Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

Bishop Tom Gumbleton

When: Friday, December 16, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.

What: Bishop Tom Gumbleton will preside at a Mass of Thanksgiving for the DDCW.  Light refreshments will be served following the Mass.

Where: Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, 503 Rock Creek Church Rd., NW. Washington, DC. 20010. For more info call: 202-882-9649

Dear Friends,

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (DDCW). In 1981, a Trinitarian brother came to see Fr. Dick McSorley, S.J., and told him that the Trinitarians were considering giving a house they owned to the Catholic Worker in memory of Dorothy Day. At that time, the house, where Day stayed on at least several occasions, was being used by the Trinitarian religious order for their seminary students. Fr. McSorley graciously accepted this amazing gift, and thus the DDCW was established. Tom Siemer, Monica Siemer and Pat Cassidy were among those who joined Fr. McSorley to form the first community. Since then hundreds of people, Catholic Workers and formerly homeless families, have lived here.

For thirty years the DDCW has served as a house of hospitality for mostly single moms and their children from D.C., the U.S. and around the world. It has also been a school where those, inspired by the Catholic Worker vision, have learned about community, solidarity, Gospel nonviolence, resistance, patience, compassion, forgiveness and so much more. It has been a place where many have come face to face with their weaknesses, and have experienced pain and joy, hardship and hope. Despite many difficulties and challenges along the way, God's amazing grace has been profoundly evident, enabling the DDCW to reach this special anniversary.

As current members of the DDCW, we are most grateful to all those who have contributed, in a myriad of ways, to help make the DDCW what it is today. Every person who has lived at the DDCW has made a significant contribution to the house and community over these thirty years. And we are so deeply thankful to those who have spiritually and monetarily supported the DDCW. Without the participation and support of numerous individuals and parishes over the years, we would not have been able to keep the house going and continue our ministry.

Like so many Catholic Worker houses, we face financial challenges, especially regarding repairs and maintenance of our house, originally built in 1898. We so appreciate whatever prayerful and monetary support you can offer, as well as your direct participation in the work of the house.

As we approach the season of Thanksgiving and Advent, we truly give thanks for the blessing you are to our community and to our world. We continue to live and act in the hope that the Word became flesh and dwells among us, that with God all things are possible, and that Jesus has forever overcome the world.

With gratitude,

Kathy Boylan, Art Laffin and Colleen McCarthy, Amber and Kevin Mason, Mike Walli