What You did to the Least Person, you Did to Me

Matthew 25 is the verse that Dorothy Day's lived for.  The verses from this chapter address the Catholic Social Teachings.  Dorothy Day put her Catholic faith into action.  She lived among the poor, struggled with the poor, and fought for the poor.  She was a journalist, a political activists, a mother, an advocate and a friend of a lot of people whom she lived and fought for and with.  Dorothy Day was someone who did not want to be the center of attention.  She would not want to be that person whom people would praise being a "hero."  These are the words of Ms. Martha Henessy, the granddaughter of Dorothy Day when asked about what kind of person her grandmother was.  She was one of the guests in the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Worker House in San Antonio.  She also lives and runs the Maryhouse or the Catholic Worker House in Lower Manhattan, New York.

Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker House together with Peter Maurin in 1933.  It is a way of liberal witness of peace, incarnation and advocates for the poor.  Peter Maurin was a man who used to live in rural area of France where farming and simplicity of life are norm.  For Peter Maurin, the people from rural area and the people in the city must converge.  Dorothy Day was used to the hussle and bustle of the urban life with her writing as a tool while Maurin see the social justice in laboring the field as a farmers.  The farmer's work can benefit from the city dwellers.  The city dwellers can use their wisdom to till the farm as well or bring their wealth of information on how to put these into practice.  

With Day's life's conversion, life of witness and love of the poor, the church gave Dorothy Day the title "Servant of God" by the Catholic Church since March 2000.  She promoted Catholic Social Teachings by her works in Catholic Worker House.  She lived and breath what she advocated for.  She left a legacy where thousands of people still benefit from the movement supported by genuine love of the poor, the forgotten and those that Jesus Christ called "Blessed" in the Beatitudes.

On October 2-5, 2025, people from Catholic Worker House (CWH) nationwide and friends came to Towne Twin Village.  The guests, volunteers, board, friends, and residents celebrated the 40th Anniversary of this noble social justice and peace movement that advocates for the poor. It was on October 5 when we had a seed planting or I can say seed scattering in the meditation garden of the Towne Twin Village.  All who joined the ritual listened to the facilitator who read the Gospel about the generosity of God who scatters the seeds anywhere.  Similarly, we picked up the native seeds  and scattered them in the open space of the meditation garden.  This is the garden that receives the funding from Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation among the many supporters to make this space possible.  It is the vision of the President of Towne Twin Village that when the trees grow, people can make use of it to gather, to ponder, and meditate. It is an opportunity for poeple to be reconnected ton one's inner self.

The seed scattering was then followed by fellowship and food where we find ourselves mingling and eating with the Catholic Workers who incarnate the generosity and humility of God everyday.  They narrated their CWH identies, struggles, and victories.  Each CWH is different.  There are quite several of these provide hospitality for the vulnerable while there are those that are dedicated to farming where the products are expected to support the hospitality houses or to serve as a food pantry for those in need.  Some are peace activists advocating for the rights to live peacefully and to speak for those who continue to be victims of war, violence, and nuclear weapons.  Everybody get to know as much as everyone can in that gathering as the Catholic Workers soon departed to go back to their communities to continue to serve their own patrons.

People from Cincinati, Akron, Los Angeles, Arizona, New York, Missouri, Chicago, and Houston are just among the Catholic Workers who came.  The CWH not only exist in United States but around the world.  They all exemplified all the Works of Mercy that the church continues to put forth: feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.  Just like Day, the Catholic Workers serve the workers, migrants, and the poor. 

Volunteer listing at the back of the T-Shirt of CWH

Theo from the Catholic Worker Podcast

Volunteers from CWH Arizona with Sr Martha Ann and friends