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Welcome to the Peter Maurin Center!
| Peter Maurin |
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| In front of the original CW storefront |
Peter Maurin was born into a peasant family in southern France, on May 9, 1877.
At sixteen, he entered the Christian Brothers, a teaching order which stressed simplicity of life, piety and service to the
poor. In 1898-99, his community life was interrupted by obligatory military service, in the course of which Maurin perceived
a tension between religious and political duties. Later, when the French goverment closed many religious schools, Maurin left
the order and became active in Le Sillon, a Catholic lay movement, which advocated Christian democracy and supported cooperatives
and unions. In 1908, disenchanted with the movement's increasingly political character, Maurin resigned and immigrated
to Canada first, and the U.S. later.He took whatever work he could find, digging ditches, quarrying stone, harvesting wheat,
cutting lumber and laying track. He worked in brickyards, steel mills and coalmines. At times, he traded French lessons for
his necessities. He was jailed for vagrancy and for riding the rails. He never married. In 1932, he was a handyman at a Catholic
boy's camp in upstate New York, receiving meals, use of the chaplain's library and living space in the barn. Not long
after, in December of 1932, Peter found Dorothy Day. Together they started The Catholic Worker newspaper in
1933. Peter Maurin was well read, especially in the vein of the French personalists. These writings emphasized the tremendous
dignity of the human person, together with a profound understanding of each person's vocation in freedom and personal
responsibilty. Peter challenged the priority of economics and consumerism in daily life.The perspective that Peter brought
to Dororthy, still a new convert to Catholicism, was a radical following of the Gospel at a time that he described as chaos.
Peter is also well known for a compilation of his body of writings, known as his "Easy Essays", If you wish
to know more about Peter Maurin, Dororthy Day or The Catholic Worker, we recommend as a book; The Catholic Worker
Movement, Intellectual and Spiritual Origins by Mark and Louis Zwick. We have found this to be a good resource.
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| Our Center (PMC) |
Peter Maurin Center
The
Peter Maurin Center, located at 1096 South Main Street in Akron, was purchased in February, 2006. This 1913
building had been a mortuary, bar, restaurant and most recently, a bar and grill. It had been vacant for ten years. It has
a bus stop at the front door and is situated in one of the poorest residential areas of Akron. Following extensive
renovation, the center opened in late November 2006. It has a second-floor, three-room efficiency apartment. The building
was purchased as a result of a benefactor who had offered to help us purchase another house. At the time our core
members felt that another house would stretch our abilities and resources to staff it. The members did present another dream
over dinner. Like Dorothy and Peter, they wished to have a "Store Front", or as we call it, a "drop-in-center".
A place where people can come in to share a meal, but more importantly to find caring people who will "listen"
and love them.These two gentleman liked the idea and graciously helped us to obtain it. Through the center
we also try to provide resources for our friends, from transportation, medical, dental, clothing and needed household goods.
With Thanksgiving this dinner this year, we celebrate
our third year in service to the poor and homeless!
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| Breaking Bread with Dee (left) and Trish |
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| Don, Heather & James (left to right) |
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Matthew 8:20 Mission Out Unto
the Streets
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes,
and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. Matthew 8:20
The Matthew 8:20 Outreach to the poor, homeless
and forgotten of Akron, grew from the loving, dedicated volunteer's associated with us at the Peter Maurin Center and
the Catholic Worker of Akron. By using the Monday night "Labre Project" from Walsh Jesuit High School as
an example, Bill and David answered the call to contribute and expand this ministry by combining their gifts, resources and
hearts for this vocation. By using the Peter Maurin Center as a base, Bill began loading up his personal van on Friday evenings
with purchased items and the generous donations of all that we have been blessed with from our faithful supporters. Much needed
warm clothing, bedding/sleeping bags, tents, boots, gloves, hats, whatever we have goes along with a hot pot of soup, cocoa,
coffee, sandwiches and snacks and are shared with a loving hand and compassionate heart. From its humble beginnings almost
three years ago we have witnessed many miracles as God continues to touch the hearts of many to join with us in this labor
of love! Springtime of Hope's involvement with Matthew 8:20 has contributed substantially to the growth and prosperity
of this mission. Their association with us has been a tremendous blessing and has helped fill a void of much needed items
for our less fortunate friends. For more information about this organization, based in Wadsworth, Ohio, we have provided a
link to access their website. Just click on the bottom picture to your right.
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| Sharing at St. Bernards, Downtown Akron |
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| More Sharing at Grace Park, Downtown Akron |
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Peter Maurin Center &
Matthew 8:20 Schedule
Tuesday's : 10:15am we invite all to share
with prayer & reflection until 11:00am.
11:00am until 12:00, fellowship and refreshments. Meal is served from Noon
until 2:00pm
2:00 until 3:00pm is reseved for continued fellowship and addressing other needs.
Friday
Afternoon: 12:00pm doors open for fellowship and refreshments. Meal is served from 1:00 - 3:00pm. From 3:00pm - 4:00
reserved for continued fellowship.
Friday Evenings/Matthew 8:20 Street Ministry: Some volunteers
choose to participate with the preparation for the evening and begin to meet at the Peter Maurin Center; 1096 South Main Street
at or around 6:00pm. Others choose to meet the group at St. Bernards Church, Downtown Akron at 7:00pm or so. All or part of
the group then moves to Grace Park, Downtown Akron at or about 8:15 or so.
Sunday's: 12:00pm
doors open for fellowship and refreshments. Meal is served from 1:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 4:00pm is reserved for
continued fellowship.
If you have any questions regarding our schedule, participation in any way, or would just
like to chat, feel free to contact us at 330-384-1430 Dorothy Day House,(anytime/message) or 330-258-9006 Peter Maurin
Center, during the above hours of operation. Thank You! The Catholic Worker of Akron is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization. Your donations may be tax
deductable. We are happy to provide you with a statement of your contributions.
Thank You!
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