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Two Hours in the Life of a Catholic Worker at Casa Juan Diego in Houston

I am often asked what we do here at Casa Juan Diego. My usual answer is we provide hospitality to new immigrants from around the world, which means we live in community together and care for each other. Yet this is just a part of our work; we also serve and respond to the larger… continue reading

Good Food Isn’t a Luxury at Casa Juan Diego in Houston

In Javier Zamora’s memoir Solito about his “trip” in 1999 as a lone, nine year-old from El Salvador to the United States to join his parents, he recalls the few tasty meals he ate during his harrowing six-week journey that took three attempts to get across the U.S.-Mexico border. There was the fried, fresh fish… continue reading

Pope Francis writes Preface to Dorothy Day’s book, From Union Square to Rome, in new Italian edition

Pope Francis writes the preface to the Italian edition of Dorothy Day’s autobiography, entitled, “I found God through His poor. From atheism to faith: my inner journey” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana-LEV). Dorothy Day (1897-1980), founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, journalist, writer, pacifist and activist, is remembered for her commitment to the poor and social justice…. continue reading

All Things Bright and Beautiful: Reflections on God’s Transforming Love at Casa Juan Diego

Kacie came to Casa Juan Diego as a Catholic Worker after graduating from the University  of Notre Dame to spend the better part of a year here before going to medical school. It is 3 o’clock in the morning. While the tight-knit team of Catholic Workers would normally be fast asleep – exhausted from the… continue reading

The Crown of Martyrdom, the Cult of the Dead, and Recent Martyrs

Martyrs for the Faith – Then and Now Some of the most well-known martyrs who died for their faith are from the earliest years of the Church – beginning with Jesus the Christ himself and then Stephen and many others martyred in Roman times. Over the centuries, Christians have continued to face persecution and martyrdom…. continue reading

Veronica’s Veil – Working Amidst Impossible Situations at the Houston Catholic Worker

Marjorie began  as a Catholic Worker at Casa Juan Diego this past summer after her graduation from Saint Francis University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Catholic tradition, there is a saint named Veronica who, as the story goes, was so overcome by the sight of Jesus carrying his cross on the road to be crucified that… continue reading

The Visitor: Recognizing Jesus in Disguise at the parish

One Sunday in July, at my parish church, a homeless man sat on a bench outside. Just before Mass started, he walked in to attend. Then, after Mass, he stood under an awning where his fellow congregants greeted one another. He was ignored. Yet everywhere this man sat or stood, Christ was present in his… continue reading

Through Hell to Hope: Migrants Trying to Reach the USA

On September 23, 2022, my husband, my daughter and I decided to undertake a journey for a better future, for a better quality of life.  We are from Venezuela, but had been living in Peru.  Everything was going well when we started out in Peru, then Ecuador.  Our nightmare began in Colombia.  We entered into… continue reading

Our Guadalupe Truck Disappeared – Update

Update  Phone calls before 6 am are not so unusual for Casa Juan Diego, but it isn’t usually the police calling. The Baytown, Texas, night shift was calling to let us know that we could pick up our stolen truck from the impound yard. It had been reported as abandoned in a local bank parking… continue reading

On Pilgrimage and the Three Magi

“So now tomorrow I start off again ‘on pilgrimage,’ for we have here no abiding city.”   [Dorothy Day, On Pilgrimage, Eerdmans] Over many decades, Dorothy Day’s column in The Catholic Worker was entitled “On Pilgrimage.” It seems that she viewed her whole life as a pilgrimage. In her columns and in her book, On Pilgrimage,… continue reading