About Us

Jeannie Kirkhope with Maggie & Otto

If there is such a thing as a typical Catholic Worker House, you’re likely imagining an intentional community of volunteers and/or staff, living with those whom they serve.  An ideal CW Farm would include the same, with a strong focus on working the land.  After all, this is what Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin had envisioned.  Be that as it may,  the Appalachian Catholic Worker has been a solo act more often than not, whether unconsciously contrived or providentially prescribed.  It’s made up of hermitic monasticism, outreach ministries, and half-hearted attempts at gardening in the woods.  I realize this may cause our co-founders to be on rotisserie in their graves and disappoint some of you who might be looking for a more “traditional” CW  community in which to live and serve, but it’s been working for me thus far, so I’ve just been going with it.

Bill Reichenbach

I can admit, though, that it hasn’t come without its challenges. Since I moved to West Virginia and began living as a Catholic Worker in 2000, I’ve had to move my ministries several times.   Finally, in 2007, with the generous offer to purchase a chunk of his own land at no interest, I was able to set up a live-in office / hermitage, next door to Bill Reichenbach.  Since then, he has allowed me to spread out my programming over his property, and use his home and bunk house to accommodate groups.  When he’s not working overseas, Bill also helps me host groups and design more buildings so we can grow with the needs. Without his overwhelming generosity and belief in what I do, I would likely still be floundering. So, regardless of his intentions, I consider Bill a core member of my nebulous Catholic Worker “community.”

As I just made apparent, I have broadened the definition of “community.”  This one consists of many people who come and go, and many who have never even been here:  other Catholic Workers, neighbors in the hollers, friends across the country, and supporters worlds away. In fact, if you’re learning about me/us/this for the first time… POOF!   Congratulations!   You are now part of the community here, too!  Welcome! Despite whether you visit or not, what your purposes are, or how you become involved, it is my hope that your experiences with the Appalachian Catholic Worker feel all-inclusive and lead you to greater self-understanding, worldly love, and a oneness with creation and its Creator.

peace,
jeannie

For more information on the history and other influential community members, see the 10th Anniversary issue of the Inner Voice.