Simone Weil Intentional Community Member

Position: Simone Weil Catholic Worker Seeks Intentional Community Member

Job Overview

Simone Weil Catholic Worker (Portland, OR) is seeking a live‑in intentional community member/Catholic Worker (full time, but part‑time outside work is fine).

But first, read our website to get a sense for who we are.

Who We Are

Simone Weil Catholic Worker seeks to live the microcosm of “a society where it is easier to be good” in Portland, Oregon. We organize ourselves as an urban agronomic university, integrating work, prayer, study, and hospitality. In everything, we seek to live and support “conversion of life” to the Gospel.

Living Arrangements & Hospitality

We are two houses across the street that form a community. Simone Weil House hosts work and public gatherings, including backyard tiny homes. Dorothy Day House is a four‑bedroom house across the street that is still peaceful despite increasing farm elements. We offer supportive, residential community in three backyard tiny houses and a heavily‑used free fridge/pantry/clothing closet in our front yard.

We host regular open dinners, work parties, liturgical prayer, and a “2nd world” in our front yard for neighbors, those in need and anyone who wants to share a particular, fun Christian life.

Prayer & Work

We are associated with the Benedictine Abbey of Mount Angel as oblates, borrowing from their rhythm of Ora et Labora
. We pray the Eastern liturgy of the hours, mostly shared by Byzantine Catholics and Greek Orthodox. Weekdays are structured: 6:30 am Matins, Midday Prayer, Vespers or Compline Prayer (varies). We are evolving a structure of manual work periods shared by intentional community and resident guests, including food prep, gardening, raising chickens and soon‑to‑be goats, cottage industries (paper, candles) and making resources available through our front yard Free Fridge and clothing closet.

Shared

Study & Community Projects

In 2025, our shared study alternates between reading Peter Maurin’s favorite books and running “experiments” in Christian life, shared with a virtual community that meets weekly. We host monthly in‑person “clarification of thought” gatherings, usually including reading aloud and discussion.

We live and invite others into a complex home economy focusing on making, growing/raising, and bulk‑buying food for ourselves, supporting the free pantry and refrigerator in our front yard. We have experimented with food sharing through a CSA‑inspired Community‑Supported Pantry, which we hope to revive.

Communion Economy

Our community is a center for economic practices and learning that express what we believe about the Body of Christ. We facilitate “communion economy” practices, starting with a mutual‑aid credit union community offering 0% interest loans guaranteed within the community to prevent and redeem interest‑bearing debt. We also support other communities, especially parishes, to do the same. Topics explored include food growing and buying, medical debt/insurance, technology, and reconciliation/mediation.

Community

Members

Current members:
Bert (since 2019), Emma (since 2020), Madeleine (2024, departing for grad school mid‑May), Helia (2025).

Communications

We publish a periodic newsletter, which we plan to transition to a full newspaper.

Qualities for Potential Fit

• Desire to share life in community, including with folks previously living on the streets
• Interest in continuing Catholic and Eastern Christian formation (active interest in shared practices and framework, including liturgy of the hours and Scripture)
• Interest in engaging in faith conversations and discussing liberal arts texts and responding to large community problems
• Interest in “radical” Christianity in Peter Maurin’s sense – the challenge of the Gospel, his radical economic program, especially as it relates to manual work, tech, and community‑scale mutual economy
• A sense of humor, ability to take in stride absurdities
• Availability to move in soonish

Job Information

Position:
Live‑in intentional community member/Catholic Worker (full time, part‑time outside work is fine). Live‑in (or local) summer volunteers; members of a new associate community of folks living in our second house and sharing in our life while working and contributing to rent…

To apply, please visit our website and contact us directly.

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