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To know Christ, to love Christ, and to serve Christ.

Freshman Housing

Living at Saint Paul’s

frequently asked questions
Where is the Bernadette House?

The fourth floor of Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center which is located on Library Mall, in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus.

What does the Bernadette House look like?

The photos in the left column show the apartment which includes:

  • a full kitchen
  • living room
  • dining room
  • 2 bathrooms
  • in unit laundry
  • 3 rooms, 3 women per room
  • a dresser for each resident and a shared closet
What are the advantages to being a part of an intentional, Catholic community?
  • Living in a house of 9 other freshmen means you always have someone to talk to. 
  • In a home like environment there is more of a shared life experience with more mutual support.
  • In an intentional community of people striving to grow in virtue there is more opportunity to learn from one another rather than to compete with one another. 
  • In this community the resident assistants are able to concentrate on and be more concerned with your growth as a human person.
How do food and cooking factor into the Bernadette community?
  • Food is communal, so cost of groceries is split amongst community members
  • House sisters cook dinner four meals per week. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
  • Other meals are on your own or voluntarily shared with the community.
What are the rules of living in community?
  • Required attendance at weekly community nights 
  • Communal food 
  • Weekly or bi-weekly communal cleaning 
  • men are only allowed in the Bernadette house for specific events
  • Attending each week a 30 minute course on human virtue. 
  • Other rules are established by community members
    • Example: quiet hours, when guests are allowed to come over
How much does it cost to live in the Bernadette House?

$3,500 per semester or $7,000 a year. This includes room and board.

What will the virtue program consist of?

COURSE PLAN
This course is divided into 10 sessions (10/semester). The first semester covers the fundamentals of human anthropology and virtue. Its aim is to introduce students to what virtue is, how it is cultivated, and why it is important. The second semester introduces students to the guiding principles of Catholic social thought. This semester builds on the previous to facilitate an understanding of virtuous leadership and the conditions of a flourishing society.

Semester 1 
1. Introduction: Why Live Well?   
2. Habits and Happiness 
3. Virtue and Moral Action 
4. The Passions and Moral Virtue 
5. The Cardinal Virtues
6. Vice and Sin 
7. The Nature of Good & Evil
8. Friendship 
9. Law & Natural Law   
10. Conclusion: Why Virtue?  

Semester 2 
11. Intro to Catholic Social Thought
12. Human Dignity 
13. The Common Good
14. Subsidiarity 
15. Solidarity
16. The Family 
17. The State
18. The Church & the World 
19. Christian Leadership
20. Living Well in the Modern World

Meet the RA’s

Irene Tomasovic

House Mother

My name is Irene Tomasovic and I am a senior studying English – Creative Writing and getting a certificate in Integrated Liberal Studies. In my final year, it is a blessing to live at St. Paul’s, where I can visit the chapel only one floor below me and play piano upstairs! I love making music, playing sports, and reading. I have lived in an intentional community for the past two years, and I hope to be a witness of the power of community life for the women I get to live with. And of course, I look forward to laughing nonstop with my roommates. Saint Bernadette, pray for us!

    Interested?

    Contact Helena Dziadowicz, Director of Evangelization and Student Housing, at helenad@uwcatholic.org with any questions or for an application