A potential new community of priests and consecrated brothers
Exploring a Call. Stepping out in Faith.
Father Marcus Schonnop is currently on a leave of absence from the Companions of the Cross, to discern a call he received back in October 2024 to found a new religious community of priests and consecrated brothers. Fr. Marcus began his leave of absence on July 1, 2025 and he has been given permission for an additional year from the Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall and the Companions of the Cross.
During this year, Fr. Marcus will:
Live a contemplative life of prayer, work, study and ministry.
Discern vowed religious life (poverty, chastity, obedience).
Live entirely on Divine Providence.
Continue to discern the charism and spirituality of this potential new community.
Establish a discernment house for others to come and discern alongside him.
Support the Journey
Fr. Marcus is stepping out in faith, trusting fully in Divine Providence.
He is relying entirely on the generosity of others to support his daily needs as he begins this new mission.
Because this potential community is still in its early stages, it is not yet a registered charity in Canada. This means that, for now, we are unable to issue tax receipts.
All donations will be prayerfully stewarded by Fr. Marcus to cover his basic living expenses and to lay the groundwork for the future of this mission.
Please consider supporting this work through your prayers, by sharing this initiative with others, and—if you're able—through a financial gift.
You can give in the follow ways:
Send an "E-Transfer" to the e-mail address:
Your donation will be automatically deposited into our account when you send an e-transfer to the email above.
For all E-transfers please include your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address in the message section of the E-transfer.
Mail a cheque payable to “Fr. Marcus Schonnop” to:
Fr. Marcus Schonnop
P.O. Box 129
Alfred, ON
K0B 1A0
Canada
Sign up for my newsletter: "Fiat"
Sign up to receive occasional email updates from Father Marcus about the potential new community he is trying to establish.
CONTACT
Message Fr. Marcus
I would love to pray for you, please send me a prayer intention, a note or question.
Catch up on previous newsletters
Archived newsletters will be available below.
Note: This is a personal discernment page, not the announcement of a new religious order.
© Father Marcus Schonnop · 2026