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Catholic Workers Celebrate Mustard Seed’s 50 Years of Service

By Sam Bishop | October 27, 2022
Last Updated: October 27, 2022

WORCESTER – Faith leaders from across the country spoke at the College of the Holy Cross this week during a multi-day religious conference.

Worcester was chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mustard Seed, a soup kitchen serving the Piedmont Street area of Worcester since 1972.

In recognition of this anniversary, dozens of Catholic Workers, many of whom operate similar soup kitchens across the country, traveled to Worcester for a weekend of workshops and discussion at Holy Cross, including delivering lectures to students and staff.

The loosely aligned Catholic Worker movement is based on the teaching of Dorothy Day, a 20th century Catholic peace activist who dedicated her life to the service of supporting the poor.

Although many members of the movement are not ordained clergy, the modern adherents to Day’s teachings still commit themselves to vows of poverty and live in communal living spaces where they operate soup kitchens and other services to improve the welfare of those without means to support themselves.

“From the big city of Los Angeles to tiny Maloy, Iowa, experienced Catholic Workers discussed how we can find work to do wherever we are and do it,” Mustard Seed cofounder, professor Michael Boover said about the event.

The multi-day gathering brought attendees ranging in age from 8 to 88 and included a number of events such as roundtable religious discussions and a talent show. The events were held at locations across the city including Blessed Sacrament Church, the campus of Holy Cross and the Mustard Seed.

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