Our men’s and women’s chastity small groups will meet in person to facilitate face to face authentic connection between real students like you.

Yes, you can expect a small fee to cover the cost of materials.

The Magdala and Augustine Way small groups are designed to cover 12-17 sessions depending on when each group starts and how often it meets. Once you join a group, you would go through a guided small group curriculum that spans one to two semesters.

During this initial pilot year, many of the groups will be facilitated by St. Mary’s staff members, with the gradual involvement of student leaders as we move into the future. As we get off the ground, the hope is to form student leaders to facilitate the groups longer term.

Yes, absolutely. St. Mary’s has several options for you, depending on what seems like the right fit. If you find yourself struggling with unwanted sexual behaviors, then the Magdala or Augustine groups could be a great place to work out that virtue of chastity with your peers. St. Mary’s also hosts The Pursuit, a confidential group for students who struggle with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The Pursuit can be a great place to establish safety, community, and belonging as you grapple with layers of your sexuality. Learn more about The Pursuit here.

Although both the Augustine Way and Magdala ministries incorporate sound psychological principles rooted in a Catholic anthropology, they are not group counseling. Rather, these small groups are designed to foster peer-to-peer growth, support and accountability. They are not led by professional therapists, but rather facilitated by other men and women like you who desire chastity and are willing to walk together.

Both Magdala Ministries and the Augustine Way are resources stemming from a Christian worldview and are steeped in the tradition of the Catholic Church. You do not have to be Catholic to join a chastity small group at St. Mary’s, but these groups will draw from the fullness of the Catholic Church’s teachings on chastity. There is space to grapple with these teachings, and to explore what it looks like to live chastity in daily life. All are welcome — simply know that both Magdala and Augustine way are steeped in Catholic teaching.

The Magdala and Augustine Way small groups are designed for you to participate in them once, and then to continue your ongoing journey of chastity in other ways with other resources. However, some students who have been Magdala or Augustine participants may be invited to come back for the purpose of facilitating a small group.

The Magdala and Augustine Way groups are designed to be closed groups with a start and an ending (unlike other orgs or groups at St. Mary’s that operate on an open, rolling format). You can think of them as a small group intensive experience, designed to equip you through a deep dive into vulnerability, accountability, formation. Once your group finishes its curriculum, you will not continue to meet as an official chastity small group; however, we hope to accompany you into some “next step” options as you are on the off-ramp with your chastity group.

Yes, these are confidential, closed groups, designed to foster honesty and openness as you grow in trust with other group members. What you share here won’t be shared outside these groups.