I was a graduate student in his last semester at Iowa State University when God called me to give more of my heart to Himself through serving at the Ames Romero House. It is somewhat paradoxical that when we feel that we are giving it all, specially to God, He challenges us to even more greatness. As if we would be a full cup of water that needs to enlarge to hold more water poured out by God´s grace. The water on this cup is love, and the cup is your soul. It´s only when we give all of ourselves, that we allow our souls to be transformed. On December of 2020 I had the desire to help a brother, Matt Mitchell, to continue the mission of his heart: To start a Catholic Worker House in Ames. I planned to be there during Winter Break. Yet, once I entered the house, I knew I could not stay just few weeks, but until my graduation. Entering to the Ames Romero House was an invitation to consider other´s care my care. It was a daily immersion to self-evaluation/reflection of my walk-in life. Not only I found great moments of joy and peace at this house, but also felt the privilege to impact people´s life by my openness to God´s will. There were challenges, indeed, but those were opportunities to grow in confidence and love. After 6 months living with our brothers from the streets, I realized how similar and fragile we are. I found such a wisdom and strength in some of them that I did not have. They lifted me up in moments of despair. They humbled me out in ways I never thought I needed. As I look back to the great experience of living at the Ames Romero House, I went thinking that those people from the street needed me. What I did not know, it is how much I needed them. I miss my life and dear community at the Ames Romero House, and I would repeat over and over this experience. God worked real miracles around this house. Miracles of love. If you want to enter into God´s life and truly experience what we are called to, my dear brother, I invite you to participate of this house and let God do the rest.

In my time at the Romero House I was able to learn how to love and encounter God through his children. The house is truly a unique place in that it gave me daily opportunities to learn how to live like Christ. I learned how to let go of control, how to lead with compassion, and most importantly how to love. Jesus called us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give rest to the weary. The Romero house is a place that puts this into practice. I absolutely loved the opportunity to form real connections and grow in relationship with those in the community. If you are looking for an opportunity to step outside yourself and live in a way that is real and selfless, please reach out a see how you can get involved!

I lived at the Romero House the summer of 2022. I was filled with a great fire at the time for wanting to live in poverty and love those who were poor, and the House provided an outlet for that desire. While there, I experienced the real messiness of love, in that I came to love my housemates and truly care for them, but at the same time I realized that I was not capable of fixing their problems. It was very purifying for me to sit in this love with others and surrender my ideals of how I wished for them to grow. The summer was also filled with lots of joy and laughter! I found so much peace in our daily prayer, time with the chickens, and the contemplative space that was fostered by the loving environment of the home. I loved getting to meet guests as they came to the door, joke around with Big Mike, write poetry about the animals, and provide a space for others to gather! I still am good friends with Matt and I spend a good amount of time at the House. I am very grateful for the time spent and friendship gained while at the house, and I pray others get to experience that too!

I've been a Catholic Worker live-in at the Romero House since we began in 2020. I have seen so many beautiful things come from the community surrounding this house and mission. I initially felt the call to live in intentional community when I was a sophmore in college and began encountering the beauty of fraternity and life together, especially in a common mission with shared disciplines and prayer together. Living at the Romero House has brought me out of my confort zone both spritually and practically. It has formed my world view and helped me to discern my vocation in life. If you are looking for a way to give yourself radically to others while also being nourished by community and a deepening spiritual life, I invite you to discern if God is calling you to be a Catholic Worker.

I lived in the Romero House for six months at the beginning of 2023. I was drawn to the house’s mission of cultivating community and promoting the dignity of all people. During my time at the Romero House, I was challenged – challenged with physical labor, challenged with being in constant relationship with members of the house (other live-ins included), and challenged with supporting people who are cold, hungry, tired, and frustrated. These challenges shed light on areas where I was inadequate. In return, the house provided me with the support and encouragement to grow – to stop ignoring problems and do something about them. I believe that is something the house does for everyone who interacts with it. The community that surrounds and supports the house is full of so many wonderful people, and it is amazing to see the impact that they can have when they work together towards a common goal. My experience at the Romero House is unlike any experience I have had before, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to experience radical love and the mix of struggles, joy, and peace that comes with it. This type of love is messy, but it has the power to transform you.

"I've been a live-in for 21 dog years and I hold down the fort. Everyone who comes to the house comes to see me. I am really good at making people feel bad for me and give me food from the table. I am always down for a walk, but when you say you want to do it, you better follow through!"