Casa Alma: the Charlottesville Catholic Worker

Sabbath Sharing

2011-11-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

As we prepare for a quieter winter rhythm, we've discerned a need for a deeper discipline of observing the Sabbath. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, we'll be observing the Sabbath in a more intentional way. Would you like to join us? Visit www.sabbathsharing.org for more details and to share encouragement and ideas in finding rest and renewal before God.

Alternative Giving Fairs

2011-11-18T14:31:00.001-05:00

This weekend (11/19-20) and the first weekend in December (12/3-4), Casa Alma will participate in the alternative giving fairs at St. Thomas Aquinas and the Church of the Incarnation, respectively. We will be present at each church following the weekend liturgies to answer questions about the Catholic Worker, distribute newsletters, and invite folks to make a donation to Casa Alma as a holiday gift to a friend or loved one. Contact us (cvillecw@gmail.com) for more information or to make a gift donation.

Fall newsletter available

2011-11-18T14:28:00.001-05:00

Casa Alma has published our latest newsletter and would like to send it to you! If you aren't already on our mailing list, please send your address to cvillecw@gmail.com. We print a newsletter just twice a year, and ask that you pass it on to a friend when you are finished reading it, helping us to spread the word about Casa Alma. Thanks!!

Fall events

2011-11-18T13:51:00.001-05:00

It's been a busy fall at Casa Alma: we've stuccoed the soon-to-be second house of hospitality, added a large garden bed, and completed some needed house repairs, thanks to many dedicated volunteers. Our Friday supper series, which ends this evening (11/18), has been a wonderful time of building community through pot-luck suppers, discussions, and games. We'll host another supper series in the spring and hope to see you there.

Friday Supper Series

2011-09-02T15:57:00.001-04:00

From September 23 - November 18, we're hosting a weekly Friday supper from 5:30-8:30pm. Come get to know the extended Casa Alma community! We'll prepare a simple supper together beginning at 5:30pm, eat around 6:30pm and spend time in community building activities, discussions, games, and/or service projects until 8:30pm. RSVP's aren't required, but are appreciated! Feel free to attend any part of the evening. Donations of beans, rice, produce, or bread for future suppers are most welcome! Contact us for more information.

Summer Roundtable Series

2011-06-17T14:22:00.001-04:00

You're invited to join us for a 6-week roundtable discussion series on the topic of Christianity, creativity, and Creation organized by summer volunteers Claire and Christine Hitchens. Through weekly readings and participation in group discussion and prayer, we will explore the intersection of faith, art, and the environment in the Christian call to stewardship.

Meetings will be held June 20, 27, July 11,18, 25, and Aug 1 from 7pm - 8:30pm, with the location to be determined based upon the size of the group. For questions and to R.S.V.P contact Claire Hitchins cmh4ej@virginia.edu by Saturday June 18th. We hope you'll be able to join us!

"There is no material or subject in Creation that in using, we are excused from using well; there is no work in which we are excused from being able and responsible artists" .
--Wendell Berry, Christianity and the Survival of Creation.

"God is constantly creating, in us, through us, with us, and to co-create with God is our human calling."
--Madeline L'Engel, Walking on Water

New Name!

2011-06-17T14:21:00.000-04:00

We've adopted a new name! We wanted to add something to our name to make it more warm and welcoming and to convey a sense of the personality of our developing community. We chose “Casa Alma” because of it’s personal significance to co-founders, Laura and Steve, and because of the gentle and lovely meanings of the words themselves.

In Spanish, “casa” means “home”, and “alma” means soul or spirit. It is important to us that those who are recent immigrants to the United States, especially those who speak Spanish, would recognize the Catholic Worker as a place of refuge and grace.

In Latin, the traditional language of the Catholic Church, “alma” means nourishing or nurturing. Both within the Catholic community and beyond, we hope that Casa Alma will come to be known as a place of welcome and of nourishment, both physically and spiritually.

