Bishop’s Appeal 2024
Magdalene House Oklahoma City
This year’s Annual Bishop’s Appeal will benefit Magdalene House OKC as they grow and expand their life-changing ministry. Magdalene House plans to double its capacity, expanding to accommodate eight women in the residency program by Spring 2025. Your support will go directly toward expanding the residency and programming at Magdalene House, including individual and group therapy, health care, legal support, job training and financial counseling.
Magdalene House is desperately needed. Oklahoma has one of the highest per capita rates of female incarceration in the United States. Few programs offer the long-term, trauma-informed recovery care needed for healing and reintegration into society. Magdalene House fills this gap by providing two-year residential care.
Read and Watch Bishop Poulson’s Appeal Letter
What is Magdalene House OKC?
Magdalene House OKC follows the peer-based model created by the Thistle Farms National Network, founded by The Rev. Becca Stevens an Episcopal Priest in Nashville. With over 60 homes nationwide, this proven model has helped more than 85% of graduates of the original Magdalene House in Nashville live healthy, sober, and independent lives five years after completing the program. A typical day at Magdalene House OKC revolves around creating stability and healing for the women in the program. Morning meditation and prayer begins each day, with group or individual counseling following in the afternoon. Phase 1 residents focus on health needs, job training and meeting legal obligations. Phase 2 residents are working or going to school, while also still completing required group, counseling, and recovery programs. Residents typically end the day by having a group/family meal and a family game night.
A current client of Magdalene House OKC shared insight into her experience: "If it wasn't for Magdalene House OKC, I don't know where I would be in life right now, but I know I wouldn't be the successful person I am today. This house believed in me enough, that for once in my life, I could believe in myself and I have been able to achieve more than I ever dreamed I could. I never knew self-love or had positive support until this house, and I never knew the impact of what those two things can do for someone's life. Look, I never dreamed of getting a bachelor's degree or getting my drivers license back, or having real life goals for my future that I can actually achieve. This house has been more of a dream turned reality that I wake up to each day. All it took was that one chance that they gave me that changed my life forever."
We are the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma.