Our Work, Our Community

Our Mission

It is our belief that every child deserves to be born into a stable home and every expecting mother needs social, spiritual, and financial sustenance. Unfortunately, many women do not have family or community that can meet these needs. St. John Bosco House seeks to provide the opportunity for a safe and stable home life no matter what mistakes were made in the past.  Our house is a respectful home with aspirations, rules and expectations.  We recognize that all human beings stumble, and we will offer our hand to help young women back onto their feet as many times as they need.  We do not condone or enable behavior that is disrespectful or destructive. We continually offer the opportunity for change of heart. We continually hope for it, continually pray for it.

Though it is our faith that sustains our desire and commitment to help these young women, no one is ever pressured to accept or even listen to our beliefs.  Catholic Workers desire to represent Christ's presence in our actions, not just our words.

Some of our Founders
Some of our founders Current Workers and Community

Our Goals:

Questions:

What is a Catholic Worker?
In 1933, Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day began a newspaper that quickly grew into a worldwide movement.  The Catholic Worker espouses a philosophy grounded in the social teachings of the Catholic Church which proclaim the profound dignity and value of every human being.  Catholic Workers take personal responsibility for works of mercy and live in voluntary simplicity. Catholic Workers are not all necessarily Catholic, but rather people who devote their lives to working with the poor. Each Catholic Worker community is different, and those of us working on this project have put much thought into how we may best serve the poor of Eugene.
And what about us?
We are a small group of individuals who believe firmly in the work of Dorothy Day and the commission to serve homeless people in our community.  Eugene's biggest un-met need is a home for young adult women who find themselves pregnant and in need of housing. St. John Bosco House is a home, not a shelter, where young women can find the stability that may have been absent in their lives.  We believe that spiritual and emotional health are integrally linked, and that the quiet witness of how we live our lives can make a difference in the lives of the young families we serve.  Eugene has a myriad of social services, but none like what we offer.
What goes on in the house?
We provide a home for up to four young adult mothers. On a daily basis, the women take care of their own business: some work, some are GED or community college students, some are in recovery or dealing with legal issues. Each weekday the house closes for several hours, which encourages the women to get out and about. Individual and group meetings are held weekly so that the Workers can help the residents with their budgets, their personal issues, and plan for being on their own.
What's this house like?
It's a 2 story, 4 bedroom house located in a quiet neighborhood in West Eugene.  This is a temporary location with the goal to purchase a house in the future.  Up to 4 women and their children can be housed in the upper bedrooms (which are huge).
Where is this?
Eugene is a small, progressive, college town located in beautiful Willamette Valley.  With miles of running and bicycle paths, living in Eugene is quite pleasant despite the winter rain!  We are an hour to both the mountains and the ocean.  Eugene is known for social and environmental activism and sustainable living, .

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