Hospitality News

People sometimes come to the door of the Catholic Worker asking for help. On a couple of occasions, we've been able to offer them food and refer them to shelters in town.

A woman came to the Catholic Worker asking for help, yesterday afternoon. She said she had been evicted and had nowhere to stay. A volunteer helped her to some food and a blanket. Erin was called in and discussed options for shelters. Not being able to find anything, Erin took the woman back to her house to stay the night (since we are currently not set up to provide emergency shelter at the Catholic Worker). Plans were made to get the woman prepared for one of the local family shelters, but after breakfast she disappeared.

Please keep this woman Cynthia in your thoughts and prayers! She was friendly and well-mannered, but we certainly don't know her whole story.

The Catholic Worker does not recommend that people take strangers into their own homes without first being part of a supportive community that can share the burden and provide the proper preparation. For example, we were careful to make sure there were at least two Catholic Workers around whenever possible. It is also crucial to go through some serious spiritual discernment before taking on a ministry (and the potential risks) like this. Erin was not acting alone.

Part of the vision of the entire Catholic Worker movement is to foster a greater sense of hospitality in our society. This sense of hospitality has been sorely missing in the last few decades as Americans are positively terrified of strangers. We live in isolation from the people around us. However, prudence is in order. The Catholic Worker movement has traditionally done hospitality in community, not as individuals acting alone.

Hospitality can be a very beautiful witness. When a group manages it well, it can a relatively safe, nurturing atmosphere. It is an amazing thing to realize that somewhere in town there is an open door, a place where you can go if you are in need! For advice on doing this, contact a local Catholic Worker community!

Woodcut above by Ade Bethune.