On a personal level, Alma is the name of Steve’s late great-Aunt, whose inheritance, passed along to us by Steve’s parents, provided much of the down payment on the three Nassau Street houses. In this way we remember Aunt Alma and the wonderful ways in which small things can be transformed into things beyond our hopes and visions through the immense creating power of the Holy Spirit.

The logo for Casa Alma was generously created and donated by Melissa Montañez, a mother of two young children who is not only pursuing her Master’s degree in Web Design and New Media, but is also launching her own business. Please help us show our thanks to her by recommending her work! Contact her through: http://melissamontanez.com/portfolio2/home.html

May 1 Celebration!

2011-04-10T19:56:00.002-04:00

Please join us for an afternoon of celebration, family fun, and community building on Sunday, May 1 from 2:00-5:00pm! We'll begin the gathering with an opening prayer and welcome at 2:15pm, and continue to enjoy the day with activities, field games in Rives Park, music and refreshments.

If you'd like to RSVP and lend a hand with the activities or help by bringing food, please visit:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/may1celebration

(While you'll be offered the opportunity to sign up for an account, it isn't necessary. We'll keep you updated via email as needed.)

We look forward to seeing you here!

It's already spring...!?

2011-03-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

Since the last blog posting, life at the Catholic Worker has continued to grow and expand into so many directions! We are now providing hospitality for a single mother and her son, preparing to host two incredible live-in volunteers, expanding the gardens, exploring intentional faith community, preparing to add dairy goats to the backyard, and thankfully, we're getting to know many enthusiastic folks who are joining us in doing all this work.

Beginning this spring, we are hosting monthly open houses and service days. All are welcome to come for a visit on the first Sunday of each month from 2-5pm; or, come to lend a hand in the gardens or houses on the third Saturday of each month from 2-5pm. Contact us at 434-409-0804 for more information and directions, and please do bring a friend.

Within the next month, we hope to launch a new website and a new blog which better captures all the dimensions of this Catholic Worker effort. Look for prayers, reflections, and articles from our extended community, more photos, and timely news and updates. Until then, we hope you enjoy the spring as much as we do - what an incredible time of new possibility it is!

Roundtable Discussion Series: Prophets

2010-09-06T21:41:00.001-04:00

Join us for the fall discussion series on September 20, October 11, and November 15 from 7:00-8:30pm at Sojourners United Church of Christ (1017 Elliott Avenue, with ample parking). Each gathering will include prayer, presentation and group discussion.

Topics include:
September 20: Prophets in the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures
Who are the prophets in the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures?; What is their message, and what is the context of that message? What are the parallels between their social context and ours? We will look at the major and minor prophets and how they fit in with the rest of the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures, focusing on Isaiah.

October 11: Jesus as Prophet
We claim that Jesus is “priest, prophet, and king,” but how do we understand Jesus as a prophet, and place him within the prophetic tradition? In what ways were Jesus’ words and actions prophetic? How is Jesus both similar to yet unique among the other prophets in the Scriptures?

November 15: Prophets Today
Who are the prophets in our time? What is the role of prophetic tradition in our current context? What is our relationship with and response to the prophetic messages from our Scriptures? How do we respond to the challenge to speak and act prophetically?

The material presented will primarily draw upon the work of Dr. Richard Clifford, SJ (professor of Old Testament at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry), Walter Bruggemann, Richard Rohr, OFM and Joan Chittister, OSB. Many thanks to Rhonda Miska, for sharing her skills and knowledge as our guide and facilitator!! We hope to see you there!

Yard Sale a success!

2010-09-06T21:32:00.001-04:00

The first Catholic Worker yard sale to benefit the houses of hospitality was a great success, raising nearly $6,000 to support housing for homeless families. Many thanks to all who donated household items, and to the many people who volunteered their time to sort, price, and move items before and on the day of the sale.

We found this fundraiser to be particularly positive for the Catholic Worker, in that it helped us to build and strengthen our extended community. While we spent time working together, new connections were made and community was created. We hope all future fundraising endeavors can be the same. Please join us in our efforts!

