The Metanoia Semester
Spend an ‘Alternative Semester’ at the Gainesville Catholic Worker!
The Metanoia Semester is an opportunity to live and work in a gospel-based community, to discern one’s vocation in life, to stand with and work alongside people who are marginalized, and to deepen one’s social justice experience on a first-hand basis. The Metanoia Semester is an ‘alternative semester,’ an opportunity to learn and experience life from a different perspective. The Greek word ‘metanoia,’ means “to turn around,” “to change direction,” or “a change of mind.”
About the Metanoia Semester
The Metanoia Semester at the Gainesville Catholic Worker House gives individuals the opportunity to explore, practice and experience a life of simplicity, solidarity, service, community, spirituality and more. It is a “total immersion” opportunity to engage the life and work of the GCW. We have learned that the Metanoia semester is most deeply experienced by participants who are in a position to make the GCW their number one priority, and therefore we ask interested people to seriously consider the commitment and discern if this semester is right for them.
The different aspects of the Metanoia semester include the following:
- Regular community meditation, prayer, reflection.
- Daily communal meal (dinner) and inclusive table fellowship.
- Sharing a common living space with people who have been or are homeless.
- Weekly house meetings between guests, community members, Metanoia Semester participants, etc.
- Weekly scripture study, social analysis and culture critique.
- Opportunities for public witness, advocacy and/or protest.
- A retreat experience.
- Monthly meeting with a mentor from the community.
- Each Metanoia Semester participant takes leadership responsibility for at least one of the core house projects.
- Regular participation in and responsibility for other house projects.
- Living from a “common purse,” sharing the costs and contributing to the financial needs of the house and its projects.
Individuals participating in the Metanoia Semester are asked to:
- Contribute financially, when possible, towards the overall functioning of the community (mortgage, utilities, food, project maintenance and other necessities).
- Possibly share a room with another Metanoia Semester participant. Single rooms are not always available.
- Commit for one semester. Extending one’s experience beyond one semester is possible for individuals interested in making a longer commitment to the GCW. (In rare circumstances, a period of less than a semester is possible, but first preference is given to individuals who commit for an entire semester.)
- Make the GCW community their first priority during one’s Metanoia semester.
- Be fully invested in and responsible for the overall health of the GCW and hospitality for our guests.
If you are interested in the Metanoia semester, contact John or Kelli at the Blue House by phone or email.
