By Anastasia Pinto / Photo: Paolo Pegoraro (PUG)
The Lay Centre was honored to partner in organizing the international academic symposium “Dorothy Day: A Pilgrim of Hope” at the Pontifical Gregorian University, held in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame Rome, Manhattan College, and the Dorothy Day Guild, on November 26.
The afternoon of reflection and dialogue opened with a prayer led by members of The Lay Centre community, followed by words of welcome from Fr. Mark Lewis, S.J., rector of the Gregorian University, and Prof. Donna Orsuto, director of the Department of Moral Theology and Spiritual Theology, as well as co-founder and senior advisor of The Lay Centre.
In her remarks, Donna Orsuto recalled Pope Leo XIV’s recent tribute to Dorothy Day, in which he described her as “a small, great American woman… who united mind, heart, and hands.” These words set the tone for the symposium—an exploration of one woman’s courageous faith and enduring witness, which continues to inspire hope and renewal throughout the Church and the world.
“Dorothy served meals, gave clothes, dressed and ate like those she served: she united mind, heart and hands. In this way, to hope is to take a stand.”
— Pope Leo XIV, Jubilee Audience, 22 November 2025
The Meaning, Originality, and Limits of Dorothy Day’s Spirituality
Moderated by Dr. Filipe Domingues, director of The Lay Centre, the first roundtable explored the spiritual depth of Dorothy Day’s journey. Dr. Margaret Pfeil of the University of Notre Dame reflected on Day as “a pilgrim of hope,” whose spirituality was profoundly incarnational—one that recognized God’s presence in beauty, motherhood, and the Eucharist.
“For Dorothy,” Pfeil noted, “beauty was not sentimental but sacramental—the way grace enters the world.”
Robert Ellsberg, editor-in-chief and publisher of Orbis Books and a longtime friend of Day, offered a moving personal testimony about her holiness in ordinary life. “Dorothy implanted in me a vocation,” he shared, “to make her holiness, and that of others like her, better known.”
Together, the speakers highlighted a spirituality rooted in humility, integrity, and daily fidelity—a witness that continues to shape and inspire new generations of seekers.
Dorothy Day’s Social Commitment
Moderated by Giulia Galeotti of L’Osservatore Romano, the second roundtable focused on Dorothy Day’s prophetic social witness. In a video message, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York highlighted her enduring relevance: “Though Dorothy Day is being celebrated in the Eternal City, she belongs to the world.”
Dr. Kevin Ahern of Manhattan College traced Day’s influence on Catholic teaching regarding conscience and peace, recalling her fast during the Second Vatican Council in protest against nuclear weapons. “Her pacifism was not idealism,” he said. “It was realism—about what faith demands.”
Fr. Diego Alonso-Lasheras, S.J., added that Day’s Catholic Worker movement embodied what he described as “structures of grace”—communities in which charity becomes reform, and holiness transforms society from within.
Family Recollections and the Living Legacy of Dorothy Day
In a deeply personal session, Dorothy Day’s granddaughters, Martha and Kate Hennessy, shared heartfelt memories of their grandmother. Martha spoke of love made concrete:
“Having a woman come in cold and dirty, giving her clean clothes and a warm cup of coffee—that’s what we have to do.”
Kate, speaking through tears, added, “Dorothy still makes us nervous—she challenges us to open our hearts and live with loving kindness.”
Their reflections brought the symposium to an intimate and moving close, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s tribute to a woman who united mind, heart, and hands.
Hospitality in Action at The Lay Centre
On Thursday afternoon, The Lay Centre hosted a follow-up meeting, offering an informal and intimate space for discussion and reflection. Building on the insights of the symposium at the Gregorian, the gathering invited participants to engage with Pope Leo’s question, “Brother, sister, where are you?” and to explore how Dorothy Day’s life and witness continue to challenge us to respond to war, injustice, and social indifference.
The conversations highlighted the enduring friendship and spiritual resonance between Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa, as well as the practical ways in which Day’s spirituality continues to be lived today.
Guests—including Dorothy Day’s granddaughters and members of houses of hospitality—shared personal stories and experiences of compassionate action. The afternoon concluded with a visit to the rooms of Mother Teresa, located near The Lay Centre on the Hill of San Gregorio al Celio in Rome.
