In early 2025, the Fireplace Community welcomed two new residents: Katerina Sasieta and Melanie Winston.

Dare to Love is a podcast that cultivates vocation awareness in the Archdiocese of Chicago through discussion of topics related to vocation discernment and promotion. In this episode, the co-hosts talk with Sr. Sharon Dillon, SSJ-TOSF about The Fireplace, an intentional community located in Hyde Park, Chicago.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! As 2024 draws to a close, the Fireplace Community extends its best wishes to our friends and supporters. We write to share some updates and express our love, gratitude, and hope for the year to come. 

Miriam Attia writes about the tradition of wassailing in Hyde Park, including at the Fireplace Community.

"Ms. Tik" visited the Fireplace and recorded a podcast episode about artists, change, and community, featuring a conversation with Abby Rampone.

Our search for new residents continues! Thank you to everyone who has joined us in spreading the word. We still need your help to recruit new residents who will build, lead, and grow the Fireplace. Here are some easy steps you can take today.

The Fireplace recently completed a six-month strategic planning process, through which we made crucial decisions about our legal status, governance, programming, finances, and mission. We believe these decisions reflect our core values and put us on the path toward long-term sustainability. 

“Over the weekend, members of the Poor People's Army, Galen, Cheri, Leela, Nick, Tara, and Vince were hosted once again in Chicago at The Fireplace by Sister Sharon for a Community Dinner which gathered organizations, activists, and fellow comrades in the area.”

The Poor People’s Army shared about their stay at the Fireplace during a recent visit to Chicago. “Chicago is a battleground where both Democrats and Republicans fight with semantics and empty symbolism, while the poor, undocumented, and homeless continue to suffer from capitalist greed and struggle day-to-day to survive.”

FutureChurch features the Fireplace Community as “an emerging model of parish and community life.” Martha Ligas interviewed Abby Rampone and Kalen Cobb.

Cassidy Klein writes about the Fireplace Community for A Matter of Spirit, the quarterly justice journal of the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.

The Fireplace was featured in our local newspaper, the Hyde Park Herald.

Sr. Julia Walsh writes for Living City, a publication of Folocare Media: “For most of my adult life, I have lived in intentional community. I’ve shared a home and the rhythms of daily life with a variety of people who are committed to being more than roommates: we are committed to being a team who cares for each other and shares a joint purpose.”

“Welcome to the Fireplace “ is an original song by Greg Sutherland, a member of our extended community! Please enjoy this recording of his performance at a Fireplace Open Mic Night (May 19, 2023).

Angela Paviglianiti writes: “Over the past year and a half, the gift of being in relationship with this intergenerational community of Franciscan religious women and lay spiritual companions has been a radical source of healing for me, which has given me the courage to discern how I am being invited to serve the next chapter of my life.”

The Fireplace is seeking new members for our residential community!

Sr. Julia Walsh was a guest speaker at the recent International Conference on Cohesive Societies held in Singapore. She speaks on this podcast about community life and The Fireplace.

Sr. Julia Walsh writes for FSPA: “I entered religious life feeling excited to learn from my Franciscan Sisters and interested in other forms of faith-based intentional community, such as New Monasticism and the Catholic Worker movements.”

Sr. Julia Walsh reflects on happenings in The Fireplace backyard for Global Sisters Report.

“Dare to Love,” a podcast of the Archdiocese of Chicago, interviews Sr. Sharon Dillon about the Fireplace Community.