“The Long Loneliness in Baltimore”: Stories of Viva House and a Half Century of life with The Catholic Worker

Brendan Walsh, a former seminarian, and Willa Bickham, a former member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, established Viva House, a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality in Baltimore, 47 years ago and have run it continuously ever since, devoting their lives to the hallowed and holy enterprise of bearing witness. Their book, The Long Loneliness in Baltimore, offers a view of the city few people have seen, including many who have lived there. In addition to providing a historical overview, the book presents poignant vignettes, moments of revelation that illuminate the life of the neighborhood and the plight of the poor—not just the poor of Baltimore, but those across our country who struggle to survive in the merciless environment of the modern American city. Brendan’s unflinching narrative and Willa’s delicately rendered illustrations of daily life give a face and a name to the anonymous poor and depict the challenges they face. Their stories attest to the lives, the courage and the wisdom encountered in ordinary people.