as possible for this purpose and to guard the silence of those on retreat, the hermitages are not available for other times of leisure or recreation.