One-woman show on Dorothy Day at Holy Child Church

[Beau_Ouiville]

Well, I guess since Labor Day is past, then a church play about a socialist should be fine.

"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Holy Child Church will host a one-woman show, “Fool for Christ,” about the life of Dorothy Day, on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Sarah Melici will portray the “warrior of peace” and others who came into her life as she accomplished extraordinary things with faith at her core. Day, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, is considered one of the most important social thinkers of the 20th century and supporters are working to have the former Staten Islander canonized. "

silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/one-woman_show_on_dorothy_day.html

 

[challam2010]

Characterizing Dorothy Day as “a socialist” denigrates the hands-on work for the poor that she gave her life to. She served Jesus in the poor as few people of the 20th century did – no matter what her politics.

 

[Dale_M]

Here is a little information on the play, from the show’s website:

One day in 1997 I found myself standing and looking at the statue… and something clicked. I started reading about Day…biographies and autobiographies and I came to love her. I realized Day’s story had great potential for theatre, that this was a woman I could and should do, whose story should be shared.

Research included going to Maryhouse and Saint Joseph House, hospitality houses in New York City where I got some first hand information about Day and saw the aims of the Catholic Worker Movement in action, a movement that serves the poor, shelters the homeless and works for peace and justice for all in the tradition of Dorothy Day. I interviewed several people who knew her including Sister Peter Claver, who gave the first dollar to the Catholic Worker Newspaper, Nina Polcyn Moore, Frank Donovan, Jane Sammon and the list goes on……And thank God there is much written by and about Dorothy Day.

In a relatively small span of theatre time, (about one hour), I move between Dorothy Day at various ages and others who came into her story, giving balanced attention to Day’s loves, spirituality and politics. There are at least a dozen characters. The staging and set are simple and suggestive of many different places.

foolforchrist.com/about.html

A DVD of the performance is also available, if you are interested but unable to attend.:
foolforchrist.com/dvd.html

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Characterizing Dorothy Day as “a socialist” denigrates …

I disagree. Actually, it accurately explains a lot about her. “Socialist” is no insult.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Characterizing Dorothy Day as “a socialist” denigrates the hands-on work for the poor that she gave her life to. She served Jesus in the poor as few people of the 20th century did – no matter what her politics.

When I was in high school and college, I volunteered at the Catholic Worker, which she started, so know a bit about those folks. There’s nothing wrong with her being a socialist. Don’t confuse the term with the term the Eastern Bloc used to describe their system…