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So E lijah did according to the word of the L ord; he went and lived by the C herith Brook…and the ravens brought him bread… I Kings 17
“I Am a Lakota Native...
by Lois Swimmer
... from the Cheyenne River Sioux and angry moods. He even made housing, and utilities resources. The
Tribe in South Dakota. Being born himself a foxhole. I guess he felt letter raised the injustice of new voter
and raised on the reservation was safe there. He changed so much restrictions in 23 states since 2010.
a challenge. Every aspect of my life that we kids were told not to visit Missouri has recently become one of
has been affected by poverty. him alone. But I didn’t care and those states. These are moral issues,
When I was a child we lived in a still went to him to listen to his they are faith issues. And we must
big shack-like building on a parcel stories. Now, ironically, he is the move outside of our partisan silos to
of our land. It had no running only survivor of all my Elders, How address them.
water. By the 1970’s we were living beautiful and wonderful! The first phase of the campaign
in town where alcohol became a As someone directly impacted was 40 days of nonviolent direct
big problem with older natives like by poverty, racism and war, I action. More than 2000 people were
my mom, my aunties and uncles. was invited to participate in the arrested over the 40 days across
I lost my mom in 1971 at the age convening of the Poor People’s the country. I was one of the 208
Campaign in Washington DC this arrested in Jefferson City, MO. We
past June. It was the culmination were demanding our right to adequate
of 40 days of actions at our capitals food, housing, healthcare, education,
across 40 states. fair wages, and other basic necessities.
As soon as we arrived in the While in DC we also canvassed in poor
Capitol, there was a big tent sent neighborhoods and petitioned state
up on the lawn. It looked like it legislators on Capitol Hill.
was going to be a busy week. I Before the March began, many
started meeting some wonderful people from across the country
people. We sat down and talked told their stories. They were very
and started get to know each other. meaningful to me as we shared the
After getting materials together, experience of poverty.
we started making signs, banners, I was proud to be sent to DC as an
flags, and buttons. ambassador, representing people from
My roommate, Georgia, was the State of Missouri and representing
awesome! She was from St. Louis my tribe.
and we hit it off the minute we met.
That was a good feeling.
There was a choir that practiced
and sang during the week. They
came together and sang the songs
at the rallies. As they practiced, it
sounded so amazing!
Saturday was the day of the
march. People’s energy could be felt
Lois Swimmer spent a week in Washington D.C. all around! We started passing out
in June organizing for the mass meeting of the all the signs, banners and posters,
Poor People’s Campaign. She was chosen to to whoever wanted them. The stage
be one of 3 representatives from the state of was ready, people were pouring in
Missouri from all over the country. It was
going to be a great day, and it surely
was.
of 32. She died from alcoholism Representatives from 20 states
and depression. She did not identified themselves in a roll
receive good healthcare at the local call on stage. Every region of
hospital. I was only ten years old at the nation was well represented Louis Swimmer representing her Cheyenne River Souix Tribe
the time. It is clear to me now that including by Indigenous people on stage at the mass meeting. Rev. William Barber II and Rev.
our struggle with poverty, housing from Tribal Lands. Liz Theoharis on her right and left.
and health care was part of the I was one of the twenty who
systemic mistreatment against us as represented my Tribe. It was a
indigenous peoples. great honor to be involved.
My story has also been impacted We marched to the capital to
by the evils of war. Right after that deliver a letter in which Rev.
my uncle came home from Vietnam. William Barber and Rev. Liz
The war changed him- the fear in Theoharis raised the issue that
his eyes would bring me to tears. 140 million poor people are living
He would get in dark depressive in the U.S. live with limited food,
Ordinary Time 2018 Cherith Brook Catholic Worker 3
Summer 2018
by Josh Armfield
Shower
Needs
Tennis Shoes
Jeans (smaller sizes)
Belts
Boxers & Panites (smaller)
Shampoo & Conditioner
(large bottles)
Deodorant
Razors
Socks Jodi, Mia, Freddie, Chris, Christopher, Eric, Lois, Grace, Emily
Baby & Foot Powder and Ben going to the funeral of friend “Crazy” Dave Robbins.
Toothbrushes
Tampons & Pads
Ibuprofen & Tylenol
cold meds
Ollie & Zsa Zsa
Body Wash/ Shower Gel
Hand and Foot Warmers
Sleeping Bags
Reading Glasses
Back packs
Tony Pettry
Thanks to the 150 supporters who packed the courtroom at the Garbison
trial. We defeated the cities charges of resisting arrest. Witness against police
brutality and abuse of power won the day. We are still waiting for an internal
investigation of the police officers to be completed. House
Needs
Clothes Dryer
Bus Passes (31 day &
One-Rides)
Baking Soda
Butter
Creamer & Sugar
Dish Soap
Hot Sauce
Rice
Salt & Pepper
Tissues
Toilet Paper
Stamps (forever)
Energy Saving Light
Bulbs
Industrial Refrigerator
Chris Homiak and Dylan Chan gathering Bill Dickenson extracting honey. Yes we
honey frames for harvesting. have honey to sell!
