Coastside Catholic Worker
| HOUSE JOURNAL |
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December 10, 2007
At the beginning of 2007, Mike and I had an important discussion
about the future of our ministry. I had continued to struggle with
health problems since my return from Mexico in the fall of 2003 with
the previous year becoming particularly difficult. Unable to focus
on the fund-raising aspects of our ministry, money was only
trickling in. We decided at that time that if our work could not be
financially sustained without our personal monthly donations of
Mike's entire social security and retirement checks, we would have
to move on.
As 2007 progressed, my physical health diminished more. When
our beloved dog One Way was killed in a hit-and-run in front of our
house at the end of March, my emotional and mental health
suffered a major blow. As I was falling apart on all fronts and
began to isolate, Mike tried to hold the ministry together. He, too,
struggled with One Way's death and also recurring skin cancer.
Groups and individuals stepped forward to offer help with
maintenance on our house and our ministry limped on.
Mike continued our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet with growing
outreach to homeless men and recovering meth addicts, a
population we have seen explode recently. I continued outreach
and organizing of the day laborers in the local park and focused
what energy I had on English language learning. I held two classes
a week in the park and two in Pescadero, with others in individual
homes. The waiting list grew longer each week as word spread
through the Mexican community. Our resources couldn't
accommodate the need, however, and we had to turn dozens of
individuals away.
Recent difficulties have wounded our spirit. Despite overwhelming
encouragement to stick it out, we made the difficult decision to walk
away from our ministry. We need to take care of the one thing we
have neglected the past eight years: us. Thus, as of December
31, 2007, we will be closing our doors.
Since the names of Coastside Catholic Worker and Half Moon Bay
Catholic Worker legally belong to us, those monikers are being
retired. Any future Catholic Worker houses on the Coast of San
Mateo County will be operating under different names.
There is discussion by the trustee of the house to bring in other
workers. There has also been a long-term effort afoot (which we
have not been associated with in any way) to build a Catholic
Worker in Pescadero. Since all Catholic Workers are autonomous
with their mission and ministry determined by the workers, we can
neither vouch for nor decry those who may be coming in.
However, anyone who is trying to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy
Day and live by the principles of nonviolence and the Works of
Mercy is worthy of your consideration. It will take time for these
workers to determine the direction of their ministry and even longer
to earn the trust of the population they reach out to, so please be
patient and supportive.
Fortunately, the seedlings that have been growing because of our
work will continue to be nurtured by some trusted partners in the
community. The annual Backpack Program is being coordinated
by the Coastside Lutheran Church and Holy Family Episcopal
Church. Holy Family will also continue the monthly produce
giveaway.
Thank you to all the individuals and groups who had committed to
assist with (both physically and fiscally) the extensive work that
needs to be done on Magdalene House. We totally understand
why your offers were put on hold as you waited to see if we would
be staying. Since the house continues to need extensive electrical
and plumbing work, external painting and downstairs re-flooring,
along with miscellaneous other things, you might reconsider once
the new worker(s) move in.
Thanks to all who continued to support and believe in us
throughout this difficult time. Your faith in us and our ministry was
not misplaced. There is so much more to this story than what we
are able to discuss publicly. That's just the reality of interweaving
our lives so completely with the population we serve, a population
that lives in the shadows. We know and try to live by the truth and,
as the saying goes, "The truth will set you free."
We are certain that Catholic Worker movement co-founders
Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, as well as the cloud of witnesses
that came before us, have stood beside us these past eight years
and are pleased with how we stood by "the least of these," even to
the point of sacrificing reputation and security. As far as our
ministry goes, we have no regrets.
At the beginning of 2007, Mike and I had an important discussion
about the future of our ministry. I had continued to struggle with
health problems since my return from Mexico in the fall of 2003 with
the previous year becoming particularly difficult. Unable to focus
on the fund-raising aspects of our ministry, money was only
trickling in. We decided at that time that if our work could not be
financially sustained without our personal monthly donations of
Mike's entire social security and retirement checks, we would have
to move on.
