CHARLESTON — The sixth annual Oktoberfest, to benefit the St. Hedwig Haus of Hospitality and the Servant of God Augustus Tolton House of Hospitality will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Eastern Illinois University Newman Catholic Center, 500 Roosevelt Drive, in Charleston. Families are invited to the afternoon activities that will benefit the continuing ministry of the Catholic Worker Community.

Music will be provided and the St. Charles Kinder choir will perform. There will be games as well as food, bingo and a beer tent for those 21 and over. A Kickstand raffle will also be held with prizes including his and hers Schwinn bikes and a patio set. Raffle tickets will be sold before and during the “fest” and winners need not be present to win.

St. Hedwig Haus of Hospitality opened in October 2011. The Augustus Tolton House, which is set to open later this year, was made possible by a grant from the Charleston Area Charitable Trust. They are Catholic Worker houses that offer a place for women and their children who are in crisis.

The Catholic Worker movement was established in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. It is grounded in the firm belief of the God-given dignity of every person. Catholic Workers seek to alleviate poverty through the Works of Mercy outlined by Jesus Christ in the 25th chapter in Matthew’s Gospel.

Currently there are four women and three children who are hospitality house guests. They are served by one full-time resident Catholic Worker. They share time, conversation, meals, household chores, prayer and support. Volunteers from the community and EIU take turns spending several hours “on the Haus” as part of the ministry.

The Catholic Worker houses are funded by donations and fundraisers, and supported by a board of directors. Board members, including Chairman Roy Lanham and Father John Titus, will be available during Oktoberfest to answer questions about the Catholic Worker movement.