After 20 (And 25) Years, Amistad Vows Renewed

The Amistad Catholic Worker House — the hungry-feeding, injustice-fighting oasis on Rosette Street — usually celebrates its anniversary with a block party with a moon bounce, popcorn, and water sprayed from a fire hydrant on their tight-knit block in the Hill. Sunday the group celebrated its 20th anniversary with a blow-out at Lighthouse Point Park.

Who footed the bill? The New York Police Department.

Mark Colville, a founder of the Catholic Worker House, participated in a nonviolent action in New York protesting the 2008 Republican National Convention that ended in arrests and a 6‑year-long class action lawsuit. When the City of New York settled, Colville, who lives in voluntary poverty, found himself $14,000 richer.

That money could have gone toward fixing the leaky roof at Rosette Street. Instead the group rented the Lighthouse pavilion (with carousel inside) right on the beach. Food and sangria were abundant, and Carlos Santiago y Su Momento Musical served up salsa, merengue, and bachata well into the night, Mark and Luz Colville, also celebrated 25 years together, renewing their vows on the beach at sunset.

“In movements we often forget to celebrate victories and be extravagant and enjoy life,” he said. ​“It’s a good time to seize this moment and bring people together and have a party — it’s only money. We don’t have to be captive to capitalism to stop and be grateful that we can celebrate our 20th anniversary in a big way.”

He said the positive energy at the celebration will inspire people to give more and has in the long run made the Catholic Worker more secure in its future. It’s the larger Catholic parishes that should be (and may soon be) fixing his roof, Covlille said.

It wasn’t clear at the party who were the donors, who were the volunteers, and who were the recipients of the organization. That’s because everyone involved does a little of each, Colville said. The lines were blurred as everyone ate, drank and danced together in the large hall.

Creating a community as inclusive as the Catholic Worker’s doesn’t come easily. Over two decades of maintaining an open door in the Hill does not make for an idyllic or private married life, he said.

“I wanted to thank her for everything she’s sacrificed, for me and for the community — really celebrate our 25th and not feel guilty,” he said. ​“I wanted to show her that our relationship and our love is central to everything.”

Meet the people who have come through Mark and Luz Colville’s open door in the past two decades, the Amistad community:

Enedelia Cruz Dominguez lived in the Catholic Worker house at 203 Rosette for her first two years in the country after moving from southern Mexico.

“I’ve always worked on social issues and community organizing in Mexico and they do similar work, but their open-door policy was a huge difference. It was a real culture shock to see how many people were coming through those door — many had problems like alcoholism — and to be honest I was scared at first. They gave me and other people so much food and clothes and I began to wonder why we can’t have this in Mexico.

“Today it’s not just those people that come in. It’s the other face of it — it’s the people who give everything and receive nothing in return. It’s a real shock to your conscience.”

Herb Turner, New Haven resident of 62 years, has been cooking breakfast for the community at the Catholic Worker for the past 18 years.

“I volunteer all my time to the Catholic Worker. When I was fighting prostate cancer, I said that if I survived I’d give it all back. I’ve seen Mark’s kids grow up, and I know everyone who comes for meals. You hear about all the bad things that happen in the Hill, but you don’t hear about what people are doing to improve the community. And that is called the Catholic Worker.

“We bring people together, give them someone to talk to, someone who will listen to them. Year-round we’re giving a helping hand to anyone who needs it; we don’t care who you are, you’ve got help from us.”

Mike Stebbins is one of the Catholic Worker’s most loyal community members. He has been eating and helping cook community meals for 15 years, and lived in the house for some time when he was homeless.

“The only thing Mark and Luz have ever done in the 15 years of me knowing them has been helping people — ‑food, clothes, furniture, everything. There are not a lot of places in our area of New Haven, like food pantries, that serve people.

“If it weren’t for Mark and Luz, a lot of people would have a lot of problems. I never really went to any outings or parties to this is really special for me.”

Kathy Schulze has been volunteering at the Catholic Worker for five years through the Vertical Church, her parish in West Haven.

“There’s still problems with crime and addiction in New Haven but it’s changed and thank God for that. People are helping each other like brothers and sisters even if they don’t know them. When people come, they greet each other with hugs and kisses and no one says, ​‘I don’t know you.’ Some of us, like me, feel that this is a calling from God.”

Anna Rose Gable lived in the Catholic worker for a year after she graduated from Yale in 2013, helping run its day-to-day operations.

“The first day I went, Herb was cooking breakfast, and I was immediately pulled in by the openness of the place. Whoever shows up, gets to eat. It’s a pleasure to see the whole community here at the same time. Usually they’re just trickling in.

“This celebration represents the most diverse and inclusive community. There are homeless people next to rich philanthropists, volunteers of all situations — the work of Amistad inspires generosity in everyone no mater what their economic status. It’s fun to see everyone having a good time. This community definitely deserves that.”