I am proposing the formation of a Catholic Homesteading Community here in Alabama that would be similar to that of the Amish, but Catholic. The center of such a community would be the church, but more specifically the Holy Eucharist. Individuals would either walk or use horse and buggy to get from place to place. Families would help each other build log houses out of the materials the Good Lord has provided them. When one member of the community is sick, the others pitch in and help until he or she is better. More than anything, it would be Catholics in community with each other. Children would be amongst other children of similar beliefs. Such a community would not be based upon one person's rule. This community would be based upon a core group of people who have spent time before the Holy Eucharist in prayer prior to making a decision together. It would be a core group of people who chose to wait nine days in novena prayer to the Holy Spirit before making a decision. To quote Father Robert J. Fox of the Fatima Family Messenger, "Catholic parents who move to an areas where there is a more simple life and where they will find Catholic support from other families admit at times to forging a less affluent lifestyle. They have had to use their creative abilities, have vision, even create jobs, so to speak. They may have less income 'but'they say, 'we now have treasures that are eternal, and this no money can buy.'"

There are several reasons I propose Alabama as a location. One, the planting season is long. Two, the winters are short, therefore you have much more time to build. Three, you are in very close proximity to EWTN and several other monasteries which can be tremendously beneficial and fourth, land costs are reasonable and taxes are very low.

There is much, much more than what I can put here, but if anyone is interested in the formation, please feel free to e-mail me. God Bless!

Ron DiIenno rdiienno@bellsouth.net

-- Ron DiIenno (rdiienno@bellsouth.net), March 10, 2001

Answers

I'm not sure you would need to build an intentional community for what you seek. For example, McEwen, TN was founded by a Catholic priest and there is an active Catholic congregation, church and school (K-6) there. It still has that small town flavor.

You are probably aware there is a severe shortage of Catholic priests today. So probably you would have to have a layperson conduct services with a visiting priest coming in perhaps once a month.

On these types of efforts, it would be far better to put a short Countryside Contacts item in an issue as the forum reaches only a very, very small percentage of its readership.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 10, 2001.

Ron,

You may want to look in the Cullman, Blount Co. area for land, as the prices are lower and it is in close proximity to St. Bernards Monastery and prep school.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 10, 2001.

Hi Ron,

I know some families who just moved near there and would definitely be interested in talking to you.

Meg

-- Meg Lund (MegDCL@webtv.net), July 22, 2001.

I am interested in such a thing. My wife and I have considered forming an intentional community that would implement the distributivist values of Schumacher and Chesterton--where work, family, land, and existence are knitted together, as is more proper to the natural law. We just converted to the Church (2002) and would only join a Catholic Community where we would have daily access to the Eucharist.

-- Keith Rickert Jr. (keithrickertjr@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Hi Ron -

Do you think it would be OK to give Full of Grace a plug here? www.fullofgracenews.com

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 09, 2002.