Fundraising Campaign for Goose Chase Monastery
The Hermitage of the Annunciation in Canada, a rural Orthodox monastery of the Orthodox Church in America, has seen its community double in the past six months as young Canadian men increasingly seek the monastic life.
The monastery reports that the Orthodox growth happening across North America has now reached rural Nova Scotia, creating increased demand for both monastic spaces and room for visitors participating in services. The rapid growth has pushed the monastery’s facilities to capacity, with monks now sharing cells designed for single occupancy and work and study spaces operating at maximum use, the monastery reports.
The influx of new brothers has prompted the community to launch an end-of-year fundraising campaign with a goal of $56,800 (Canadian $80,000) to prepare for a major expansion of their main residence planned for 2026-27.
As of this writing, the campaign has raised $6,755 (Canadian $9,515). Donations can be made online as one-time gifts or monthly contributions. The hermitage is registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
“Glory to God: young Canadian men are seeking the monastic habit,” the monastery announced. “More are enquiring all the time.”
The funds will support four preparatory projects before construction begins on the residence expansion. These include architectural planning for the main monastic dwelling, acquiring a tiny home to serve as a semi-permanent cell while construction limits the use of existing rooms, expanding facilities to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims seeking to share in the community’s life of prayer, and renovating the monastic chapel to hold more monks and faithful.
About the Hermitage
The Hermitage of the Annunciation grew from a monastic cell established in Halifax in 1994. The community relocated to their current countryside location in 2004, seeking a more secluded life in the rural landscape near New Germany.
The brotherhood operates under the protection of the Mother of God and focuses on contemplating humanity’s spiritual calling to give birth to God in the heart, as Mary did physically when she gave birth to Jesus. The monks practice lectio divina, the prayer of the heart, continual repentance, and attentiveness as part of their daily spiritual discipline.
The monastery describes itself as “a school of love” where everything is ordered toward intimacy with Christ and prayer. The brothers work the monastery grounds, creating fruitful gardens while grounding themselves in the surrounding fields and forests to provide for their community’s needs.