Exploring the Homes and Spirited Sites of a Contemporary Holy Figure
In the heart of New York City, a walking pilgrimage is taking place, shedding light on the life and activism of Dorothy Day, a radical peace activist, mother, journalist, and founder of the Catholic Worker movement. The journey takes visitors through significant locations that reflect key aspects of Day's work in social justice, Catholic activism, homelessness advocacy, and community building.
Union Square and Washington Square Park, prominent public gathering places in Manhattan, were hubs for outreach to the homeless and political organizing during Day's era. Here, she spoke in support of conscientious objectors in 1965 and was arrested for civil disobedience at the Women's House of Detention, leading to her imprisonment.
The Women's House of Detention, now a garden, offers tours with details about the prison and the famous and infamous women who spent time there, including Day. St. Joseph's House, a shelter for homeless women, embodies the kind of direct aid Day championed, reflecting the Catholic roots and institutions connected to her faith and commitment to serving the poor.
The saloon called The Golden Swan, though less documented, was a place where Day frequented a back room called "The Hell Hole." Eugene O'Neill, a friend of Day, based his play "The Iceman Cometh" on The Hell Hole.
Maryhouse, another Catholic Worker house, is where Dorothy Day lived and died. Her room is still filled with her books, pictures, and mementos, providing a deeper understanding of the person, as Fr. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, stated.
St. Francis Xavier Church features a large tapestry of Dorothy Day, along with other activists and spiritual leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., Dan Berrigan, Rosa Parks, and Thomas Merton.
Manhattan University (Manhattan College) has a direct connection to Dorothy Day's legacy today. As of 2024-2025, Manhattan College houses the Dorothy Day Center, which preserves archives and historical materials related to her life and work, serving as a resource on Catholic social justice.
The Dorothy Day ferry, commissioned in 2022, takes thousands of people back and forth from Manhattan to Staten Island, where Dorothy Day once had a cottage. This symbolic mode of transport connects to her outreach or memorials related to her work, though specific historical details on the ferry's connection to her life were not found.
The walking pilgrimage will be featured on the show "On Pilgrimage With Dorothy Day," offering a closer look at the geographic touchstones illustrating how Day's faith-inspired activism intersected with the city's public spaces, shelters, churches, and institutions serving the poor and marginalized. Dorothy Day's legacy continues through the Catholic Worker movement, which still publishes the Catholic Worker newspaper and operates a network of houses of hospitality that feed and provide shelter for the poor.
As Day's cause for sainthood in the Catholic Church progresses, this walking pilgrimage provides a unique opportunity for visitors to step into her world, gaining a deeper understanding of her life, her activism, and her enduring impact on social justice in New York City and beyond.
- The historical significance of Union Square and Washington Square Park, where Dorothy Day spent time advocating for homeless individuals and political change, are key stops on the walking pilgrimage related to her life and activism.
- A tour of the garden at the Women's House of Detention, where Day was imprisoned for civil disobedience, offers insights into her actions for social justice and Catholic activism, reflecting the lifestyles and history she is now remembered for.
