Tearmann Anama (The Soul Sanctuary)
Tearmann Anama is a phrase in the Irish language that translates to ‘Soul Sanctuary.’ This is the official name of our new international headquarters of the Apostolate of the Returning King in Ireland.
The Vision
A campus of contemporary, functional, simple, and aesthetically beautiful buildings, connected by nature paths and contemplative spaces.
The Project
ARK’s contribution to renewal is headquartered in Ireland, using technology and a dedicated team on two continents to reach a wounded international audience.
Our mission is to equip people everywhere to return to a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and to live more fully and maturely within the sacramental life of the Church.
We are constructing a modern Faith Formation Center at The Soul Sanctuary, on 38 acres in Cavan, Ireland. This center will become the new global base of operations—a lifeblood and catalyst for accelerating outreach to the faithful, particularly young people and those who have been marginalized, or unwelcome in their faith journey.
We appeal to individuals and organizations who recognize the urgency of this effort to join us in creating a renewed and balanced Catholic expression for today’s world.
Phase one is nearing completion. It includes office and shipping space, a recording studio to stream Mass and retreats, and a media center from which to teach online classes. Phases two and three will begin in late 2026 into 2027 as funding becomes available. The later phases include residential retreat accommodations, a chapel, and a purpose-built education center.
We are in great need of donations for our youth and young adult camps, retreats, as well as classrooms and a nursery.
Why fund us?
So that your children have somewhere to go in the future, where they fit in. We will teach them how to pray and love God in a safe space. Your children can find a Catholic home with us where they will be recognized wherever they are in their journey. They will feel comfortable because they will see that there is no agenda. We are not trying to make them fully compliant Catholics according to past cultural beliefs. We are here to help them understand God’s positive regard for them, in exactly the circumstances they find themselves today. We are here to help them view themselves like Christ does, accurately and with hope. We help them see that we are all doing some of the right things. We are just doing different ‘right’ things. It can be too easy to cut ties with our sacramental life unnecessarily. We are all willing to work hard to keep people tethered to our Catholic faith.“
– Kathryn Anne Clarke
Capital Campaign
Renewal from Within
Bringing people back to Christ, one heart, one soul, at a time.
Who We Are
The Apostolate of the Returning King (ARK), is canonically recognized in the Catholic Church. ARK, an Association of the Lay Faithful, is a dynamic and growing movement within the Catholic Church, born from a profound spiritual calling and guided by ecclesial authority from its inception.
In 2003, Kathryn Anne Clarke began receiving and writing deeply mystical, spiritual insights. Advised to remain anonymous, she wrote under the pen name Anne, a lay apostle, and submitted her writings to her bishop, the Most Reverend Leo O’Reilly of the Diocese of Kilmore, Ireland. Recognizing the spiritual richness and potential impact of these writings, Bishop O’Reilly gave permission for their printing for public distribution.
Seeing the extraordinary nature of Kathryn’s experiences, Bishop O’Reilly also assembled two formal Diocesan Commissions to rigorously examine both the content and context of her experiences and writings. This multi-year investigation culminated in 2013 with the granting of a formal Imprimatur on the writings, which is an official declaration of doctrinal soundness.
Additionally, in 2018, through an ecclesial decree, the Apostolate of the Returning King was granted canonical recognition as an Association of the Faithful with Juridical Personality—a significant acknowledgment affirming its place in the life of the Church.
With official Church recognition and a growing international presence, the Apostolate of the Returning King (ARK) now stands at the threshold of a new chapter. As ARK prepares to launch a capital campaign to increase the global impact of the Apostolate, we invite supporters and benefactors to join us in advancing this mission of hope.
“While we have unused buildings in our Church today, it does not excuse our generation from erecting appropriate edifices that point to a more balanced future expression of our faith. What are we all leaving tomorrow’s Catholics? Could it be a more contemporary and interested view of their sufferings? We are offering hope in the midst of addictions to pornography, technology, and substances, with the resultant mental health struggles. People who cannot regulate their minds suffer great difficulty with prayer. Thus, they begin to feel isolated from God. Today’s battles are being fought in the minds of God’s children, young and old. We want everyone to know they do not fight those battles alone. If you can help us, please do help us.”
– Kathryn Anne Clarke
Our Mission and Purpose
Rooted in Church authority and inspired by Kathryn Anne Clarke’s leadership, the Apostolate of the Returning King offers a clear spiritual path for everyone. We invite all who want to share God’s love in the world to participate. Guided by inspired messages, the Apostolate welcomes anyone—no matter their personal struggles or life circumstances—who wish to join Christ’s Rescue Mission of mercy and compassion. Across the globe, the Apostolate ignites small efforts, resulting in powerful spiritual blessings. Its members do not aim to set themselves apart, elevate their status, or form exclusive groups. Instead, they live humbly and prayerfully, seeking God’s will each day and playing their parts locally, in their parishes. Apostles of the Returning King embrace the wounded, weary, and searching— because they, too, have experienced those struggles. Following Christ’s example, they choose to serve with non-judgemental love, supporting those in need, and sharing the supernatural hope they have received.
This is a movement not of exclusivity, but of invitation—an open door to grace and transformation. As ARK moves forward with their capital campaign, they extend that same invitation to their partners and benefactors.
Can you help build the infrastructure, outreach, and spiritual formation needed to carry this contemporary Gospel of light into every corner of the world?
As Kathryn Anne Clarke expresses:
“Our experience is that when people are directly connected to God through Contemplative Prayer, the sacramental life makes more sense and is better understood and valued. That stated, we welcome and collaborate with people from all denominations and none, who desire to pray contemplatively or to come to know God better through our Catholic way.”
