St. Joseph's House of Hospitality of Rochester, New York

St. Joseph's House of Hospitality is a nonprofit organization based in Rochester, New York, affiliated with the Catholic Worker Movement. Founded in 1941, it operates as an independent, faith-based community committed to providing food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual care to people in need. The organization embodies the principles established by Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement, notably nonviolence, voluntary poverty, and the Works of Mercy as a way of life.

Mission and Philosophy

The mission of St. Joseph's House of Hospitality centers on recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual and responding through compassionate service. The organization is grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the foundational work of Dorothy Day, aiming to create a "new society within the shell of the old" by practicing daily acts of mercy such as feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting prisoners, and comforting the sorrowful. The house emphasizes nonviolent witness for peace and justice, maintaining a commitment to voluntary poverty and community solidarity.

Services and Programs

St. Joseph's House of Hospitality provides several vital services to the Rochester community, including:

• A daily hot meal served to approximately 75 to 100 guests, ensuring nourishment for those experiencing hunger.
• A 12-bed emergency men's winter shelter operating year-round to provide safe accommodation during colder months.
• Distribution of clothing and other essential items to individuals in need.
• Spiritual care and community companionship grounded in Catholic Worker values.

The house refers to those who come for assistance as "guests," treating them as ambassadors of God and fostering a community based on mutual respect and personal acceptance.

Volunteer Involvement

Volunteers play a crucial role in sustaining St. Joseph's House of Hospitality. The organization invites individuals to engage in its mission by providing hands-on service, particularly in meal preparation and shelter operations. It actively seeks live-in volunteers committed for a minimum of one year, offering room, board, and a modest weekly stipend in return. This residential volunteer program allows participants to immerse themselves fully in the Catholic Worker lifestyle and its principles of community and service.

Funding

St. Joseph's House of Hospitality is financially supported primarily through donations and contributions from individuals and community groups. It does not accept government funding, relying instead on the generosity of its supporters to sustain its programs and daily operations.

St. Joseph's House of Hospitality continues its long-standing tradition of compassionate outreach and faithful witness in Rochester, embodying the Catholic Worker ethos of mercy, justice, and hopeful transformation of society through direct service and community life.