Sarah Mitchell
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 is based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, with a focus on hospitality towards those on society's margins. Each Catholic Worker house has a unique mission, and while they are not official organs of the Catholic Church, their activities may be overtly religious. To become a Catholic Worker, one must embrace the movement's values and actively participate in its initiatives, such as houses of hospitality, rural agronomic universities, soup lines, and social justice endeavours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin | To "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ" |
| Founded on May 1, 1933 | Hospitality towards those on the margin of society |
| Personalism | |
| Communitarianism | |
| Christian anarchism | |
| Nonviolence | |
| Opposition to war and unequal global distribution of wealth | |
| Sharing of resources | |
| Sharing of meals | |
| Prayer | |
| Voluntary poverty | |
| Commitment to social justice | |
| Opposition to racism | |
| Opposition to nuclear weapons | |
| Agrarianism | |
| Pacifism |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Worker Movement's history
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933 in New York City's Union Square. It 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 movement gained traction through Day and Maurin's monthly newspaper, 'The Catholic Worker', which promoted the "preferential option for the poor" and other Catholic social teachings. This inspired the creation of houses of hospitality, where members of the movement lived alongside the homeless and needy. These houses were maintained by volunteers and donations, with a focus on voluntary poverty and simple living. By the start of World War II, there were 35 such groups across the United States and Canada, along with farming communes. During the war, the movement maintained its pacifist stance, but many young members joined the armed services, and most of the houses of hospitality closed.
After the war, the movement continued to grow and spread internationally. By 1941, there were over 30 independent but affiliated communities, and between 1965 and 1980, an additional 76 communities were founded. Today, there are well over 200 communities worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sweden.
The Catholic Worker Movement is known for its radical philosophy, described as Christian anarchism. It believes in nonviolent resistance and prophetic messaging, inspired by Christ's example. The movement campaigns against war, inequality, racism, and the unequal global distribution of wealth. It seeks to create small, personal systems and communities, promoting self-sufficiency and the sharing of resources. While it is not an official organ of the Catholic Church, it has a diverse range of religious representations, including Catholics, ex-Catholics, Protestants, and Buddhists.
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The Catholic Worker communities
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the United States in 1933. It is not affiliated with the Catholic Church, though it is a Catholic lay movement that emphasizes personal reform, radical agrarianism, absolute pacifism, and the personal practice of the principles in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The movement's aim is "to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ".
The movement has a wide diversity of religions represented, including Catholics, ex-Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, and Mennonites. Each community has a different focus, from conservative Catholic to mostly secular. Similarly, each community's relationship to the local Catholic Church is different.
Catholic Worker communities are often houses of hospitality, rural agronomic universities, or soup kitchens. They typically share resources and meals, and prayer usually takes place in some form. The movement also includes farming communes, where each person works according to their ability and receives according to their needs.
The Catholic Worker newspaper, co-founded by Day and Maurin, helped spread the movement's ideas to other cities in the United States and to Canada and the United Kingdom. Today, there are well over 200 communities, including several in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sweden.
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The Catholic Worker's beliefs and values
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities that aim to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". The movement is guided by the principles of communitarianism and personalism, with each community having its own unique mission and approach to social justice. While the Catholic Worker Movement is independent of the Catholic Church, its members are driven by a set of core beliefs and values that shape their work and daily lives.
One of the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic Worker Movement is the commitment to voluntary poverty and simple living. Members embrace a life of self-sufficiency, sharing resources, and hospitality, often living and working alongside those facing oppression and marginalization. This belief in personalism asserts the inherent worth and divinity of every individual, regardless of their background or identity, and guides members in their interactions with others.
The movement strongly advocates for nonviolence and peace, actively opposing war, inequality, and the unequal global distribution of wealth. This philosophy of Christian anarchism views all authority as derived from God, and members seek to follow Christ's example of nonviolent revolutionary behavior while respecting individual conscience. The movement's history includes protesting nuclear weapons production and taking anti-war stances during World War II.
Catholic Worker communities often take a grassroots approach to social justice, believing in personal responsibility for creating change. They work to end racism, promote alternatives to war, and seek right relationships with the earth and each other. This includes practicing agrarianism and farming to grow their own food.
The movement also emphasizes the socio-political aspects of living the gospel, as reflected in their monthly newspaper, "The Catholic Worker," which helped spread their message and establish communities across the United States and beyond.
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Joining the Catholic Worker Movement
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's aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". It is based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, with each house having a different mission, going about the work of social justice in its own way, suited to its local region.
The movement has no official ties to the Catholic Church, and its activities may be more or less overtly religious depending on the institution. It campaigns for nonviolence and is active in opposing war and the unequal global distribution of wealth. The movement also advocates for voluntary poverty, non-cooperation with evil, and nonviolent resistance.
Catholic Worker houses are spaces where folks can form relationships across barriers of class, race, ability, and other factors. They provide hospitality to those in need, sharing food and resources, and often hold community meals, liturgy, weekly Mass, or meetings. Prayer also usually takes place in some form.
If you want to join the Catholic Worker Movement, you can start by visiting a Catholic Worker house in your local area. You can find a directory of Catholic Worker communities online. These communities are diverse and inclusive, welcoming people from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds.
Once you've connected with a local community, you can get involved by participating in their activities and events. This may include direct service, such as living in houses of hospitality, working in rural agronomic universities, operating soup lines, or seeking alternatives to war. You can also contribute by volunteering your time and skills, whether it's cooking, taking care of children, or sorting donations.
By joining the Catholic Worker Movement, you'll be part of a community that strives to live out its values of social justice, nonviolence, and inclusive love.
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The Catholic Worker newspaper
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities, inspired by Catholic social teachings, with a focus on hospitality towards those on the margins of society. Each community has a different mission, often involving social justice work, and may be more or less overtly religious. The movement is not an official organ of the Catholic Church.
The newspaper was an important part of the movement's growth and development, with Day and Maurin using it to advance the Catholic notion of the "preferential option for the poor". The publication also served to connect and inspire local groups, who would then go on to operate independently, often setting up houses of hospitality and farming communes.
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Frequently asked questions
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's aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". It is based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, and campaigns for nonviolence and against war and the unequal global distribution of wealth.
Catholic Worker houses are supposed to provide hospitality of some kind, sharing food and resources. They are also meant to put out a newspaper, which often takes the form of an email newsletter. To become a Catholic Worker, you can reach out to your local parish to get connected.
No, Catholic Workers come from a wide diversity of religions. There are Catholics, ex-Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, and more. Each autonomous community has a different flavour, from conservative Catholic to mostly secular.