The work goes on

2010-07-30T18:59:00.001-04:00

These hot summer days have seen a great deal of activity at the Catholic Worker houses. Through the support of generous and dedicated volunteers, the first house of hospitality is nearly ready. The floors have been laid, the painting is nearly complete, furnishings are ready, and soon, a family who would otherwise be homeless will make this house their home.

Our gardens have flourished with abundant greens, grape tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and herbs. Our chickens are laying and the beehives are thriving. Slowly, the sustainable living center is coming into existence through the sweat and labor of many volunteers.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to visit us to witness the transformation of these neglected properties firsthand, please give us a call or just drop in for a visit. We love to give tours and talk about our vision for the Catholic Worker as we strive to live justly: in right relationship with the natural world, and with our brothers and sisters, especially those who are vulnerable and marginalized.

Roundtable Discussions Begin!

2010-05-09T21:49:00.000-04:00

Join us for roundtable discussions and clarification of thought on interfaith relations among the three Abrahamic faiths: Judiasm, Islam, and Christianity. The first of two sessions will be held Monday, May 17, with a focus on history and Catholic teaching. The second session will be held Monday, June 14, with an emphasis on interfaith work and connections to current social justice issues. Both roundtable discussions will be facilitated by Rhonda Miska, and held from 7:00-8:30pm at 911 Nassau Street in Charlottesville. For more information, call the Catholic Worker at 409-0804 or email cvillecw@gmail.com. All are welcome!

A beautiful May Day!

2010-05-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

Many thanks to all who attended our celebration and open house on May 1! We enjoyed the company of about 60 guests, many of whom had not yet visited the Catholic Worker. Tours of the houses, beekeeping presentations, the lovely music, and the surprise horse rides kept us active throughout the day. If you missed the opportunity to attend, but would like to visit, please contact us and we'd love to show you the emerging houses of hospitality and sustainable living center!

May 1 Celebration!

2010-04-15T15:50:00.001-04:00

Celebrate the 77th anniversary of the Catholic Worker movement and learn about our efforts to provide hospitality to homeless families and to develop a sustainable living center. All are invited to our May 1 celebration at 911 Nassau Street in Charlottesville! Tell a friend. Feel free to come for any part of the day:

   2:00-3:00pm biodynamic beekeeping presentation
   3:00-4:00pm house tours: learn about the vision for the Cville CW
   4:00-6:00pm live music, food, and activities for kids

We hope to see you there!

Donated materials and a work of art

2010-01-30T17:49:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a generous donor, we have most of the materials needed to complete the repairs on the first hospitality house. We'll continue to raise funds for the minimal labor costs, and are happy to report that the renovations are underway again. We eagerly await the opening of the house to a family in need!

In the community house, the "tree of life" mosaic was recently brought to completion. Thanks to the many hours of labor from Sue and Eli, we created this work of art in the kitchen with discarded and sample tiles. Its wonderful to see something beautiful fashioned from things that would otherwise go unused.

Hospitality house updates

2009-12-12T09:41:00.002-05:00

As the year draws to a close, we continue to feel a sense of amazement that so much has happened so quickly to launch this new Catholic Worker effort. In July, we began the process of transforming these neglected yards and homes into gardens and houses of hospitality. Many repairs on the community house have been completed by generous volunteers, creating a warm and welcoming place to build relationships and explore what it means to live justly: in right relationships with others and with the natural world.

We had hoped to open the first hospitality house to a family in need before Christmas, as we have already know of many people in need, however the house is not currently habitable. We're in the midst of repairing significant termite damage within the sub-floors and front wall. Despite the dedication of the skilled laborers and friends who are completing the repairs, progress is slow due to a shortage of funds to purchase materials. If you'd like to help us, and enable the hospitality house to open sooner than later, please contact us or visit the "Sponsor" link at the left.