6 Cherith Brook Catholic Worker Ordinary Time 2018
A Native
The Path of Liberation
by Jessica Tiller
Prayer
by Lois Swimmer
week in the middle of the summer, our
Last week, as I prepared to passage that we reflected on each morning
transition out of my time as an intern, before and after showers was the Prayer Standing in prayers and unity for
Jodi emailed me a list of questions of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. I heard over all sacred life
to help me reflect on my summer at and over in the voices of so many friends:
Cherith Brook. From that list, one “trust in the slow work of God.” Trust in upon our precious mother earth.
question stood out to me and seems the slow work of God. Trust in the slow All sacred nations - all Father skies
to follow me around even now: “What work of God.
proactive steps will you take as you Liberation, in all its forms, is slow All Sacred waters - All sacred life
leave Cherith Brook to continue down work. But I believe and have seen that I ask for you, Creator, to watch,
this path of liberation?” it is indeed God’s work. Now, as I return
This path of liberation. That phrase to college, I am filled with excitement hold, and love
rings sweet and deep in my ears. The and energy to continue on this path by
word “liberation” has been with me each one of your children in this
bringing the lessons of Cherith Brook
throughout my journey of faith, from back to my peers in student ministry. I circle,
my earlier years as a youth group kid am looking forward to leading my friends
hearing sermons about Christ liberating and leave our discussion in each
into a greater understanding of our calling
to work towards the liberation of others others mind
and ourselves-- specifically through taking to carry on to others with much
literally the Bible’s call to love and live in
solidarity with the poor and oppressed. As love!
the aboriginal activist, Lilla Watson said:
“If you have come here to help me, you are
wasting your time. But if you have come Bless us for this day!
because your liberation is bound up with
mine, then let us work together.” A’ ho’
Thank you to everyone who let me work
together with them towards our common
liberation this summer. You all have “FREEDOM CHURCH” continued
taught me more than you know. from page 1...
by Loispowerful
Their Swimmer stories debunk the
Love and peace, Jess myth that poverty is the fault, sin, or
failings of the poor.
When Dorothy day was accused by
Jessica with peaches gathered from our or- radicals of her day who claimed the
chard. She is back at Truman State finishing Catholic Worker was “feeding the poor
her senior year this Fall. from the crumbs of the rich” she rebut-
ted that the works of mercy are the
us from our sin, to my summer in
Central America last year learning about
“Above all else, christian’s “revolutionary technique for
changing the social order.” The gospel is
good news to the poor so that when we
trust in
liberation theology, to this internship welcome others in Christ, with Christ
here where I’ve seen firsthand the and as Christ we are all made new.
importance of liberation from the Those committed to fight against rac-
the slow
injustices of inequality and the excesses ism, poverty and a war economy from
of Empire. It’s the “path” part that is the trenches of their own poverty know
new. we’ve go their back. For those too tired
work of God.”
I am beginning to learn that liberation to fight, we extend solace and hope.
does not come in a single moment, like For those who don’t need a shower or
the altar calls of my youth; it doesn’t worry about their next meal, it forms
come in grand historical events in a a critical consciousness about what
book about Ernesto Cardenal, or even
in a poem. Rather, liberation is a path
Pierre Tellhard de Chardin, S.J. poverty looks, smells and feels like on
the ground and how the dehumanizing
we all walk daily together. It comes as effects are evil. Our hospitality is our
we continuously choose to make peace, anchor.
seek justice, and remain faithful. It This is all a work in progress and still
requires resistance, courage, and a good so many more lessons to learn. But as
deal of patience. one of our Elder’s, Nana, reminds us,
I, being young and in a hurry, didn’t “Trying is not failure.”
realize about that last bit. Patience. One
Ordinary Time 2018 Cherith Brook Catholic Worker 7
House Notes
by Eric Garbison
Every phase of our call comes with a We as a country put the burden of poverty on friends. Our work collectives have been
sense of wonder and trepidation. And the shoulders of the poor. And the church, has a big asset these past few years. Our
while we plan and vision, we must be she bought into this a narrative as well? beekeepers began the season by attending
honest - it is not the result of some Take, for instance yet another attempt to a beginners beekeeper’s training by the
creative inspiration of ours or strategic create anti-panhandling ordinances in KC. Midwestern Beekeeper’s Association.
