New York Irish community nuclear disarmament activists Brendan Fay and Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, along with Robert Croonquist and other members of the New York Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, together with city and church officials and the Catholic Worker Movement, are this week celebrating the launch of the newest Staten Island Ferry the "Dorothy Day."
Drogheda native Fay said that he first heard about Dorothy Day before he came to the U.S.
“I was active with Pax Christi and Irish CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and met New York based Youth For Peace founders and International youth ministry leaders Mike Warren and Connie Loos.
"They told me about Catholic Worker co-founder Dorothy Day and Trappist Thomas Merton as they encouraged me to consider graduate studies. Shortly after arriving in New York I made my way to the Catholic Worker on the Lower East Side. On this May Day 2023 I am moved to be here honoring Dorothy Day and celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Catholic Worker Movement.”
At the Staten Island St. George Terminal Fay and Dr. Kathleen Sullivan held posters and distributed cards welcoming riders to the new Dorothy Day ferry.
“New York City celebrates the remarkable legacy of Dorothy Day by naming a Staten Island Ferry for her. NYCAN celebrates Dorothy Day as a Nuclear Free NYC Hero. From the advent of the nuclear arms race until today, Day knew that the only means to prevent nuclear war is nuclear abolition.” said Dr. Sullivan.
Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was a writer, journalist and a Catholic convert. At her death in November 1980 she was described as the “most influential, interesting and significant figure” in the history of American Catholicism.
Fay recalled that Pope Francis, in his 2015 address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, highlighted Day's witness saying: “In these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to mention the Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker Movement. Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.”
According to a release from Fay and Sullivan, there is a cause for the canonization of Dorothy Day. There are some 150 Catholic Worker Houses of Hospitality across the United States and around 29 world-wide where poor and houseless people can find a warm welcome, hot meal, dignity and respect.
Dorothy Day’s granddaughter, Martha Hennessy, speaking at the Staten Island Ferry launch ceremony, recalled her grandmother’s affection for New York City, for Staten Island and highlighted her lifelong dedication for a world free from the terror of war.
Brendan Fay added: Our city and world needs the witness of Dorothy Day more than ever. The naming of the ferry for Dorothy Day is a marvelous and fitting tribute to this New York woman of compassion and advocate for the elimination of poverty and nuclear weapons.
"Besides, it is the city’s only free public transport. As we ride the Dorothy Day Staten Island Ferry my prayer and hope is that like her we become passionate advocates for worker and immigrant rights and for the sake of our children and a future of hope together rid our world of the threat of nuclear weapons.”
