Construction of the sisters’ permanent residence made possible through generous donors
By William Van de Planque | For On Mission
EGG HARBOR, WI — The Missionaries of the Word, a Catholic women’s religious community founded in the Diocese of Green Bay in 2014, hosted an open house for the construction of their new motherhouse on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
The addition to the property in Egg Harbor includes the convent, priest house with guest area, priest chapel, seven priest hermitages for silent retreats and a maintenance shed.
During the silent retreats that the community offers, sisters cook home-cooked meals for priests each day.
Upon arrival at the open house, Mother Mary Catherine, founder of the community, was seated under a tent to tell the story of the motherhouse’s construction.
The motherhouse, named Gloria Deo Motherhouse, came together with the help of several donors and volunteers.
One donor, who remains a volunteer doing maintenance for the property, reached out to Mother Mary Catherine early in the process and donated 80 acres of land to the community.
Another donor approached Mother Mary Catherine after Mass one day and told her to “dream big, then call me up,” Mother Mary Catherine said. She learned that the donor not only wanted to do all the construction but also provide all new furniture and landscaping.
Mother Mary Catherine then reached out to an architect, a friend of hers, who offered to do the job pro bono. Another volunteer served as project manager.
A barrel vault was added as part of the design because it “lifts your heart to God,” Mother Mary Catherine said.
The chapel, which includes a high altar and a low altar, was placed in the middle of the motherhouse because “(Jesus) is the center of our lives,” she said.
Statues of the Blessed Mother are being shipped from Italy to the motherhouse. Once the altars are installed in the chapel, Bishop David Ricken will consecrate the motherhouse.
Click HERE to watch an exclusive video from Mother Mary Catherine: onmiss.io/motherhouseopenhouse
For more information on the Missionaries of the Word, visit their website here: missionariesoftheword.com.