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St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker began in September 2003 aspiring to follow in the tradition of hospitality offered by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, using Mt. 25:31-44 as a guide in practicing the works of mercy. We are committed to active nonviolence, simple living, and prayer. The community of lay men and women staff welcomes guests off the street to live with them in the men’s and women’s houses of hospitality located in downtown South Bend at 515 and 518 S. St. Joseph St. There is no set length of stay.  

The Catholic Worker Movement was founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin with a vision for implementing the Gospels and Catholic social teaching. Guided by the principles of Communitarianism and Personalism, Catholic Workers are committed to serving those who are on the margins of society. We are devoted to working towards decentralized societies, a green revolution, manual labor, voluntary poverty, and nonviolence along with opposition of all war efforts.

 The St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker also offers hospitality at Our Lady of the Road, located at 744 S. Main St., two blocks from the community houses. Anyone can come to take showers, do laundry, have breakfast, rest and enjoy conversation with one another. Our Lady of the Road is open Friday/Saturday/Sunday 8 - 11am. We also celebrate Mass together every Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm in our Oratory Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Our Lady of the Road.

 Our Lady of the Road also hosts the Common Goods Cooperative Grocery, which hosts monthly market nights. Local produce and organic bulk goods are made available to members at affordable prices.

In addition, Our Lady of the Road is home to Peace Bees honey, training people in need of a second chance in the skills of beekeeping and selling the sweet product at the Co-op, as well as several other venues in South Bend.

Catholic Peace Fellowship is also based at Our Lady of the Road and offers accompaniment to members of the military and veterans who are experiencing the traumatic effects of war, including moral injury.

Our Lady of the Road is developing a woodworking shop to be available for skills training and eventually the production of handcrafted work that will help sustain our community.