As mentioned earlier, Father Judge was most interested in the laity. He felt they could reclaim Catholics and preserve the Faith, in areas where the clergy were not present. Beginning in 1909 in Brooklyn, New York, he gathered five women and asked them to give out literature on the subway trains and go door-to-door to visit people. As the movement grew men also joined in the work.

By about 1925 the MCA began to have retreats in Stirling at the sisters' house. Sometimes these were monthly retreats and the participants would always visit Saint Joseph's Shrine just a few minutes away. Their Rule of Life was approved by Rome. The members take acts of Consecration versus vows that the priests, brothers, and sisters take.

Father Judge from the beginning saw MCA laity on equal looting with the priests, brothers, and sisters. The MCA members take a period of study before being consecrated. Originally that period was about one year, but now it is between two and three years. At the present time there are about 1000 members.