As 2007 progressed, my physical health diminished more. When
our beloved dog One Way was killed in a hit-and-run in front of our
house at the end of March, my emotional and mental health
suffered a major blow. As I was falling apart on all fronts and
began to isolate, Mike tried to hold the ministry together. He, too,
struggled with One Way's death and also recurring skin cancer.
Groups and individuals stepped forward to offer help with
maintenance on our house and our ministry limped on.
Mike continued our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet with growing
outreach to homeless men and recovering meth addicts, a
population we have seen explode recently. I continued outreach
and organizing of the day laborers in the local park and focused
what energy I had on English language learning. I held two classes
a week in the park and two in Pescadero, with others in individual
homes. The waiting list grew longer each week as word spread
through the Mexican community. Our resources couldn't
accommodate the need, however, and we had to turn dozens of
individuals away.
Recent difficulties have wounded our spirit. Despite overwhelming
encouragement to stick it out, we made the difficult decision to walk
away from our ministry. We need to take care of the one thing we
have neglected the past eight years: us. Thus, as of December
31, 2007, we will be closing our doors.
Since the names of Coastside Catholic Worker and Half Moon Bay
Catholic Worker legally belong to us, those monikers are being
retired. Any future Catholic Worker houses on the Coast of San
Mateo County will be operating under different names.
There is discussion by the trustee of the house to bring in other
workers. There has also been a long-term effort afoot (which we
have not been associated with in any way) to build a Catholic
Worker in Pescadero. Since all Catholic Workers are autonomous
with their mission and ministry determined by the workers, we can
neither vouch for nor decry those who may be coming in.
However, anyone who is trying to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy
Day and live by the principles of nonviolence and the Works of
Mercy is worthy of your consideration. It will take time for these
workers to determine the direction of their ministry and even longer
to earn the trust of the population they reach out to, so please be
patient and supportive.
Fortunately, the seedlings that have been growing because of our
work will continue to be nurtured by some trusted partners in the
community. The annual Backpack Program is being coordinated
by the Coastside Lutheran Church and Holy Family Episcopal
Church. Holy Family will also continue the monthly produce
giveaway.
Thank you to all the individuals and groups who had committed to
assist with (both physically and fiscally) the extensive work that
needs to be done on Magdalene House. We totally understand
why your offers were put on hold as you waited to see if we would
be staying. Since the house continues to need extensive electrical
and plumbing work, external painting and downstairs re-flooring,
along with miscellaneous other things, you might reconsider once
the new worker(s) move in.
Thanks to all who continued to support and believe in us
throughout this difficult time. Your faith in us and our ministry was
not misplaced. There is so much more to this story than what we
are able to discuss publicly. That's just the reality of interweaving
our lives so completely with the population we serve, a population
that lives in the shadows. We know and try to live by the truth and,
as the saying goes, "The truth will set you free."
We are certain that Catholic Worker movement co-founders
Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, as well as the cloud of witnesses
that came before us, have stood beside us these past eight years
and are pleased with how we stood by "the least of these," even to
the point of sacrificing reputation and security. As far as our
ministry goes, we have no regrets.
Dear Friends,
| One Way 2001 - 2007 |
| Peace & All Good! ~Kathy Niece |
Coastside Catholic Worker
Magdalene House
Half Moon Bay
Michael David Niece
Magdalene House
Half Moon Bay
Michael David Niece
| Teaching English in Mac Dutra Park, Kathy was an eagerly awaited regular for 3 years. |
| Fremont's JustFaith group (above) and the City Academy of Salt Lake City (below) were just two groups of the dozens of volunteers over the past eight years who partnered with us in our ministry on the Coast. |
| These Magdalene House residents took our "Education is power!" encouragement to heart and celebrated the graduation of their eldest. |