“The aim of the Catholic Worker movement is to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ. . . . This aim requires us to begin living in a different way. We recall the words of our founders, Dorothy Day who said, ‘God meant things to be much easier than we have made them,’ and Peter Maurin who wanted to build a society ‘where it is easier for people to be good.’”
—the aims and means of the catholic worker
The Movement
An overview of the Catholic Worker: aims and means, history, books, bibliography, and more.
Dorothy Day
Biographies, writings, canonization, and more about the co-founder of the Catholic Worker.
LATEST CATHOLIC WORKER NEWS
The Nine Provocations of Dorothy Day
Kate Hennessy identifies nine major teachings of Dorothy Day, which she calls “Provocations”, inviting us into deeper understanding and practice of Catholic Worker theology.
Christian Friends of the Mentally Ill: Bringing Hope to Kenya
Japheth Obare, founder of Christian Friends of the Mentally Ill (CFOMI), a Catholic Worker community in Kenya that primarily serves those with mental health needs, spoke to attendees about CFOMI’s…
“In Africa, you do not need to take a vow of voluntary poverty—because poverty is already the daily reality”: Life at the Uganda Catholic Worker
In this transcript of Michael Sekitoleko’s presentation to the National Catholic Worker Gathering in San Antonio, Texas in October 2025, Michael urges the U.S. and European Catholic Workers to provide…
Fill the Jails! A Catholic Worker Vocation
In this transcript of Brian Terrell’s presentation to the National Catholic Worker Gathering in San Antonio, Texas in October 2025, Brian shares about his experiences with imprisonment and Dorothy’s belief…
Dorothy Day as a Template for Christian Prophecy
In this transcript of Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s presentation to the National Catholic Worker Gathering in San Antonio, Texas in October 2025, Fr. Rolheiser shares nine points that provide a framework…
Introductions at the San Antonio National Catholic Worker Gathering
After the opening Mass for the San Antonio National Catholic Worker Gathering, attendees introduced themselves to the group. Those in attendance represented a wide diversity in the Catholic Worker movement,…
“This Shameful Silence”: Why We Must Actively Resist the War Machine
Reflecting on Pope Francis’ address to Congress and Dorothy Day’s legacy, Brian Terrell argues that opposing the arms trade and practicing nonviolent resistance remain essential duties, not optional additions, to…
Pope Leo: “Dorothy Day Took a Stand”
“I would like to remember a small, great American woman, Dorothy Day, who lived in the last century,” Pope Leo told pilgrims at his Jubilee audience on Saturday. “She had…
What I Learned from Dorothy Day
In this transcript of Robert Ellsberg’s presentation to the National Catholic Worker Gathering in San Antonio, Texas in October 2025, Ellsberg reflects on what he learned from Dorothy Day during…
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THE CATHOLIC WORKER MOVEMENT
A Brief Introduction to the Catholic Worker Movement
Tom Cornell, associate editor of The Catholic Worker and a leader in Catholic peace and justice movements, offers a brief overview of the Catholic Worker Movement.
The Evolution of the ‘Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker’
The Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker movement describe its goals and the means by which the movement hopes to achieve those goals. The Aims and Means have taken…
What is the Catholic Worker?
This essay was written by Jim Forest on the Catholic Worker Movement for The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History to be published by the Liturgical Press. Jim Forest, once a…
Biography of Peter Maurin
This essay by Jim Forest on Peter Maurin was written for The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History published by the Liturgical Press.
The Life and Spirituality of Dorothy Day
This article is from the introduction to the book Praying with Dorothy Day by James Allaire and Rosemary Broughton.
May Day, 1933
An account of the birth of the Catholic Worker Movement on May 1, 1933, in New York City’s Union Square, from the opening paragraphs of “All Is Grace: a Biography…