April 24, 2013: Author Rosalie Riegle Visits the Des Moines Catholic Worker

Rosalie Riegle

Rosalie with Des Moines Catholic Workers and friends

Yesterday, the Des Moines Catholic Worker was blessed by a visit from author Rosalie Riegle, the “Studs Terkel of the Catholic Worker movement.” Ms. Riegle read from two recent books: Crossing the Line: Nonviolent Resisters Speak Out for Peace and Doing Time for Peace: Resistance, Family, and Community.

Consisting of more than 150 interviews—including many Catholic Workers, several of whom were in the audience—these books explore through oral history the work of activists from the Vietnam War years up to the 2000s.

Rosalie herself has a long history of personal involvement with the Catholic Worker Movement, having started two houses of hospitality in Saginaw, Michigan, and living in these communities for 10 years.

As she related stories of nonviolent resistance, Rosalie spoke movingly of the ever-present need to “Say No” to war and empire. Mike Miles, in his book review published in the April 2013 Via Pacis, described her own sense “mission,” with regards to her books:

“Her desire to collect and share these stories … is not meant to be merely an academic exercise. She admits to being on a ‘mission’ to present her findings to a broader public to test what she perceives to be the truth contained in the lives and actions of her friends and cohorts.”

This truth was felt powerfully last night as we listened to excerpts from Rosalie’s books and personal stories from some of those present.

Rosalie’s previous books include Dorothy Day: Portraits by Those Who Knew Her and Voices from the Catholic Worker. To learn more about Rosalie and to purchase her books, please visit her author page on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Rosalie-G.-Riegle/e/B001K8HRB6

Portrait of Norman Searah by Frank Cordaro

Moulton Extended Learning Center Food Drive

On November 20, the Des Moines Catholic Worker was honored to be the recipient of Moulton Extended Learning Center’s Annual food drive. Students and staff collected more than 1100 items, which entirely filled the back of our cargo van. Each year, Moulton is the single largest contributor to our food pantry, and our thanks can’t be overstated. We are grateful to Moulton for their generosity and proud to call them neighbors.

Midwest Catholic Worker Gathering

From September 14 - 16, Des Moines Catholic Workers joined Catholic Workers from across the Midwest at Great Oaks Camp in Lacon, IL for three days of camping, roundtable discussions, workshops, games, and an astonishing talent show.

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September 7, 2012

Two extraordinary individuals—Father Steve Kelly (bottom, second from left) and John Giuliano (bottom right)—visited the Des Moines Catholic Worker in early September.

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April 23, 2012

The Des Moines Catholic Worker was paid a surprise visit by Antonin Guy and Xavier Degon, two French gentlemen undertaking the first-ever journey around the world by electric car! Here they are with workers and volunteers, kindly helping to spread mulch around the property.

(Xavier Degon, Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs, Sean Shafer, Antonin Guy, Donavan Miller, Renee Espeland, Patrick Murphy)

For more information on this unique voyage: Electric Odyssey

March 31, 2012

Des Moines Catholic Workers at the 2012 Bishop Dingman Peace Award Dinner in Des Moines.

(back: Norman Searah, Bob Cook, Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs, Eddie Bloomer, Al Burney, Tommy Schmitz, Ryan Laudick, David Goodner, Megan Felt, Frank Cordaro  front: Gil Landolt, Jessica Reznicek, Henry Wallace Goodner-Felt, “Downtown” Julie Brown)

Video of Joshua Casteel, 2012 Bishop Dingman Peace Award Recipient

Video of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, 2012 Bishop Dingman Peace Award Guest Speaker

Bishop Dingman (Wikipedia)