Watch

Catholic Worker House Builds Community and Changes Lives

Creator:
Published:
April 8, 2024
October 10, 2020
This man found community and rediscovered a passion for serving others when he turned to the Catholic Worker House for help.|Catholic Worker House Builds Community and Changes Lives

When he was homeless, Eric Hanley turned to the Catholic Worker House for help. There he found community and rediscovered his passion for serving others. "It's really cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself," he explains. "I am just so blessed to experience the love that is here."

Video Transcript

Eric Hanley: I mean, I always wanted to feel like I was working to build heaven on earth. Working for a mission, and working with people.

Then it dawned on me, like, I'm across the country and I've got nothing but what's in my backpack.

At 22, Eric dropped out of college and traveled across the country. Eric found himself homeless and turned to drugs to cope.

Eric Hanley: So, I just started smoking pot to just cover up all my feelings, and like, if the friends I'm keeping are literally making me homeless, like, maybe the people who actually, like, give me the food that I need to eat, maybe they're actually the people that care about me.

Eric turned to soup kitchens and churches for support.

Eric Hanley: I heard somebody from The Catholic Worker talk about serving the poor and faith in action. I was so captivated by the fire that she spoke with. I was like, I want what she has.

She invited me over for the potluck dinner. People were just people around the table having dinner with vastly different backgrounds, and I was just blown away. I just thought this is the Last Supper here on earth right now, and I wanna be a part of it.

Eric moved into the Catholic Worker to work as a caretaker and artist.

Eric Hanley: I've been blessed to learn about iconography, to make stations of the cross for our new chapel here at Our Lady of the Road.

I start with making the boards out of wood, shaving it off, and I've had to learn a lot of carpentry skills. That's been really cool. I think of Joseph a lot. I think of Joseph teaching Jesus about carpentry.

Painting this picture and with every brush stroke to say a prayer and to bring this joy from another world into our own. It's powerful to connect to these natural elements, these things that have been here longer than we have. It's really cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

I know God will love me regardless if I have faith or not. That's what keeps me coming back, is…I mean, He's always there. You know? He's always willing to welcome me back.

We're adamant that the folks that are serving sit down and eat with the folks who are coming in, share a cup of coffee. It just helps everybody feel human again. The poor that are here really are just the lifeblood of our community. I feel like I am just so blessed to experience the love that's here.

Be present.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
April 8, 2024
October 10, 2020
On a related note...
From Seed to Lunchroom Table

From Seed to Lunchroom Table

Grotto

The Small Art Stuck in this War

The Small Art Stuck in this War

Javi Zubizarreta

My Hollywood Dreams Were Coming True, But I Still Felt Empty

My Hollywood Dreams Were Coming True, But I Still Felt Empty

Tanner Kalina

This Music Teacher Is Changing Lives of At-Risk Youth

This Music Teacher Is Changing Lives of At-Risk Youth

Danielle Thomson

Basilica vs Cathedral: What's the Difference?

Basilica vs Cathedral: What's the Difference?

Grotto

Opening Mass in St. Peter's Square | Synod 2018

Opening Mass in St. Peter's Square | Synod 2018

Grotto

How I Loosened Anxiety’s Grip on Me

How I Loosened Anxiety’s Grip on Me

Jenny Hubert

Finding Solace in a Skid Row Convenience Store

Finding Solace in a Skid Row Convenience Store

Grotto

BBQ 101 for a Successful Summer Cookout

BBQ 101 for a Successful Summer Cookout

Ken Hallenius

How to Rock Your New Godparenting Gig

How to Rock Your New Godparenting Gig

Jessica Mannen Kimmet

Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit

Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit

Julia Hogan-Werner

Contemporary Dance: The Beauty of Self-Expression

Contemporary Dance: The Beauty of Self-Expression

Grotto

Show up With an Open Heart, and Just Stay

Show up With an Open Heart, and Just Stay

Elizabeth Abrams

How Low God Will Go For Us

How Low God Will Go For Us

David Fagerberg

This Story Will Make You Think About Life Differently

This Story Will Make You Think About Life Differently

Grotto

Why I'm Catholic: The Eucharist

Why I'm Catholic: The Eucharist

Grotto

The Power of Feeling "Known"

The Power of Feeling "Known"

Mary Cunningham

How to Stop Feeling Like an Imposter

How to Stop Feeling Like an Imposter

Molly Cruitt

What is Ash Wednesday? Catholic Trivia

What is Ash Wednesday? Catholic Trivia

Grotto

Holy Week Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Holy Week Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.