Marion Maendel came to the Houston Catholic Worker from the Bruderhof movement. She lives and works in the women’s and children’s house. There is a sentiment presently circulating among social agencies and
 church organizations that hospitality is out of style. Cleverly
 advertised, innovative new counseling programs for abused and homeless women are in. Shelter is… continue reading

Q.: Are you in favor of immigration? A.: Absolutely not! We oppose undocumented immigration because it
 destroys families, separates parents and children and ruins marriages. Q.: That doesn’t sound like someone who has had over 30,000 immigrants
 pass through their doors, does it? A.: We pick up the pieces, as it were. After people are… continue reading

John Bosco was born August 16, 1815. From as early as nine years of age he had a sense of his vocation: to be a friend to youth and to emanate
 the Love of Christ such that many young people would want to receive
 this gracious Love. Through many trials of misunderstanding and
 political jealousies,… continue reading

It was mind boggling. We were sitting in this beautiful dining room
 meeting one gracious woman after another, all bright blue-eyed and all
 asking about our work. Sister Loyola Hegerty, former Mother Superior, made a point of
 introducing us to all these Sisters of Charity and bragging on us, how
 we have served thousands of… continue reading

Justin Vorbach was a teacher in Seattle for two years before coming to 
live at Casa Juan Diego as a Catholic Worker. I came to work at Casa Juan Diego in August. The past six months have 
been challenging but ultimately very rewarding. One rewarding
 experience has been studying U.S. history with Jacobo, a sixteen-year-old… continue reading

Fr. Edwin Correa, who keeps his promise he made when he was a
 volunteer seminarian at Casa Juan Diego, to return to celebrate the
 liturgy each month for refugees, brought a couple with a four-day-old
 baby and a two-year-old who were living on the street. With Fr. Edwin, no questions are necessary. Wedding of Presbyterian,… continue reading

Q.: What is “band-aid” work? A.: It is a word invented by those who believe we shouldn’t help poor people with things, but focus on the structures that cause their poverty. Giving them things is “band-aid work.” To those who believe this, the only real help is changing structures. Mother Teresa does not appeal to them…. continue reading

Christy is a Catholic Worker and graduate of the Univerity of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Last week a seven-year-old boy staying with his battered mother and younger sister asked me something which I will never forget. He asked me, “Is this the house of God?” It wasn’t the first time I had heard Casa Juan Diego referred to in… continue reading

The stories of the men are incredible. They must endure so much suffering just to arrive at our door, beaten down and flat broke. Many have problems eating, because they haven’t eaten for days, and their digestive systems are out of whack. Others come with scratches and cuts from the cactus that they accidently dove into when they heard… continue reading