St Joseph's Poustinia

About Me – Poustinik Brother Martin

For the past several years, I have been living as a Poustinik, dedicating my life to prayer, service and creating a sacred space for others to encounter God.

In 2019, after much discernment, I embraced this way of life, taking vows in accordance with Canon Law 1197. I meet regularly with my spiritual director and remain known to my Bishop, grounding my vocation in both accountability and communion with the wider Church.

Before entering my Poustinia, I was blessed with many experiences that helped shape my path. I spent time with the Schwestern von Heiligen Elisabeth (Sisters of Saint Elizabeth) community at Christ the King Chapel in St. Joseph Hospital, Tempelhof. There, daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration and praying the Divine Office deepened my faith and strengthened my discernment.

Earlier in my journey, I trained and qualified as a chef, a vocation that taught me creativity, patience and the joy of serving others in a very tangible way. Over time, this deepened my understanding of care and hospitality, which later inspired me to pursue Clinical and Pastoral Counselling. I went on to study in this field and worked in community education, supporting young offenders alongside the social work department.

Drawn to community life and prayer, I joined the Vincentian Volunteers for a year, which led me to serve in the United States with the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. I coordinated volunteers for group homes serving individuals with special needs, and I was blessed to live in the “Little Hermitage,” the White House, on the convent grounds in Shillington, Pennsylvania. The example of my dear friend Sister Agape, whose memory continues to inspire me, left a lasting mark on my heart. I was also profoundly influenced by the joyful witness of St. Francis Bisland CPS, whose humor and spirit of service guided my vocation.

Later, I joined the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM) in Detroit, where I led school retreats, worked with the homeless in downtown Detroit and even participated in Christian clowning as a creative form of evangelisation.

Returning to Glasgow, I continued serving in parishes and with the Vocations Awareness team before moving on to London. There, I spent nearly a decade in management roles, cherishing the friendships and experiences I gained.

Eventually, I moved to Berlin, where I co-owned and built a restaurant that flourished after opening in 2011. My time in Berlin was filled with love and connection and my “Berlin family” will always remain close to my heart. Yet, God’s plan called me in a different direction.

In 2019, I felt a strong call to embrace an eremitic lifestyle with an active dimension. I renounced my role in the restaurant and committed myself fully to the life of a Poustinik. St. Joseph’s Poustinia has since become both my home and my mission. Financially self-sufficient, I dedicate much of my time to the renovation and upkeep of the property, trusting in God’s providence as it unfolds.

Today, under spiritual guidance, I continue to live, pray, and work at St. Joseph’s Poustinia. My hope is that this space will serve as a place of silence, prayer and encounter—where others may come to experience the loving presence of God.

This chapter of my life is one of growth, deep prayer and profound trust in God’s plan for my soul.

This page is a work in progress

CHRISTIAN CLOWNING

VINCENTIAN VOLUNTEERS

AMERICA