Volunteer Spotlights
Gavin & Ella
Ella Townsend and Gavin Anderson both started volunteering at the Ames Romero House last spring and have continued to volunteer every Friday since that time. Both are seniors at Iowa State, and they are looking forward to graduating and starting their post-college careers in genetics and agronomy, respectively. Even while busy with social, school, and church activities, Ella and Gavin commit three hours each Friday to serving the needy in Ames.
When asked about their favorite ARH experiences, they both mentioned the unique stories and interesting experiences they learn from our guests. They love spending time with the children that visit ARH and sharing in the love the individuals and families bring during the hospitality hours. We always look forward to seeing Ella and Gavin each Friday – thank you for what you do!
Mark Moore
Mark Moore has been a consistent volunteer ever since our hospitality model changed in 2023. Mark attends St. Cecilia’s parish and is quite active in church activities and giving back to the community. Mark joined our mission after spending time with Matt Mitchell at a spiritual retreat. After this retreat, Mark committed his time and efforts to the Ames Romero House.
Each Thursday, Mark spends 3 hours greeting our guests, distributing food, organizing the kitchen–and most importantly–he listens to our guests and their life stories. It’s a pleasure to see Mark interacting and providing comfort and support to our fellow citizens who are in need.
Mark and his wife Barb are giving members of our community and we are grateful to have them. Mark believes in the two most important commandments of God–to love God with all our hearts and souls, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is truly evident in his tireless commitment to our mission.
Ames Romero House is a Catholic Worker Home
The Catholic Worker Movement began in 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. 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.
The Ames Romero House is a traditional Catholic Worker Home that strictly follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. We love God with all of our hearts and souls and we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Our live-in staff are committed to daily prayer, building fraternity, and voluntary poverty–all while serving the poor. Our three pillars include solidarity with our brothers, hospitality to them and our guests, and intentional fraternity with other live-ins responding to the call to serve.
Beautiful Land Market
On Sunday, October 6, Ames Romero House presented at the Beautiful Land Market in the Fareway parking lot in downtown Ames. Various craft and arts vendors along with social service providers lined the Fareway parking lot on a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon. We were able to introduce our services to the attendees and discuss how we can better align our services to the Ames community. Community outreach and listening to the voices of the people are an integral piece to our mission.
Oscar Romero Canonization
On October 14, we celebrate the anniversary of the canonization of our patron, Saint Oscar Romero. (His feast day is March 24.) We named our mission after St. Romero due to his relentless pursuit of aiding the poor and the marginalized in society–the forgotten voices. As St. Romero said, "The ones who have a voice must speak for those that are voiceless."
Saint Oscar Romero is remembered for speaking out about the poor. He advocated boldly for the protection of the poor and the marginalized in his homilies. He urged the soldiers fighting battles in El Salvador to follow God’s commandments above their military orders to kill unarmed civilians. He strictly followed the Beatitudes preached by Jesus.
On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Romero was standing behind the altar, preparing the gifts of the offertory, when two mercenaries approached the chapel and fired a single shot from an assault rifle. Archbishop Romero died within minutes from shock and blood loss. He died as a martyr and a prophet–the greatest source of hope for millions of oppressed and impoverished Salvadorans.
Archbishop Romero’s final prophecy is reiterated by Pope John Paul II in his 1994 apostolic letter, Tertio Millenio Adveniente: "At the end of the second millennium, the Church has once again become a Church of martyrs…It is a testimony that must not be forgotten."
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