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April 2021
Romero House Catholic Worker
...a community of people who live sustainably, creatively, and in solidarity with those in our Ames community seeking refuge or spiritual sanctuary
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Backyard Makeover Begins!
Even if Spring can't make up its mind to give us warm weather, we made up ours to recreate our backyard as a center for gathering, relaxing, and worshiping. When we bought the 709 Clark house, the backyard was a blank slate but with dying trees, broken fencing,
uneven grading, and no foliage. It is a really big backyard with much potential, but so much of it was not being used. Throughout this newsletter you will see the many projects our backyard is undergoing!
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Back Fence In!
With our chickens being terrorized by Gunnar and frequently escaping into the busy streets of Ames, we decided to finally finish our back alley-facing privacy fence. We were able to install 80 feet of 6 ft fencing within two days using equipment given to us
by Bobcat of Ames. Now that we are done with our fencing project, or backyard really does feel one step closer to a gathering space. The hens also have their own separate space, away from Gunnar. The only remaining thing to do on the fence is to stain it with
our other fencing.
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Patio Started!
Since we often have our Saturday meals in the backyard, we thought to designate a paved space in the form of a council circle around a fire pit. Honestly, we were just sick of our shoes and lawn chairs getting caked with mud. Everyone in the house has stepped
up to begin this project and see out its completion within a few weeks hopefully. Our plan is to have 800 square feet of paved surface to use for gathering with a concrete seat wall and path from the front yard. On both sides of our patio we will need a lot
of mulch and plantings to stop erosion and weed growth. Do you have any plants you can donate?
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Outdoor Carpentry Projects
Dom and Rigby begin work on our brand new picnic table above. We will also be building a bike 'port' off of the chicken coop and an outdoor swing and bench for sitting outside. We would be open to any help in these projects if you have skills or time to share.
We have most of the lumber that we need but still have a few odds and ends that we are looking for like hardware and common tools.
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Mental Health First Aid Trained
Thank you to the Ames and ISU Police Department for leading our Mental health First Aid Training that several of our residents and team members attended! We learned SO much about our own struggles and those of the ones near to us. There was so much information
shared about how we can handle situations that arise and help lead our friends into the care they might need. We will probably be doing another training session later this year so if you are interested, please email us to be put on that list.
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Can you give us work?
Like every newsletter, we still have a house full of able-bodied men looking for wholesome work! Do you have any jobs you need help with? With spring cleaning here, you are bound to need paid help!
Several of our guests have backgrounds in specialty trades that might be helpful for you around your house. If this is the case, please give us a call at 515-337-1152. See below for the list of skills we have:
- Landscaping/lawn care
- Painting (indoor/outdoor)
- Pet care
- Carpentry
- General Construction
- So many other things...
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Our April Needs
For those who are unaware, we have a website with a constantly updated list of items and goods that we are in need of at the Romero House. Here are a few notable needs for us through this coming month if you would like to get involved this way.
- Tools- we have a lot of projects that we are working on, but need more common tools to complete them. See below list
- Tape measures, square, garden tools, reciprocating saw, drills or drivers,
- Exterior 2 and 3 inch screws- Need to build our bike garage and outdoor swing. We need a lot of screws for this.
- Deck and Fence Stain- Our new fence needs stain along with our deck. We have almost 1800 square feet of wood that needs stained.
- Plants and Trees, grass seed for backyard landscaping-
Our backyard is a mud pit right now and we need some foliage! Contact Matt for more details!
- Chainsaw and Splitting Maul- This is for next winter's wood stove, which will be our primary source of heat
- Board Games (not lame ones)
- DVDs- we love movie watching on our projector
- Books - we are kind of picky with books, but let us know if you have some you think would be good for us. We enjoy fun books, to-do books, or weird ones!
- Liturgy of the Hours Breviaries- these are a compilation of prayers throughout the liturgical year we enjoy reciting together
- Community Song Books- Do we need to say anything else? We like singing!
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Catholic Worker Presentation and Roundtable
Lead by Alberto Palmero Cantón and Matt Mitchell this Wednesday!
Every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1pm there is a virtual 'lunch and learn' hosted by the Mustard Seed Farm Community and The Romero House open to the public. Below is the next opportunity to learn:
- April 14th- Roundtable Discussion
- Hosted by Romero House Live-Ins
- Discussion is surrounding the culture of 'volunteerism' and how the Catholic Worker seeks to redefine how we 'serve' others without creating a class boundary. Zoom link
here. Facebook event
here
Visit the farm's website
here for information about future Lunch and Learns |
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Albert Wade, our resident poet with his son Elijah |
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Poem by Albert Wade, Resident
Letter to My Unborn Child
I know that you're scared;
I'd be scared too.
Knowing you couldn't stop
What she is doing to you.
Not knowing what it was
That you did so wrong
You didn't ask to be made
But you were made to go along
Nine months you have to struggle
Your life in a shifting bubble
Some days you felt
Like you might be free
Sometimes the voice you heard, it was me
I'm so sorry for the times
Your Mother and I would fight
You got bumped around I know
And that wasn't right.
I know of a few times
When there was perfect peace
My hands on her belly
Singing you both to sleep.
Reality is you and I
May never get to meet
Things between your mother and I;
I couldn't compete.
I'm sorry little one
I had to walk away
No more love existed between us
So your mother began to stray.
At some point,
I don't know when,
Her drugging never stopped
Sadly I knew then.
That she mattered more to herself
Then you ever would
My unborn child,
If only you could.
Could have screamed loud enough
To wake us both up.
Let it be known
You are in there alone
Needing to be protected
Not disrespected and neglected.
I pray for you every night
I ask God, if you are alright
To do for you, what
I'm not able
To keep you safe
And your life stable.
My last thought,
I write to you.
If it becomes possible
I will come for you.
Remember Daddy loves you oh so much
My unborn child you've
Been through enough.
11/15/2020 |
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