Today, the Apostolate that grew from Anne’s “yes” is a thriving global movement:
Over 3,200 individuals have formally pledged to live as apostles of the Returning King and pray for the Church and each other daily.
Over 250 dedicated prayer groups are registered in 18 countries, including 200 in the U.S., and 7 online international groups.
More than 15,000 people around the world are actively involved in the Apostolate with countless others inspired and transformed by Anne’s writings.
Millions of books have been printed, downloaded, and disseminated.
The Apostolate continues to expand around the world. Used in schools, parishes, and prayer groups, the work and its spread is a testament to the enduring power of Christ working through a mission.
By obedience and trust, Mrs. Clarke helped birth a movement that brings Christ’s love directly into today’s world. Her legacy is not only in what she has written—but in the lives changed, the souls awakened, the families served, and the Church quietly renewed through the Apostolate, one person at a time.
The published spiritual writings of Kathryn Anne carry the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, granted by Bishop Leo O’Reilly. These are official declarations that the writings are free of doctrinal error and that ecclesial permission has been granted for their publication. Her writings belong to the world!
Our Vision
The aim is to renew the Catholic Church by forming apostles. This invitation is rooted in Contemplative Prayer, psychological health, and an active sacramental life. The goal is to empower lay people worldwide to share Christ’s healing presence in today’s culture.
Headquartered in Ireland, ARK serves with a global network of spiritually maturing and emotionally ready followers of Christ who lead others back to faith, transforming families, communities, and the Church from within.
Three Charisms of the Apostolate of the Returning King
Compassionate Listening
Learning and Teaching the Catechism
Promoting Unity in the Church
Our Plan for Renewing the Church from Within
We Need Your Help. The Church Needs Renewal.
Our Church stands at a crossroads. Across the world, people are struggling—confused, anxious, and burdened by uncertainty. They worry about their families, their future, and their place in a rapidly changing culture. Despite this insecurity, the lay faithful understand the beauty of the Catholic Way—but also see a need for its deep renewal. The Apostolate of the Returning King, and its platoon of devoted Apostles, are on the forefront of this renewal.
This great renewal is not a new idea. It has been the dream of many before us, including Saint John Paul II and, more recently, Pope Francis. Both had compassionate and evangelical hearts. Both called the Church to go out—to embrace the marginalized, uplift the suffering, and welcome every person longing for peace. They envisioned a Church that did not retreat from the world’s pain, but rather entered and participated in it with mercy for all.
This vision drives ARK. Many are needed to help answer this call.
In the mystical tradition of the Church, private revelation helps us understand, in a particular time and place, what God has already revealed through Christ Himself. The Apostolate of the Returning King responds to this call with a vibrant, modern New Evangelization.
Rooted in a missionary spirit, ARK remains fully aware of today’s cultural realities. They aim to present the Catholic faith clearly and compellingly to all people, particularly the younger generations who are facing very real psychological and spiritual confusions.
ARK’s lay-led team includes trained professionals, such as a board-certified psychotherapist, to ensure all programs are spiritually sound and psychologically informed. Additionally, ARK staff includes many educators, trainers, mental health professionals, and of course, priests. Our programs and retreats are available virtually and in-person, reaching people worldwide.
“To renew our faith, Catholicism must commit to forming the whole person—mind, heart, and soul. Many wish to share God’s love but lack the skills to do so in today’s world. We think of the consequences of missed opportunities between parents and children, spouses, friends, and fellow believers—moments where grace could flourish, but often does not.
These moments mark disappointment and frustration, especially for parents. More needs to be done to help teach how to preach the Gospel to today’s individuals. A balanced and mature understanding of our faith brings clarity to our teachings. The gaps in people’s formation reveal a deeper need. The Gospel endures, but our way of sharing it must evolve.”
– Kathryn Anne Clarke
ARK’s contribution to renewal is headquartered in Ireland, using technology and a dedicated team on two continents to reach a wounded international audience.
Our mission is to equip people everywhere to return to a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and to live more fully and maturely within the sacramental life of the Church.
Through this capital campaign, we are constructing a modern Faith Formation Center at The Soul Sanctuary, on 38 acres in Cavan, Ireland. This center will become the new global base of operations—a lifeblood and catalyst for accelerating outreach to the faithful, particularly young people and those who have been marginalized, or unwelcomed in their faith family.
We appeal to individuals and organizations who recognize the urgency of this effort to join us in creating a renewed and balanced Catholic expression for today’s world.
Phase one is nearing completion. It includes office and shipping space, a recording studio to stream Mass and retreats, and a media center from which to teach online classes. Phases two and three will begin in late 2026 into 2027 as funding becomes available. The later phases include residential retreat accommodations, a chapel, and a purpose-built education center.
We are in great need of donations for our youth and young adult camps, retreats, as well as classrooms and a nursery.
Why Fund Us?
“So that your children have somewhere to go in the future, where they fit in. We will teach them how to pray and love God in a safe space. Your children can find a Catholic home with us where they will be recognized wherever they are in their journey. They will feel comfortable because they will see that there is no agenda. We are not trying to make them fully compliant Catholics according to past cultural beliefs. We are here to help them understand God’s positive regard for them, in exactly the circumstances they find themselves today. We are here to help them view themselves like Christ does, accurately and with hope. We help them see that we are all doing some of the right things. We are just doing different ‘right’ things. It can be too easy to cut ties with our sacramental life unnecessarily. We are all willing to work hard to keep people tethered to our Catholic faith.”
– Kathryn Anne Clarke
If you would like to support our Capital Campaign, we would love to hear from you! You can reach us by email or phone:
Email: contactus@directionforourtimes.org
Call: (USA) +1 708 496 9300
(Ireland) +353 (0)49 437 3040