More than 1,000 men, women and children have lived at Mary House since it was founded in 1991 by Lynn Goodman-Strauss, who remains a permanent member of the community.
Feed the Hungry • Give Drink to the Thirsty •
Clothe the Naked • Welcome the Stranger • Visit the Prisoner •
Comfort the Sick • Bury the Dead
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Pray for the Living and the Dead • Bear Wrongs
Patiently • Forgive Offenses • Instruct the Ignorant •
Comfort the Afflicted • Counsel the Doubtful •
Admonish Sinners
Mary House Catholic Worker of Austin, Inc.
Mary House Catholic Worker welcomes critically and
terminally ill adults to live until they are financially and medically stable,
or until they die from a terminal illness. About one-third of our guests are
recently middle-class people whose illnesses have outlasted their benefits and
resources. We all live in a 2,400 square foot duplex that has a women’s side and
a men’s side. Flowers, herbs and a few vegetables and berries grow in our
gardens.
Affiliated with the international Catholic Worker
Movement founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, Mary House performs
the Works of Mercy on the streets and at our House of Hospitality. Mary House
Catholic Worker of Austin, Inc., is a nonprofit, 501(c).3 ministry.
There are 189 Catholic Worker houses throughout the world – 168 in 37 U.S.
states (nine in Texas) and 21 in the rest of the world.Lynn Goodman-Strauss first opened Mary House in 1991 for the neediest of Central Texans in a small house near the Clarksville neighborhood in West Austin. Since then about 1,000 men, women and children have lived at Mary House. Room and board are provided at no cost to homeless adults living in hospice care or recovering from serious illness. The hospitality house moved to its present location in South Austin in 2003.
Mary House receives money and in-kind donations (food, clothing, bedding, adaptive medical equipment, furniture and even cars!) from people of faith and good will, including many individuals and faith communities, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin and the Religious Coalition to Assist the Homeless.
We welcome assistance – spiritual, material and financial – on behalf of our destitute guests who are “Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor” (Mother Teresa).
How can I help Mary House guests?
We request, in order of importance – Prayer, Presence and Presents.
Prayer for the safety and providence of God through all people for guests and workers
Presence through volunteer services (cooking, cleaning, sharing a meal, bringing a movie to watch, gardening or just visiting with our guests)
Presents of your old magazines, furniture, cars and clothing; new white athletic socks, and extra food or small amounts of money.
The Mary House Web Site
Please help if you can by contacting, or sending donations to:
Mary House Catholic Worker of Austin, Inc.
P.O. Box 684185
Austin, TX 78768-4185
