Working on sainthood for Dorothy Day
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/working_on_sainthood_for_dorot.html
December 04, 2010
Maura Grunlund
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The anniversary of Dorothy Day, a co-founder of
the Catholic Worker Movement, earlier this week prompted two
well-attended events on Staten Island and further efforts towards
sainthood for Miss Day.
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan celebrated a mass honoring Miss Day that
attracted a standing-room-only crowd on Sunday at Our Lady Help of
Christians R.C. Church (OLHC), Tottenville.
Miss Day, who is being considered by the Vatican for sainthood, was
baptized at OLHC in 1927.
The archbishop cut the ribbon and blessed a new extension at the
school named in honor of Miss Day. The construction, which was
completed over the summer, includes a formal front entrance to the
school, a new school administration office, new classrooms and a
handicapped-accessible bathroom.
As for the effort toward canonization, prayer cards from the Dorothy
Day Guild were distributed in every parish of the archdiocese,
including Staten Island, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of
her death on Nov. 29, said Kate Monaghan, assistant communications
director for the archdiocese.
The guild was formed by the archdiocese in 2004 as one of the steps
in the canonization process. In 2000, the Holy See accepted the
archdiocese's petition to begin the cause of naming Miss Day a Servant of God.
Additionally, all of Miss Day's written works must be compiled, a
project which is currently under way. Also, the archdiocese keeps a
record of prayer requests and the guild prays for these requests.
Visit the web site Dorothydayguild.org for details.
"Catholics can join the guild, pray the prayer for her canonization,
learn more about her, tell others about her, and try to make real in
their own lives Dorothy Day's care for the poor and work for peace,"
Ms. Monaghan wrote in an e-mail to the Advance.
Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Fort Wadsworth, welcomed an
overflow crowd of 250 people this past Monday to recall the life and
ministry of Miss Day with a talk by peace activist Father Daniel Berrigan.
Father Berrigan, a member of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, was
introduced by Fred Herron, interim executive director of Mount
Manresa. Herron reminded the crowd that Father Berrigan's message is
a consistent Gospel word:
"Do not kill. Do not support the culture of killing. Do all you can
to stop the killing."
Father Berrigan told the crowd that Miss Day "taught me there's
enough creation for everyone born, but not for everyone born and war."
He told a story about Miss Day attending a protest in New York City.
She was sitting in a small folding chair with her hair pulled back in
braids and was wearing a straw hat. She was approached by a police
officer who knew her by sight.
"Miss Day," the officer said, "what are you doing here at your age?"
At that point in her life, Father Berrigan remarked, "she was a
little forgetful about details."
But Miss Day responded, "You know, officer, I'm not exactly sure. But
you can ask any of the young people here, they'll tell you what I'm
here for - they're reliable and truthful."
"The police officer was stunned," said Father Berrigan, "and others
laughed out loud. The officer patted her on the head and told her to
take good care of herself."
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