St. Patrick Parish was founded in 1855, and moved to its current location in 1890. Over the years, the neighborhood has changed in many ways. As events unfolded, the parish found itself sharing its territory with people who face economic, personal, and spiritual crises. The parish welcomes them, and all people, regardless of their beliefs, color, language, or personal situation.
As taught in the Dogmatic Constitution-Lumen Gentium “the laity go forth as powerful proclaimers of a faith in things to be hoped for, when they courageously join to their profession of faith a life springing from faith. This evangelization, that is, this announcing of Christ by a living testimony as well as by the spoken word, takes on a specific quality and a special force in that it is carried out in the ordinary surroundings of the world.” In light of the Teachings of the Church, the Day Café was borne of missionary hearts, engaging the “ordinary surroundings of the world.”
The Day Café was inspired by its namesake, Dorothy Day, and the Catholic Worker Movement, established by Ms. Day and Mr. Peter Maurin. This apostolate aligns with the Catholic Worker Movement insomuch as its aim is to “live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ. Our sources are the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures as handed down in the Teaching of the Catholic Church, with our inspiration from the lives of the Saints.”
Volunteers of the Day Café are to be seen no differently than its patrons. We are all pilgrims journeying, little by little, through life aiming to grow closer to the fullness of the revelation of Truth. Community and communion are developed through the generation and fostering of personal relationships with others. Thus, the Day Café is a place where relationships are intrinsic and pivotal to the mission.