Dorothy Day and The Catholic Worker: The Miracle of Our Continuance. Photographs by Vivian Cherry, Text by Dorothy Day, Edited, with an Introduction and additional text by Kate Hennessy Reviewed by Susan Gallagher More than 80 years have passed since the founding of the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933 and despite myriad challenges, its work… continue reading
Mark Zwick’s Acts of Faith: Shelter From the Storm
October 20, 2017 by
Reprinted with permission from the Houston Press, January 3, 1991 Photography by Janice Rubin Thursday morning, Casa Juan Diego looks like a border Welcome Wagon. Nearly 100 Hispanic women crowd inside the front doors, toting young children. Their dress is shabby, but their faces are bright and smiling. The din of staccato, Spanish-speaking voices… continue reading
A Well-Founded Fear of Persecution: Cruel Setback for Asylum Seeker
October 18, 2017 by
Every day at Casa Juan Diego we encounter a world economic system that is out of balance. On one hand, we live in one of the world’s most affluent cities in one of the world’s most affluent nations. It is hard not to notice that many people in Houston, including us Catholic Workers, have… continue reading
Serving the Poor at the Casa Juan Diego Clinic: Entering the Wounds of Jesus
October 1, 2017 by
Holly came to Casa Juan Diego as a Catholic Worker after her graduation as a nurse from Villanova University. Being a Catholic Worker means rising every morning and, like Moses, heeding God’s call to “remove the sandals from my feet,” for truly the place where I stand is holy ground (Exodus 3:5). All day long,… continue reading
Three “Marks”: St. Mark the Evangelist, Mark Zwick the Worker, and the New Baby
May 7, 2017 by
Julia joined us as a Catholic Worker at Casa Juan Diego after graduating from Tulane University. One day during the fall, Louise told me she was reading the Gospel of St. Luke from beginning to end during Mark Zwick’s last months. I had never done this before so I thought, with someone to hold… continue reading
Communion of Saints, Cornerstone of the Catholic Worker: The Heart Is Made for Heroism
April 24, 2017 by
The day after Mark’s funeral (Mark Zwick, December 22, 1927-November 18, 2016) Father Rafael Dávila mentioned that our Wednesday night liturgy on that day would be the first time that Mark accompanied us at Mass from heaven. His comment brought to us a new level of awareness of the Communion of Saints, enshrined in Church… continue reading
Do You Really See the Face of Jesus in the Poor At the Houston Catholic Worker?
February 21, 2017 by
This article was first published in the Houston Catholic Worker in February 1986. It was a beautiful day with the early morning sun streaming through the stained glass windows and glancing off the faces of the packed congregation. Everything and everybody seemed so bright and shiny. Even I felt that way, used clothing and all…. continue reading
“If We Had Any Guts We’d Start a Catholic Worker House”: Reflections at the Vigil Service for Mark Zwick
February 7, 2017 by
We are here to celebrate the life of Mark Zwick and his remarkable example of servant leadership. Mark laid the foundation for Casa Juan Diego which has fed and sheltered tens of thousands of people over the last 36 years. He founded a newspaper and with his wife Louise coauthored books illuminating the pilgrimage… continue reading
Why Are We Called Catholic Worker? On the Origins of the Catholic Worker Movement
November 11, 2016 by
The Houston Catholic Worker is rejected by some because of its name. Some reject it because of the word “Catholic.” Others because of the word “Worker”. Others say they would never pick up a paper with such a name. The word “Houston” is not a problem: the paper is written for the people of Texas… continue reading
Communion: A New Easy Essay
November 6, 2016 by
1. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us in teaching 1397 that the Eucharist commits us to the poor. 2. Dorothy quoted Fr. Lacouture: “If we cannot see Jesus in the poor man, we surely cannot see Him under the poverty-stricken veils of bread.” 3. In both the Mass and in sharing a meal with a poor… continue reading
