Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities in the United States. The movement's aim is to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ, with a focus on hospitality towards those on society's margins. The movement has over 240 local communities providing social services, and while it is not an official organ of the Catholic Church, its activities are inspired by Day's example. One of the key beliefs of the movement is the establishment of farming communes, where members work according to their abilities and receive according to their needs. The first Catholic Worker farm, Maryfarm, was established in 1936 outside Easton, Pennsylvania, and since then, numerous other farms have sprung up across the country. These farms, often referred to as houses of hospitality, provide a space for growing food, offering hospitality to the poor, and living out the principles of the Catholic Worker Movement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of opening | 1930s, with the first farm opening in 1936 |
| Founders | Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin |
| Aim | To "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ" |
| Location | United States |
| Number of communities | Over 240 |
| Nature of communities | Autonomous |
| Nature of work | Social services, nonviolence, opposing war and unequal global distribution of wealth |
| Nature of farms | Farming communes |
| Produce | Vegetables, fruits, chickens, pigs, milk |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Worker Movement was founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin
- The movement's aim is to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ
- The first Catholic Worker farm was named Maryfarm and was established in 1936
- The farms were established to grow food for the poor and to put their faith into action
- The farms are based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, is a collection of autonomous communities in the United States. The movement's aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on the margins of society, based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism.
The movement has over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services. Each house has a different mission, going about social justice work in its own way, suited to its local region. Catholic Worker houses are not official organs of the Catholic Church, and their activities may be more or less overtly religious. The movement campaigns for nonviolence and is active in opposing war and the unequal global distribution of wealth.
The idea of establishing farming communes where each person works according to their ability and receives according to their needs was central to the movement. This vision, proposed by Maurin, was known as the Green Revolution, harkening back to the medieval Irish monks who combined "cult, culture, and cultivation". The movement's farms aimed to integrate the practices of growing organic food, praying together, and offering hospitality to travellers and the poor in "Christ rooms".
The Catholic Worker farms began to spring up in the 1930s, with the first one, Maryfarm, established outside Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1936. This farm, acquired thanks to a generous donation, was a 28-acre parcel of land overlooking the Delaware River. The residents of these farms grew their own food and also sent produce to the breadlines back in the city. Over the years, Catholic Worker farms have continued to carry out works of mercy and promote Gospel nonviolence, in line with Day's vision.
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The movement's aim is to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities in the United States. The movement's aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". This involves following Christian anarchist principles, with the belief that all authority comes from God, and society should be structured around the philosophy of "cult, culture, and cultivation", combining worship, study, and agriculture.
The movement is known for its hospitality towards those on the margins of society, inspired by Day's example. This includes providing social services, campaigning for nonviolence, and opposing war and the unequal global distribution of wealth. One of the key ways this is achieved is through the establishment of "houses of hospitality", which can be found in both urban and rural settings.
The Catholic Worker farms, which began in the 1930s, are a key aspect of the movement's commitment to hospitality and self-sufficiency. The first farm, Maryfarm, was established in 1936 on a 28-acre plot of land outside Easton, Pennsylvania. The farmers grew and canned fruits and vegetables, some of which were sent to feed the poor in the city. Over time, other farms were established, such as the Peter Maurin Farm in Marlboro, New York, acquired in 1979, which provides fresh produce for Catholic Worker houses and those in need.
The farms are also places where people can come together to pray, learn homesteading skills, and offer hospitality to travellers and the poor in "Christ rooms". The movement encourages families to get involved, whether by opening their homes or assisting in other ways. Despite facing challenges, including financial struggles, the Catholic Worker farms continue to carry out works of mercy and promote Gospel nonviolence, staying true to their founding principles and the aim of living in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ.
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The first Catholic Worker farm was named Maryfarm and was established in 1936
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 has over 240 local communities providing social services, with each house having a different mission suited to its local region. One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on society's margins, based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism.
The first Catholic Worker farm, named Maryfarm, was established in 1936. A group of Catholic Workers travelled from their house of hospitality in New York City to Easton, Pennsylvania, where they found a 28-acre parcel of land overlooking the Delaware River. This land became the site of the first Catholic Worker farm, inspired by Peter Maurin's vision of a "Green Revolution".
Maurin's Green Revolution harkened back to the medieval Irish monks who combined "cult, culture, and cultivation", worshipping, studying, and farming. He envisioned the creation of farming communes where people could grow organic food, pray together, and offer hospitality to travellers and the poor. The Catholic Worker farms aimed to put these ideals into practice, growing food not only for their residents but also for those in need.
Over the years, Catholic Worker farms have faced financial and operational challenges, but they continue to carry out works of mercy and promote Gospel nonviolence in line with Dorothy Day's vision. Today, there are multiple Catholic Worker farms across the country, including the Peter Maurin Farm in Marlboro, New York, acquired in 1979, which provides fresh produce for Catholic Worker houses and those in need.
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The farms were established to grow food for the poor and to put their faith into action
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 claims over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services, with each house having a different mission suited to its local region.
The Catholic Worker farms, which began to spring up in the 1930s, were established to put their faith into action by growing food for the poor and marginalised in society. On a bright spring day in 1936, a group of Catholic Workers left New York City in search of land to plant the seeds of a new social order. They found a 28-acre parcel of land outside Easton, Pennsylvania, which became their first farm, named Maryfarm. The farm produced canned vegetables and fruits, some of which were sent back to the breadlines in the city.
The establishment of these farms was inspired by Peter Maurin's vision of a "Green Revolution", which harkened back to the medieval Irish monks who combined "cult, culture, and cultivation". Maurin advocated for the creation of farming communes where people could grow organic food, pray together, and offer hospitality to the poor and wayfarers in "Christ rooms".
Over the years, Catholic Worker farms have faced financial and operational struggles, but they continue to carry out works of mercy and promote Gospel nonviolence. The farms provide a space for rest and recovery, as well as an opportunity to learn homesteading skills and put faith into action. Today, the Peter Maurin Farm in Marlboro, New York, acquired in 1979, is a 50-acre farm that concentrates on a large gardening operation to provide fresh produce for its residents and other Catholic Worker houses.
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The farms are based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded 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 based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism, with a focus on hospitality towards those on society's margins.
The movement's co-founder, Peter Maurin, envisioned a "Green Revolution" that harkened back to the medieval Irish monks who combined "cult, culture, and cultivation". This revolution centered on creating farming communes where people could grow organic food, pray together, and offer hospitality to travellers and the poor in "Christ rooms". The first Catholic Worker farm, named Maryfarm, was established in 1936 on a 28-acre parcel of land outside Easton, Pennsylvania.
One example of a Catholic Worker Farm is the Peter Maurin Farm in Marlboro, New York. Acquired in 1979, the 50-acre farm focuses on a large gardening operation that provides fresh produce for its residents and other Catholic Worker houses. The farm has space for 15 people and accommodates those who are physically or psychologically vulnerable.
Another example is the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. This farm started with the simple goal of growing food for the poor, but its mission quickly expanded. It welcomes anyone who wants to participate and learn homesteading skills. The farm also serves as a place to put their faith into action, inspired by the theological and philosophical roots of the Catholic Worker Movement.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Catholic Worker farm, Maryfarm, was established in 1936.
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933.
The Catholic Worker Movement's philosophy is rooted in Christian anarchism, with all authority coming from God rather than the state. The movement advocates for nonviolence, opposes war, and seeks to address the unequal global distribution of wealth.
The farms provide a space for growing organic food, praying, and offering hospitality to travelers and the poor. They also serve as a place of rest for those in need and promote Gospel nonviolence.
