Joliet Companions of Christ Start-Up
Donation protected
ABOUT US: We, Fr. Max Behna, Fr. Mike McMahon, Dcn. Michael Groth, and Dcn. James Guarascio, are the first members of a group of diocesan priests and seminarians of the Diocese of Joliet who seek to live out our priestly vocation in community. Following the common vision laid out in our Ideals and Rule of Life, we strive to pursue holiness and to support each other in priestly ministry. We have three emphases: fostering the common life of support, fraternity, and accountability; living out the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience; and evangelizing our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
HISTORY: We follow in the footsteps of the Archdiocese of St.Paul/Minneapolis where the Companions of Christ model was first started 27 years ago. Having seen the fruit born in St. Paul, some seminarians from the Archdiocese of Denver were inspired to begin the Companions in their own diocese 13 years ago. Now, after four years of prayer, research, and hard work, we are happy to say that, on May 1, 2020, we were the third Diocese to establish the Companions of Christ model!
DONATIONS: However, this new endeavor is not without cost. There are many obstacles to be overcome in order for us to begin living out the fullness of our charism. (1) We need to hire legal counsel in order to gain 501(C)3 status and join St. Paul and Denver as non-profits recognized by the government and US Catholic Bishops. This should only take about a month or two if we have the funds to do so. (2) We need help paying rent for the house in which the four of us can live in community. This cost includes paying for renter's insurance as well as some furniture for the house and our house-chapel. We hope to be moved into a conveniently located house that we have found in Lisle, IL by July 1st when our new assignments begin. (3) We need funds in order to host other clergy and seminarians at our weekly Lord's Days, where we offer an evening of prayer, dinner, and fraternity so as to help build up a culture of support and communion amongst priests.
As Companions, we tithe 5% of our income to our communal funds. At this point, however, only two of us have a salary. Dcn. Michael and Dcn. James won't begin receiving paychecks until they begin their priestly assignments in July. In the future, we hope to have more members as well as a group of benefactors who can help fund our conferences, Lord's Days, website, legal counsel, rent, insurance, and perhaps even a house of our own!
In the end, we are confident that because the Lord has brought us this far, he will continue to provide for us as he sees fit. We are extremely grateful for all of your support as we begin this mission of living diocesan priesthood in communal life within the Diocese of Joliet. Please keep us in your prayers as we will be offering many prayers for you as well!
Check out our website to learn more about us: companionsofchristjoliet.org
St. Paul Companions of Christ: http://www.companionsofchrist.org/
Denver Companions of Christ: http://www.denvercompanionsofchrist.org/
A copy of the decree of our establishment:
HISTORY: We follow in the footsteps of the Archdiocese of St.Paul/Minneapolis where the Companions of Christ model was first started 27 years ago. Having seen the fruit born in St. Paul, some seminarians from the Archdiocese of Denver were inspired to begin the Companions in their own diocese 13 years ago. Now, after four years of prayer, research, and hard work, we are happy to say that, on May 1, 2020, we were the third Diocese to establish the Companions of Christ model!
DONATIONS: However, this new endeavor is not without cost. There are many obstacles to be overcome in order for us to begin living out the fullness of our charism. (1) We need to hire legal counsel in order to gain 501(C)3 status and join St. Paul and Denver as non-profits recognized by the government and US Catholic Bishops. This should only take about a month or two if we have the funds to do so. (2) We need help paying rent for the house in which the four of us can live in community. This cost includes paying for renter's insurance as well as some furniture for the house and our house-chapel. We hope to be moved into a conveniently located house that we have found in Lisle, IL by July 1st when our new assignments begin. (3) We need funds in order to host other clergy and seminarians at our weekly Lord's Days, where we offer an evening of prayer, dinner, and fraternity so as to help build up a culture of support and communion amongst priests.
As Companions, we tithe 5% of our income to our communal funds. At this point, however, only two of us have a salary. Dcn. Michael and Dcn. James won't begin receiving paychecks until they begin their priestly assignments in July. In the future, we hope to have more members as well as a group of benefactors who can help fund our conferences, Lord's Days, website, legal counsel, rent, insurance, and perhaps even a house of our own!
In the end, we are confident that because the Lord has brought us this far, he will continue to provide for us as he sees fit. We are extremely grateful for all of your support as we begin this mission of living diocesan priesthood in communal life within the Diocese of Joliet. Please keep us in your prayers as we will be offering many prayers for you as well!
Check out our website to learn more about us: companionsofchristjoliet.org
St. Paul Companions of Christ: http://www.companionsofchrist.org/
Denver Companions of Christ: http://www.denvercompanionsofchrist.org/
A copy of the decree of our establishment:
Co-organizers (4)
James Guarascio
Organizer
Lisle, IL
Fr Max Behna
Beneficiary
Michael Groth
Co-organizer
Michael McMahon
Co-organizer