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Who We Are
The Gift of Tears is a seamless garment
Catholic Worker Farm that strives to live the Gospel in
light of Catholic Social Teaching. Our goal, in
accordance with the Appalachian Bishops’ two Pastorals, is
to provide a center of spirituality and hope with and for
the people of the mountains. Through programs that
promote social justice, educate on its issues and serve
local people we attempt to address both the causes and
effects of poverty in the region. Our community
consists of many people who come and go while one lives here
full-time. |
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Where We Are
 In
August, 2002, the Gift of Tears began in Spencer, WV, about an hour
northeast of Charleston. Since then the operation has
moved a few times but regardless of where we are, it's always “home” to 2 dogs, a one-eyed cat, an
ark of other animals and, at any given moment, a human or two. |
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What We Do...
A Spiritual E.C.O. Center
(Education, Contemplation, Outreach)
Education:
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The Inner Voice
- quarterly newsletter with monthly updates.
The Bag Lady - experiential education in peace & justice through -
· -Speaking Engagements
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-Character Building
· -Leadership Training
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-Outdoor Education
· -Service Learning
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Contemplation:
Outreach:
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I.R.A.K.
(Isaac’s Random Acts of Kindness)
Pennies for Potties - fundraising for
Bandipur, Nepal
Camp Namaste - annual summer camp for local kids.
Service Groups - hosting visiting volunteer groups.
Community Projects
· -Catholic Committee of Appalachia - promoting Bishops’
Pastorals.
· -Roane Rural Housing - providing affordable housing to low
income families.
· -Sunny Bank Farm, Inc. - a residential community for the
disadvantaged.
· -No Name Farm Land Trust - securing a natural sanctuary. |
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| How We Survive... |
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We receive non-tax-exempt donations from groups and
individuals
who support us and the ministries we provide. |
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Our Patron Saint
 St.
Isaac of Nineveh
Died, c 700 AD
Feast Day: January 28th
“The fruits of the inner man begin only with the shedding of tears.
When you reach the place of tears, then know that your spirit has
come out from the prison of this world and has set its foot upon the
path that leads towards the new age….”
St. Isaac is a 7th century saint of both the Eastern and Western
traditions, and a known source of wisdom and inspiration. He was an
ascetic from the town of Bet Qatraye on the Persian Gulf, and in 660
AD, was ordained Bishop of Nineveh, an ancient city in present-day
Iraq. Yet, Isaac was drawn to the solitary life and left his
position after only five months. He retired to a monastery in Iran
where he wrote and, it is said, studied Scripture so much it
eventually made him blind.
Isaac is best known for his writings on the exercises of asceticism
as means to focusing on God. He suggests a three-fold way of the
mind, body and spirit. Fasting, vigils and sacred song remedy our
earthly desires and distractions so the soul may be opened to a
greater understanding of, and communion with God.
However, it was Isaac’s concept of the Gift of Tears that
specifically touched our hearts when we began our ministry. Tears,
as ‘gift’, have been alluded to by many mystics and scholars
throughout the centuries. Ignatius of Loyola talked extensively
about this grace, and the concept is often attributed to him despite
its earlier references by Isaac.
There are several instances, throughout our lives and with this
work, when we experience so strongly God’s love and presence with us
that we are brought to tears. It is seeing the beautiful innocence
of a child in our rural slums, taking in the awesome vastness of
these ancient Appalachian hills, or showing our weakest selves and
still being accepted by our neighbors; we feel completely empty and
completely filled at the same time. Extreme polarities in perfect
balance. St. Isaac says, “But we are not accustomed to such an
experience and finding it hard to endure, our body is suddenly
overcome by a weeping mingled with joy.” It is in gratitude for
this experience of God that we are named:
The St. Isaac of Nineveh—Gift of Tears Catholic Worker.
How it All Began…
The Catholic Worker Movement began simply enough on May 1, 1933,
when a journalist named Dorothy Day and a philosopher named Peter
Maurin teamed up to publish and distribute a newspaper called “The
Catholic Worker.” This radical paper promoted the biblical promise
of justice and mercy.
Grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human
person, their movement was committed to nonviolence, voluntary
poverty, and the Works of Mercy as a way of life. It wasn’t long
before Dorothy and Peter were putting their beliefs into action,
opening “houses of hospitality” (and farming communes) where the
homeless, hungry and forsaken would always be welcome.
Over many decades the movement has protested injustice, war, and
violence of all forms. Today there are some 130 Catholic Worker
communities in the United States alone.
For more information on the Catholic Worker Movement go to:
www.catholicworker.org
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