Fwd: House of Grace Catholic Worker Summer Update

[Catholic Worker]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Mary Beth Appel <eini...@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Subject: House of Grace Catholic Worker Summer Update
To: catholicworker list <catholicw...@gmail.com>

Please share with CW list. Thank you 

House of Grace Catholic Worker Community of Kensington August 20, 2025 Dear Friends, We write to you with hearts full of gratitude. We are relieved to be beyond the summer heat-wave, and to be breathing the deeply refreshing cool air. At the same time, we worry about the rising threats in this political moment against immigrants and the unhoused, who’s rights are being violated. We are mindful of the suffering of people all over the world. A quote by Dorothy Day captures the truth as events in our world are overwhelmingly sad, and heartless cruelty, oppression, and greed are more pervasive than ever: “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us.” Our friend Julia Occhiogrosso of the Las Vegas Catholic Worker recently published an article “Social Teachings and the Catholic Worker” that first appeared in their newsletter, Manna. It contains a synopsis of the seven essential themes of Catholic Social teaching—Recognizing the Life and Dignity of the Person, The Call to Family, Community and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Solidarity, and Care for God’s Creation. It was a refreshing read considering the daily barrage of hatred we see and experience. At the clinic, we continue to provide care for people who are unhoused, living with mental illness, suffer from substance use disorder, and lack of access to care. We offer healthcare, showers, hygiene products, and advocacy to those living on the streets.   Most importantly, we continue to provide a place for people to just come and sit, so people can find respite in a welcoming, non-judgemental space. We realize there are times that the only real thing we can offer is patience, presence, kindness, and a listening ear. We know of the many challenges in health care and psychiatry that people who are unhoused face. Recently, Christopher Landry, a community psychiatrist in practice in New York City and associate medical director at Fountain House, wrote an article “A doctor reflects on control, vulnerability and living in relationship” for America Magazine. Christopher has visited our clinic before and even mentioned the Catholic Worker Free Clinic! We appreciate that he mentions us and our personalist relational approach. With the recent action of the Trump Administration to criminialize homelessness, we asked Will O’Brien, coordinator of the Alternative Seminary, to write the following article “From the Streets to the Warehouse.” In his article, Will describes how Trump’s recent executive order “calls for ‘re-institutionalization,’ taking us back sixty-plus years to an ugly episode in our national history: inhumanely warehousing unwanted and suffering people.” We are quite scared at this development, and hope you might consider what we can do to stop this—from advocacy to resistance. The highlight so far this summer was our trip to the Phillies v. Red Sox game. Not because we won – we didn’t. The Phillies hit five home runs, but ended up losing 9-8 in extra innings. Despite the loss, it was a great game on a beautiful evening. Thanks to the generosity of one of our faithful volunteers, 46 people from clinic were able to attend. For some, it was their very first game. Spirits were high after each home run,  and every hoagie was enjoyed. It was such a lovely break from the neighborhood, and the suffering that people endure. We are grateful to all of our faithful volunteers who show up with open hearts each week. We wish our departing Bryn Mawr post-bac student and other student volunteers all the best. These students come each week for the school year and are a tremendous help. As they launch their medical careers, it is our hope that their experience with us offers a perspective on how to humanely provide care for the most marginalized among us. We are excited to welcome a new team for the upcoming year. In these deeply troubling days, we feel so blessed to be part of a faithful, loving community who care about their sisters and brothers; who seek peace and work for justice. We are truly grateful for your presence in our lives and your support of our work. In hope and peace, Johanna Berrigan Mary Beth Appel We are running low on supplies! We would appreciate anything you could contribute from the list below. High Priority Items: Dentist willing to volunteer Disposable razors Hotel sized toiletries-soap, shampoo, lotion Men's new white athletic socks Large bottles of lotion, shampoo and body wash We are also looking for the following items: Generic multi-vitamins Vitamin C 500 mg tablets Acetaminophen 325 mg or 500 mg tabs Washcloths Personal sized deodorant Toothbrushes Toothpaste                 Body powder Shaving cream   Over the counter reading glasses Pump hand soap for bathrooms   Bleach and laundry detergent Money to buy prescription medicines Bath towels- gently used is fine Used paperback novels-for lending library Copyright (C) 2025 House of Grace Catholic Worker. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: House of Grace Catholic Worker 1826 E Lehigh Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125-1112 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe