The Catholic Worker House, called Mercy House

(August 3, 2014 - Article #1 of 3)

Did You Know that Ann Arbor has a Catholic Worker House, called Mercy House?

We will have a special collection to support Mercy House the weekend of Augsut 16/17.  If you will be gone that weekend, you can still donate!  Just send your donation to Scott Wright at the parish office.  Make checks payable to “St. Francis parish” with “Mercy House” in the memo line.

You may be asking, “What’ is a Catholic Worker House?”  Here’s some history:

The Catholic Worker movement began with a meeting in 1932 between Peter Maurin, an itinerant French worker-scholar and undocumented immigrant (who was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi) and Dorothy Day, a journalist and Catholic convert (who had passion, energy, and commitment to the idea).  The movement is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person. 

Today, more than 225 Catholic Worker communities are committed to nonviolence; voluntary poverty; prayer; and hospitality for all who are homeless and forsaken.  Houses of hospitality provide a direct personal response to the wounded in a community by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The movement publishes a paper, The Catholic Worker, seven times a year.  First sold in New York City in 1933, today a subscription (hard copy only) costs 25 cents per year.  Donations over that amount go to the hospitality houses associated with the paper, Maryhouse and St. Joseph House.

Dorothy Day was introduced for canonization by Cardinal John O’Connor in the year 2000, and the US Bishops unanimously recommended her for canonization at their 2012 annual meeting.  She currently has the title Servant of God.  In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI cited her as an example of conversion.

Mark and Louise Zwick say Dorothy Day’s life was “a unique model of action and contemplation, works of justice and charity, a day-to-day living of the Gospel, and a commitment to the poorest among us and to making the world a better place for all.”

For more information on the Catholic Worker movement or to subscribe to the paper, visit the website: www.catholicworker.org. 

You can learn more about Dorothy Day and her writings in St. Francis Parish Library.

Find collection envelops in your pew seat on the weekend of the collection, August 16/17.

Next week we will introduce you to Mercy House!

~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~
-

(August 10, 2014 - Article #2 of 3)

Did You Know that Ann Arbor has a Catholic Worker House, called Mercy House?

We will have a special collection to support Mercy House the weekend of Aug 16/17.  If you will gone that weekend, you can still donate!  Just send your donation to Scott Wright at the parish office.  Make checks payable to “St. Francis parish” with “Mercy House” in the memo line.

Last week, we gave a history of the Catholic Worker movement.

Now you may be asking, “What is Mercy House? Why does it exist?”

The original Mercy House is the home of an Ann Arbor resident (and St. Mary's parishioner) that opened its doors to the homeless.  It’s a refuge during the day for Washtenaw County residents who need shelter from the weather, as well as companionship and amenities.  In the tradition of the Dorothy Day’s Hospitality Houses, Mercy House provides:

·         Shower & laundry facilities

·         Emergency housing

·         Food, clothing, and camping supplies donated by folks like you (guests can cook a meal and can visit pantries to buy nonperishable food to take home with them—usually smaller amounts they can carry on the bus)

About a year ago, MISSION, the non-profit that partnered with Camp Take Notice, bought property on Stone School Road and Mercy House 2 was created.  Working with the original Mercy House, "Stone School Mercy House" has become the hub for the daily activities, while overnight accommodations continue at the original location.  The Stone School house is open for drop-in on Tuesdays–Fridays 10am-5pm, and Sundays 12-8pm.

Large group meetings on Sundays include a free meal at around 5:45pm, delivered by a rotating group of local churches.  Attendees can get bus tokens and a ride home in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area.

Both locations provide friendship, guidance, and service projects.  The community is dedicated to fostering relationships of kindness, gentleness, generosity, and mercy, and to supporting and encouraging each other in works of mercy.

Mercy House has partnered with the nonprofit, MISSION A2, for financial support and guidance.  Your donations are therefore tax deductible.

To learn more, visit, or make donations, go to the Mercy House Facebook page or the MISSION A2 website at www.missiona2.org.

Next week, you will learn how you can support Mercy House!

Find collection envelops in your pew seat on the weekend of the collection, August 16/17.

~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~

-

(August 17, 2014 - Article #3 of 3)

Did You Know that Ann Arbor has a Catholic Worker House, called Mercy House?

We are having a special collection to support Mercy House this weekend, Augsut 16/17.  If you can’t donate today, you can turn in a donation during next week’s regular collection.  Or you can send a donation to Scott Wright at the parish office.  Make checks payable to “St. Francis parish” with “Mercy House” in the memo line.

Last week, we gave an overview of Mercy House.

Now you may be asking, “How can I support Mercy House?”

A couple came to Mercy House Thursday.  Former residents of the tent community, Camp Take Notice, they recently found themselves back on the street after her landlord was unable or unwilling to wait an extra month until her student loan came through.  Their tent had flooded in a rain storm and they needed to shower and wash their bedding.  She had sprained her ankle in the frenetic packing after eviction and hoped to borrow some crutches and get some ibuprofen to deal with the pain and swelling.  They were juggling their lives around, starting to think again of a tent as "home".  A hot meal and the listening ear they found at Mercy House helped.

What would YOU do if you had no place to sleep tonight?  If you found yourself living in a tent without easy access to do laundry or a shower?

Among the many things your special collection donations will provide is direct humanitarian aid like tents, water, food—and keeping the lights on and the shower water running!  If you wonder how you can support Mercy House beyond the special collection, here are ways to be involved.

Pray:  for those who have no safe place to sleep and those compassionate enough to help them

Donate:  The Mercy House Wish List is managed by the nonprofit organization, MISSION A2, so your donations are tax deductible.  The Wish List includes:

·         Bus tokens

·         A 12-15 passenger van (used or new)

·         Laptop computers, iPads, and software

·         Lawnmower, weed-whip, and snow blower

·         Humanitarian items like food, propane (especially in the cold!), and camping supplies

Volunteer:  Mercy House always needs volunteers!  It's a great way to get to know the community.  We need drivers, folks to organize the donation room, gardeners (for weeding, etc.), an American Sign Language interpreter......the list goes on.  What is your gift?  The residents of Mercy House and MISSION board members can help you plug in where it best fits for you.

Advocate:  Contact your city and county elected officials to tell them you support creating more affordable housing (which is desperately needed in our community)

Learn More:  Visit the Mercy House Facebook page or the MISSION A2 website at www.missiona2.org.

Harassment Does Not End Homelessness......

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP

Learn how you can make a difference:  http://www.missiona2.org or http://campmisfit.wordpress.com

"Don't talk about it; be about it" (Tim)

Find collection envelops in your pew seat this weekend, August 16/17.

~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~  ~~~~~~

-