Warm conversation fills the Cana House of Hospitality as guests enjoy bowls of soup and freshly baked cookies, while young children laugh and play in the space.
The Cana House, located in Atchison, Kansas, is a Catholic House of Hospitality that hosts community events and dinners aiming to serve those who are homeless, in need or seeking greater belonging in the community.
The main goal of the Cana House is to provide a place where authentic and intentional relationships can foster between students and the broader Atchison community, as well as among community members themselves. It is a place where each person can know and receive the love of God and fully give of themselves.
“It’s been really special to form relationships with people in Atchison and branch out. Now I have so many relationships with people in the community, and it feels more like a home,” said Kiley Willmann, a sophomore at Benedictine College. She described the joy of receiving hospitality outside of campus, how she can walk down the street and not only see someone from the community, but know them personally.
The mission of the Cana House began back in August 2022, when a group of friends noticed a rise in homelessness in Atchison. In response, they planned the first community meal on Christmas Day, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Church.
Since then, a small group of Benedictine College professors and their families continue to gather there every third Sunday to share a meal, talk and sing with the community.
Seeking a more regular point of contact, the Cana House officially opened a permanent location on Oct. 19, 2025, after two years of renovation done by volunteers. Taking inspiration from Dorothy Day’s Houses of Hospitality, the house continues to fill this need in Atchison for solid community through shared meals and fellowship.
On Tuesday mornings, the house is open for coffee and community, welcoming anyone who is walking by. A “simple supper” is also hosted Tuesday evenings and is open to anyone in Atchison, though usually drawing a smaller crowd.
Lizzie Hogan, a sophomore at Benedictine College, shared how the Cana House has given her a sense of connection she did not expect to find in college.
“Going back and being able to see the same people and not just have one-time relationships, it’s become a family. These people have poured into my life,” she said. “I have learned to receive from the community as well in ways I would not have expected.”
The Cana House operates as a nonprofit, led by board members Dr. Jeremy and Cathe Sienkiewicz, Dr. James and Meggan Young, Ryan and Cecilia Pigg and Brother Angelus.
Additionally, Hogan and Willmann work as The Cana House of Hospitality Club president and vice president, connecting students at Benedictine College with the Atchison community. They invite students into the mission of the Cana House by providing them with volunteer opportunities.
Tuesday afternoons are specifically dedicated to be “student based” workdays. This time is spent cleaning and working around the house.
“It’s a chance to take a break from schoolwork and really give of ourselves in the little ways people wouldn’t necessarily see, it’s a unique way,” said Hogan. “It’s a gift for the people to receive the beauty of the house.”
