Community celebrates opening of a place to be seen and heard 

Whenever he’s asked what work will be done at Holy Family Catholic Worker in Westside Shopping Center in Baltimore, Father Michael Murphy, pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus with the Historic Saint Joseph’s Monastery in Baltimore, simply says “I don’t know.”

He shared this revelation to a room filled with elected officials, nonprofit leaders, community members, students, religious sisters, deacons and priests, including Archbishop William E. Lori, who were gathered to celebrate the opening of the Holy Family Catholic Worker April 23.

“I’ve never believed in going into a community and telling them what they need,” Father Murphy said. “So, we’re going to spend a lot of time listening. And listening closely. And simply accompanying people along the way.”

The simple space, once a former eye doctor’s office, will become “a safe refuge,” especially for those who have “no one to listen to, to talk to them or to see them,” he said.

In his remarks, Archbishop Lori agreed with Father Murphy that the space “will be a new place of vision. A place for those who are in need, are seen. And seeing a person is different than looking at a person.

“Seeing a person is different than just getting a glimpse of a person. It means knowing, understanding, listening and responding in love. I’m saying that kind of vision is what is going to be happening here.”

Stacey Wells, senior account executive for KO Public Affairs, said the location will serve as an outreach ministry as well as a resource hub. By partnering with several organizations, Holy Family Catholic Worker also has a food pantry and diapers to offer to families. An expungement clinic – a legal process of removing criminal records – is also planned for May 16.

“We’re going to be open just for people to come in,” Wells said, beforehand. “Any resources they need, we’re here to direct them. We’re here to listen to any problems, to be a space of nonjudgement, a space just to be and exist.”

“Every positive moment in this community means everything,” Derwin Hannah, president of Carrollton Ridge Community Association, said of the celebration.

“You look around the community, you see a lot of devastation,” Hannah said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to turn it around. It’s been a constant journey watching things disappear. I’m looking forward to change.”

The idea for the center grew out of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Seek the City to Come pastoral planning initiative, Father Murphy said, which reimagined the church in Baltimore City and some surrounding areas. 

“The church is present in a unique and different way than it was,” Father Murphy said, “that we have not left. We are here.”

John T. Bullock, Baltimore City Council member for District 9, which covers west and southwest Baltimore, told the crowd that as a lifelong Catholic, he thinks about living out his faith on a daily basis.

“It is not just about what we do inside the church, but what we do in the community,” Bullock said. “I’m very thankful also for the partnerships that are in this room.”

Holy Family Catholic Worker is an outreach ministry of Our Lady of Victory with the Historic St. Joseph’s Monastery. Catholic Charities, Ascension St. Agnes, Mount St. Joseph High School, My Brother’s Keeper and the Archdiocese of Baltimore all played a role in its creation.

Bullock noted that the district was “one of the most challenging districts” in the city, and he thanked everyone for “being great partners as we continue to work together.”

“This is what a united Baltimore looks like,” Zeke Cohen, Baltimore city council president said. “This is what happens when we all show up for each other and put the city’s interests above our own. It is an exciting moment in Baltimore … because we are seeing the fruits of a lot of people’s labor come to fruition.”

Archbishop Lori closed the ceremony by blessing all the rooms before giving a closing prayer.

“Fill these rooms with your peace and make it a place of refuge for all who find their way here,” Archbishop Lori said in his prayer.”Open the hearts of those who come here so that they may receive not only material help but also the dignity of being seen and being loved.”

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

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