Newman HOUSEHOLDS
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them.”
OUR VISION
Our vision is to facilitate the development of intentional Catholic Christian Communities of 2-5 college students in Corvallis.
We want to respond to our society’s pervasive sense of loneliness and disconnection through an experience of fraternal communal living by creating a community of ‘friends in the Friend’ that shares life - a spirit of home where people communicate, share, and encourage one another.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Step 1 Form a household + Register your Household
Ideally, each household should form itself organically, but we can help you connect with other college students looking for roommates.
If you are looking for a roommate, complete the form at the bottom of this page. Also, if you have a room available at your house, you can share that information with us.
Each household will name their household after a patron saint.
Download and fill out THIS FORM and email it to households@osunewman.org.
Step 2 Meet the Household Director + Rule of Life
Once the household is formed, members will fill out the new participant questionnaire and meet with the Household Director to review next steps which include drafting your Rule of Life and meeting your House Parent.
Some of the things you should consider as you draft your Rule of Life are:
Common meal: Try at least once a week to sit down together for a meal. During this meal, you can share the highs and lows of the week.
The household will also practice hospitality by hosting the House parent once a term.
Common prayer: The household seeks to be a communal setting that facilitates your growth in holiness. Households are expected to attend Mass once per week together and choose one day of the week do Lectio Divina as a house. We recommend integrating more communal prayer into the Household (night prayer, weekly rosary, weekly Holy Hour, reading of a book, etc.)
Community time: Friendship is the foundation of the households. Households choose one day a term to plan an adventure day. This could be playing soccer, going bowling, playing games, etc.
Community Tools: Members of the Household will be paired with a House parent who will help them along the way and grow in friendship with them. Participants will join their Household in reading the Cornerstone book.
You can also set expectations about the order and cleanliness of the house. The invisible is reflected in the visible: the household should express that this is a home where Christ lives. This means that each member should keep your room clean, do dishes, and collaborate in the cleaning of the house.
Step 3 Meet your House Parent
The Household Director will be in contact to help set-up a meeting with your Household and Household Parent.
Step 5 Attend the Household Mass
At the beginning of the year, we will hold a Household Mass for all participants. Participants are expected to attend and Household parents are encourages to come.
In addition to the communal expectations, each member of the household should:
Live an ethically consistent Christian life.
Foster an atmosphere of friendship, respect, and trust within the house.
Each member is invited to strive to grow in their spiritual life: daily offerings, daily Gospel, night prayer, daily Mass, cor ad cor Adoration, etc.
FAQ
What is the meaning of Littlemore Household?
The program is named after the place where St. John Henry Newman came together with a group of friends from Oxford for a number of years to pray, grow in community, and solidify his future Catholic identity.
What happens if not everyone is Catholic in the house?
That’s fine. At least two of the members of the house should be Catholic.
Can the household be formed any time of the year?
Yes, you can start whenever the household is formed.
HOW TO JOIN?
If you currently know someone in the program and would like to join their household, reach out to them directly to discuss options. Once an arrangement is finalized, email us at Households@osunewman.org
For general inquiries or questions about the program or household options, please fill out the interest form below or email us at households@osunewman.org.