"The real hope, then, is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good of it in some way we cannot see." ~Thomas Merton

Fall Events Update

2009-12-12T09:19:00.009-05:00

Much of the fall CCW activity has centered around that hallmark of Catholic Worker projects: manual labor. We hosted five service days, with over 90 volunteers in attendance. We’ve been so busy with home repairs and yard work that we haven’t had much time for roundtable discussions, open community meals, Dorothy Day film screenings, hospitality network meetings, or other projects we envisioned. Hopefully, space will open for these in the future—after all, we hope to be living out this vision for many years.

Still, we managed to host a beautiful house blessing in October, and a walk for peace in November. Our house blessing and inauguration was a celebratory event, with over 60 people in attendance. Friends old and new and family toured the CW, blessed the house, shared a simple soup lunch and gathered around the woodstove to keep warm. We plan to host another open house in the spring, in conjunction with the anniversary of the Catholic Worker movement (May 1). We’ll be in touch as details emerge.

In November, we hosted the monthly QCC Walks! Against Gun Violence in response to a shooting which occurred in our neighborhood. Although scheduled for a rainy evening, the "Cease the Silence, Stop the Violence" peace march drew an energetic group. Marchers walked a one mile route, beginning and ending at Rives Park and passing in front of the Catholic Worker houses. This was just the first of what we hope will be many ways of standing up for peace and developing in nonviolence and love.

"We need to pray to overcome our fears these days while we see the violence escalating and spreading...it seems irreversible and only God can save us." ~Dorothy Day, 1971

Hospitality is needed

2009-08-09T10:29:00.004-04:00

There is a rising number of homeless families, and not enough shelter. In 2008, the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless estimated 1,168 homeless people in the Charlottesville region, half of whom are children (Homeless Census). Existing shelters and transitional housing programs do not have the capacity to meet this need. Between the current crisis in affordable housing and the downturn in the economy, homelessness is expected to rise (15% rise in homeless families). The Charlottesville Catholic Worker will provide safe and stable housing for families in need who would otherwise be homeless.

At the heart of our vision is providing free housing for families or couples who are facing severe financial difficulties and are in need of a safe place to stay. For us, providing hospitality is a faith-response to the housing crisis; a response based upon compassion and care; a response that leads us to try to love others as we would like to be loved.

We anticipate hosting families in transition; folks who lack employment or have disabilities that limit their ability to work; women fleeing domestic violence, and women experiencing unplanned pregnancies. We will rely on the support of our extended community to accompany and support our guests.

CCW, Inc.

2009-08-09T10:27:00.003-04:00

The Charlottesville Catholic Worker is developing as an independent non-profit corporation. This will be the entity that purchases the homes from VOP (for the remaining principle), and holds the title to the homes. This exchange will take place as soon as the Catholic Worker is positioned to do so, within the next five years. We will be recruiting Board Members in the coming months. The Charlottesville Catholic Worker's by-laws will be developed based upon those of other Catholic Worker communities which have a similar vision and activities.

Joint Plan of Work

2009-08-09T10:24:00.006-04:00

The Charlottesville Catholic Worker has developed a joint plan of work with the Virginia Organizing Project (VOP). VOP will ensure that our activities are consistent with 501(c)3 charitable and educational programs, receive grants and donations on behalf of the Charlottesville Catholic Worker, provide oversight of our annual budget and fundraising activities, and assist with administrative elements such as bill payment and liability insurance for the properties. Most importantly, VOP will serve as the guarantor for the loans to purchase the houses for hospitality. The Catholic Worker community is responsible for providing the down payment and monthly payments for the homes. In exchange for these services from VOP, the Catholic Worker is charged a 3% administrative fee on grants and donations received.

Decision-making during this initial period will be made by a Coordinating Committee, composed primarily of local Catholics who share a desire to see the Catholic Worker present in Charlottesville. The Coordinating Committee will provide additional oversight on the project finances and fundraising, assist with building relationships with local parishes and other congregations, assist with work teams for repairs, gardening, identifying, receiving and supporting guests.