organizing; it’s learning to lean anew into They will punish those forced to beg for their Then we split up the work from our six
God. And so we have now entered (again) daily bread will be punished with $500 fine. hives. The spring swarm season gave us
into new season of life. I believe it is the The irony! And the further injustice that will the opportunity to start two hive splits.
most significant change since we opened ensue as they get caught in the tentacles of a We hung a few swarm boxes around the
this community in 2007. debtor’s jail system. Panhandlers are currently neighborhood as an experiment, but no
The cover article speaks of the new committing no crime. If the ordinance passes it luck this year. We recently harvested 8
dimensions blossoming from the will expose our hearts of darkness. gallons/ 33 pounds of honey. In a couple
commitment, passion and faith of our The other great shift is in our family. Both Diana of months we will prepare the hives for
longtime volunteers who have established and Henri have graduated High school. With overwintering.
themselves as organic leaders. These six the swell of pride and tinge of loss we took our Hannah Elder joined Ben and I in the
have committed daughter Diana to Macalaster orchard and is training with Giving Grove
themselves for College in St. Paul, MN. to learn the craft of orchard stewardship.
the next six Being there for orientation Though last year was technically our first
months to faith affirmed the decision. We harvest, this was our first substantial
in action; to offer were struck by the message harvest of apples and pairs. We have made
justice organizing of “belonging” we heard from more fruit salads, especially as we have
and leadership many of the administration. tried to figure how to serve the exotic
empowerment I re-committed myself to jujubes. Watching the kids gobble up
for those who are stating that to all who enter blackberries one evening this summer is
most impacted by our doors, “don’t worry, you one of my favorite memories.
poverty. We have
Shower
belong here!” The kingdom Caitlin Schrader and Bethany Buchanan
decentered the role of God is so often depicted in have recently joined on as dirt farmers,
that interns play Jesus’ actions and stories as tending our large compost. Between the
and are shifting
Needs
a place where those who the garden and food waste from our meals,
our focus to those world refuses to include, are this is a substantial effort. It will be a
with native roots told by Jesus that they belong. stinky job to get it back under control so
in the community We are equally excited we are grateful for their efforts and hope
to call forth their about Henri’s decision to for less flies.
leadership we call join a trade. He is currently There is a maintenance crew led by Jerry
the “Elder’s Circle”. exploring the electricians Penland that comes on Tuesdays. If you
This also means union. At the same time he are handy, there is always some broken or
experimenting with loves spending time, fixing, some new project to make our hospitality
new structures. polishing and driving his car.. more welcoming.
For example, We are glad to have him living Thanks to Kimberly Hunter who
what was before a at home. has been faithful this past year wit
planning agenda Henri and Diana, Class of 2018! It seemed that our residential the Monday laundry. And a great
for our residential community all exited at once this conversation companion. If you have
community, is now a bi-monthly meeting season. Ben and Grace Parker Sutter bought a the laundry charism we are still looking
for leaders of the poor people’s campaign. house in KCK. Ben is taking a deeper dive into for help on Tuesdays or Wednesday
We will be stepping back to make room for seminary but we are glad to have them near afternoons we’d love it! What an
our Elder’s Circle to do more visioning and and to have Ben contributing his experience important way to preserve clothes and
decision making. It has glowing support in showers on Thursdays and leadership in the keep the closet stocked. And there
of our trustees and we may pursue some orchard. is always plenty of donations to sort
grant opportunities to fund that effort Virginia Davis, came to us on a gap year and through. If you are interested you can
as well. Please read the article with care, has now entered UMKC law school. We are join Jodi or Lucy Pomeroy so we can get
ask for clarification and claim it in your excited to see how she will use her sojourn resources as quickly as possible to our
prayers for us. among this poor community to affect her law guests.
As you can read in these pages, our studies. We need folks in the judicial system There is plenty of room for helping and
connection to The Poor People’s Campaign that refuse to criminalize the poor and to fight learning these crafts and works of mercy.
is strong. Can anyone deny the gospel is the systems of poverty. Let us know if you’d like to join one of
good news to the poor? This is a radical When we thought we would have our first these teams. There are myriads of little
notion that we are tempted to domesticate summer without an intern, Jessica Tiller, ways to be in solidarity with the poor
in one way or another. One central theme appeared. But of course that is never true. We and numerous quotidian expressions of
of this campaign is the demand that we are grateful that God connected us through the peacemaking that often go unnoticed but
stop with the false narrative that poverty insight of mutual are as essential to the effort of God’s New
is the fault of the poor. Creation.
Cherith Brook
Catholic Worker
3308 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-8047
cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com
cherithbrookcw.blogspot.com
facebook.com/cherithbrookkc
instagram.com/cherithbrookcw