Dear Phamily,

Does anyone know if a Roman Catholic community that follows an "amish-like" lifestyle exists...?

It could be a religious society or even just a combination of religious running a oratory w/ lay families living surrounding it...? Any thoughts?


Pax et Bonum!

Can you expand more of what you mean by "Amish"? I think they are often quickly stereotyped in the US, but even then some people might mean "backward" or "pacifist" or "anti-technology" or "pro-family" or "farmers" when they say "Amish."

If you're looking for religious communities that have active associate programs for lay (single, married) people (and families), then I bet we can come up with a list for you!

I was going to post the thread on Open Mic with the same title, but then I realized you started it, so you're probably aware of the posts there. Here it is anyway, Catholic Amish-like Community

The Star of the Sea Village looks really nice! I agree with a comment there that it's important Catholics not trying to separate themselves from the world in order to be a light to it (unless you have a vocation to religious life or something) though I also think villages like this can be very good too, and it's not like totally separating from the rest of society, and provides a supportive setting like for families raising children.

Some relative comments on it: http://www.jimmyakin.org/2006/02/catholic_villag.html

Hahaha, I have a hilarious story to tell, I wont tell you who it is and those of you that know keep quiet, anyway she is a sister, thats it:

She worked like in a graveyard shift when she was still "in" the world, and she kinda got all the drunks and drugees and such, and she wore an interesting uniform and one night shift some guy who was like a drugee or somethig kind of looked at her and said, "Duuuuuuuuddeeeee....is that an Amish chick?" Then like a drunk guy came and walked up to her and looked her straight in the face and said, "Duuuuuuuuddeeee look at the Amish chick!!"

Oh dear! I bet she's happy to be in religious life now! :j


a few typos in my grammar .. but yeah, I wanted to add, of course it's important that Catholics be separate from the world in spirit, but many are called to remain in society in order to be a leaven to it - then some, and not just cloistered religious, are called to be more separate, with a particular apostolate to pray for the world .. everyone's vocation is unique

Great links, MargaretClare

John Michael Talbot and the Little Portion Hermitage come to mind.

We really need a venture like this here in India. It would surely take off, especially since religion/caste based closely-knit communities are already a part of our life.

Do a google for "Plain Catholic" and you'll find a little.

The Madonna House has a community in Canada that is kind of Amish-like, they look really cool.

http://www.madonnahouse.org

The Alleluia Community in Augusta, GA - a Christian community

http://www.yeslord.com/

Alleluia Community Vocations

The Community of the Beatitudes- has every type of vocation, family single, consecrated, religious..and in Europe have huge places and little towns in the north.., the Madonna House Community http://madonnahouse.org/index.html-very much so in Canada,but no families (lay/Priestly) , and the Little Portion Catholic Community in Arkansas- has families/single mixed, farm etc......
pax