Los Angeles Catholic Worker

I just recently returned from visiting the Open Door Community, on my way to attend the annual SOA Protest at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. I was greeted with an over-flowing of love and hospitality so emblematic of Catholic Worker Communities.

What struck me the most was that during my short five day stay, I personally witnessed each of the six Works of Mercy listed in Matthew 25 taking place. I was able to help Tony cook and serve the soup for their Thursday lunch meal. On Saturday I was able to ride along for their monthy Hardwick Prison trip providing transportation to low-income families to visit relatives locked up in Georgia State Prisons. Many of these families would otherwise be unable to make the trip themselves either for lack of a vehicle or due to rising gasoline prices. While the families were visiting at the prison a group of us took the opportunity to visit Flanery O’Conner’s historic home in Milledgeville.

On Sunday we drove to Columbus Georgia for the SOA Protest, where I ran into former interns Elizabeth Henricks (’05), and Chris Knesrick (’04); former LACW Community Member Sheila McCarthey, former Los Angeles JVC Sara Suman and many others.

The trip ended on a high note on Monday with a protest action outside of the grand opening of Atlanta’s new aquarium. I was amazed at how colorful their signs/costumes were, and how well they integrated singing into their protest. Especially Chad’s wonderful voice starting off the protest with This Little Light of Mine.

What struck me the most is how much the Open Door Community is exactly the same as the Los Angeles Catholic Worker only completely different. Photos from my trip can be seen here.
–David Gardner

LACW community member, David Gardner, while visiting the Open Door Community in Atlanta, joined their protest action outside of Atlanta’s new $280 million aquarium. A local reporter was on hand and interviewed him and the qoute ended up in the local paper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The article can be read online here, although he remembers sounding more articulate at the time of the interview, however sounding inteligent and wearing a giant shark head don’t always go hand-in-hand.

On the night of November 5th, several of us at the Los Angeles Catholic Worker were pleased to attend Alverno High School’s rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream staring one of our youngest volunteers, Sophie Goldstein, as Puck. It was a great production using the original script with modern stage/costumes. Appearing in the photo from left to right: Christian Belt, Clare Bellefeuille-Rice, Sarah Grab, Faustino Cruz, Sophie Goldstein (in costume), Megan Fincher and David Gardner.

We are happy to welcome the two most recent additions to our community, Christian Belt and Sarah Grab. Both are from Germany, and are enrolled in a six month community service program in the United States sponsored by The International Fellowship of Reconciliation. While Sarah was placed at our community, Christian is currently on loan to us from our Sister House in Orange County.

Friday, December 2, 7p.m. @ The Chapel, Mt. St. Mary’s Doheny Campus.
Please join the LACW and others for the Annual Memorial for the Martyrs, held on the date of the murder of the four North American women in El Salvador twenty-five years ago. For more information please call (626) 345-1666.

Wednesday, November 23, 6 p.m. @ The Los Angeles Catholic Worker
Please join us for a Thanksgiving vigil mass with Fr. Greg Boyle, the prophetic minister of hope and healing in the barrio and founder of Homeboy Industries. For more information, please call (323) 267-8789.