Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, is a collection of over 200 autonomous communities in the United States and at least 30 in other countries. The movement, which campaigns for nonviolence and opposes war and the unequal global distribution of wealth, grew out of the Catholic Worker newspaper, created by Day to advance Catholic social teaching and pacifism in the turbulent 1930s. Day and Maurin's concept of hospitality and charity inspired the creation of houses of hospitality where members lived with the homeless and those in need. Today, each Catholic Worker community is unique, guided by a commitment to pacifism and the works of mercy, with some engaging in anti-racist and anti-war activism, operating soup kitchens, or practising organic farming.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1933 |
| Founders | Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin |
| Founding location | New York City |
| Number of communities in the US | Over 200 |
| Number of communities outside the US | At least 30 |
| Number of communities overall | Over 240 |
| Number of communities in 1939 | 35 |
| Number of people served at Our Lady of the Road each weekend morning | 120 |
| Number of volunteers at Our Lady of the Road | Dozens |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Worker newspaper
The newspaper gained traction, and by September 1933, Day and Maurin were printing 20,000 copies. The circulation of the Catholic Worker continued to rise, reaching 110,000 by 1935 and 150,000 by 1936. During World War II, the newspaper maintained a relatively high circulation, but its pacifist stance led to internal conflicts and a decrease in readership. Despite this, by 1938, the circulation had grown to 190,000. However, Day's unwavering commitment to pacifism during the war led to a significant drop in circulation to 50,000.
The Catholic Worker Archives contain a wealth of historical material, including the personal papers of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, records of past and present Catholic Worker communities, photographs, audio and video recordings, and a wide variety of publications, including The Catholic Worker newspaper. Today, scans of the newspaper from its first issue in 1933 through 2021 are available at the Catholic News Archive, maintained by the Catholic Research Resources Alliance.
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Houses of hospitality
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, is a collection of autonomous communities that aim to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". The movement is based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, with a focus on hospitality towards those on society's margins.
The houses of hospitality were funded by donations, with the primary interest of donors being to help the poor. This created a conflict when it came to maintaining volunteer families, as the higher cost conflicted with the wishes of those donating. Despite this, families have participated in the movement in various ways, including assisting in the houses of hospitality and opening up "Christ rooms" in their homes for people in need.
The Catholic Worker Movement has no national organization or headquarters, and each local community goes about its work of social justice in its own way, suited to its local region. There are over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services, and one source mentions that there are over 100 Catholic Worker communities today. These communities are not official organs of the Catholic Church, and their activities may be more or less overtly religious depending on the institution.
The movement is based on the belief in the "dignity and respect of each human person" and the preferential option for the poor. This includes providing for the basic needs of the poor and calling into question systems that create and perpetuate injustice and inequity.
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Farming communes
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the United States in 1933. The movement aims to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ", with a focus on hospitality towards those on the margins of society.
The communes are based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, where each person works according to their ability and receives according to their needs. These farming communes are not just rural retreats but are intended to bring about a "green revolution", encouraging a new way of living that is more in line with the justice of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Worker Movement has always had a flexible structure, and the number of communities has fluctuated over the years depending on current events and local needs. There are now over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services, and within these, there are numerous farming communes. For example, in New York, there is a farming commune upstate, as well as two houses in the Bowery where volunteers feed hundreds of people in a soup kitchen.
The Sroka family in North Carolina is another example of a Catholic Worker community. They live on a 50-acre farm with cows, chickens, and a vegetable garden, aiming to live sustainably off the land while also raising their three children.
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Christian anarchism
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities in the United States and Canada, based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism. The movement was started by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin through the Catholic Worker newspaper, which aimed to advance Catholic social teaching and take a neutral, pacifist stance in the turbulent 1930s. The movement has been described as Christian anarchism due to its radical philosophy and interpretation of Roman Catholicism and Christianity.
The movement has faced questions of identity and authority, particularly after the death of its co-founder Dorothy Day in 1980. Despite this, the movement continues to thrive due to its anarchic nature, allowing for ongoing conversations and interpretations. The movement has evolved over time, with younger generations starting their own houses and embracing the movement's anarchism to build local, personal communities.
The Catholic Worker Movement has over 240 local communities providing social services, each with its unique mission and character. These communities, known as "houses," are not officially affiliated with the Catholic Church, and their activities may vary in religious tone and inspiration. The movement has been a source of inspiration for peace activists and has been described as a revolution of the heart, campaigning for nonviolence and opposing war and global wealth inequality.
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Pacifism
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day, a Catholic convert and journalist, and Peter Maurin, a French peasant. The movement began with the Catholic Worker newspaper, which Day and Maurin created to advance Catholic social teaching and promote a neutral, Christian pacifist stance in the turbulent 1930s. Day and Maurin's newspaper gained popularity, and soon their ideas were put into action through the establishment of houses of hospitality and farming communes.
The Catholic Worker Movement's theology of pacifism is rooted in the belief in the dignity and respect of each human person, a philosophy known as
The movement's pacifist principles are also reflected in its commitment to social justice and reform. The Catholic Worker Movement believes in the importance of questioning systems that create and perpetuate injustice and inequity. They promote the idea of Christian anarchism, which holds that all authority comes from God, and that the state, by distancing itself from Christian perfectionism, has forfeited its ultimate authority over the citizen. This anarchist philosophy is paired with a model of nonviolent revolutionary behaviour based on the example set by Christ.
The Catholic Worker Movement's commitment to pacifism has endured over the years, with members engaging in prayer, protest, and acts of civil disobedience to advance the cause of peace. Their dedication to nonviolence and social justice has made the movement a lasting force, with over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services and continuing to spread Day and Maurin's message.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Worker Movement has over 240 local communities providing social services. There are more than 200 Catholic Worker communities in the United States and at least 30 in other countries.
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933.
The core principles of the movement include hospitality, pacifism, personalism, and the practice of the principles in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
Each Catholic Worker community is unique and guided by its own charism. Some communities focus on anti-racist and anti-war activism, while others operate soup kitchens or engage in organic farming. All communities are committed to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
The Catholic Worker Movement began with the Catholic Worker newspaper, created by Dorothy Day to advance Catholic social teaching and pacifism. The movement then established houses of hospitality and farming communes where members lived and worked together.
