Tag Archives: Joan Tirak

REGIONAL NEWS: LCWR to receive the Purple Ribbon of Peace from PC-Michigan

Posted on March 14, 2013 | 1 Comment

Pax Christi Michigan has published a new issue of it’s PeaceMaking News Briefs newsletter. In this issue, state coordinator Joan Tirak wrote the following article about LCWR as recipients of the 2013 Purple Ribbon for Peace.

by Joan Tirak, Pax Christi Michigan State Coordinator

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on the women of our Church whose lives bear witness to the mandate outlined in Isaiah and read by Jesus in the Temple as He announced His liberating ministry.” So proclaimed PCM State Council member Kim Redigan in the 2012 Fall/Winter Peace Connections announcing the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) as our 2013 Purple Ribbon for Peace recipient.

Upon hearing this, LCWR Executive Director Janet Mock, CSJ replied: “We are profoundly grateful for this honor. Our members highly value and respect all the work Pax Christi does. It is a high praise to be so honored – we are humbled to be named to receive this award.” She regrets, however, that she cannot be with us to receive the award. She and other LCWR leaders will be in Rome to continue their dialog with the Vatican.

Pax Christi International in a letter of support for LCWR wrote: “Women religious in the United States have been deeply committed to promoting the peace of Christ. They are at the heart of our movement, proclaiming with clarity and love the possibility of a world without war, a future beyond dehumanizing violence.” Pax Christi USA and Pax Christi Michigan signed the letter as well. Read the full text at http://paxchristimi.org/Summer2012_PCM_news.pdf

Accepting the award on behalf of the LCWR will be former LCWR Presidents Margaret Brennan, IHM (1972) and Carol Quigley, IHM (1987). Both are members of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community, Monroe. Brennan is a theologian, author and scripture scholar, having written on topics of spirituality, sustainability and theology. She has taught at seminaries and universities across the United States and Canada. And Quigley in describing herself wrote: “My experience in the third world (Brazil), leadership roles in religious life, both in the congregation and nationally in LCWR – as well as my ministry as novice director, have enriched and shaped me.”

In her article Redigan paid tribute to the LCWR saying: “Whether it’s traveling the country by bus to shine the Gospel light on our federal budget or running a literacy center in a Detroit neighborhood or standing with those living in war zones or ministering to those on death row and their victims, the women in our Church know what it means to keep vigil at the foot of the cross while others flee in terror. The women in this Church have been graced with the courage and wisdom to wait outside the tomb knowing that resurrection is inevitable.”

Pax Christi Michigan is privileged to celebrate the witness of women through our 2013 conference presentations by Barbara Reid, OP and Elizabeth Walters, IHM, the numerous women-led workshops, and in giving the Purple Ribbon for Peace Award to the Leadership Conference of Women Religions.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Bread for the Journey, Calendar, News, Peacemakers, Regional Events, Regional News, Women Religious

Tagged Barbara Reid, Elizabeth Walters, Joan Tirak, LCWR, Pax Christi Michigan

ON THE LINE: June edition features PC members, groups in Newsday, NY Times, Washington Post, and more

Posted on June 7, 2012 | 1 Comment

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

Each month, “On The Line” features news items and announcements from around the nation featuring Pax Christi members, local groups, regions and partners. These are gleaned from articles in local newspapers, websites, magazines, and elsewhere.

PAX CHRISTI MICHIGAN COORDINATOR FEATURED IN YOUTUBE VIDEO: Joan Tirak, coordinator for Pax Christi Michigan, was a featured speaker at the 10^th anniversary celebration of the Lansing Peace Community. The event was videotaped and uploaded to YouTube. You can watch Joan’s speech here: http://youtu.be/x7tWykfP8DI?t=6m40s

PC Michigan Conference - Workshop on Racism

Floyd Cook leads a workshop on racism at the PC-Michigan State Conference in April.

PAX CHRISTI LONG ISLAND’S MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE FEATURED IN NEW YORK TIMES BLOG: Nancy Dwyer of PC-Long Island responded to the New York Times request for readers to share their Memorial Day rituals and traditions. Nancy wrote of PC-Long Island’s annual memorial at Jones Beach for the war dead, inviting people “to join us, even if only for a few minutes, for the solemn reading of the names of the war dead.” Nancy also wrote that Memorial Day “shouldn’t be a time to glorify war with an air show and a display of weapons to entice young people to enlist in more wars.” Read the entire letter here: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/readers-memorial-day-rituals/

PAX CHRISTI’S RECOGNITION OF U.S. NUNS FEATURED IN WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE: In an article by Mary Johnson of Religion News Service on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s report on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, she cited Pax Christi USA’s recognition of U.S. women religious at our national conference in 2010. “As Pax Christi noted when honoring the sisters in 2010, the LCWR is composed of ‘strong, prophetic, and compassionate women … always on the front lines where the weak and most vulnerable suffer at the hands of violent and unjust power.’” Read the entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/the-nuns-who-once-taught-the-bishops-arent-done-yet/2012/06/04/gJQAe2c4DV_story.html

PAX CHRISTI NEW MEXICO CO-COORDINATOR TO UNDERTAKE HUNGER STRIKE: This year New Mexico Pax Christi invites PCUSA members to join them in participating in Nuke Free Now, a weekend event Aug. 4-6th in Santa Fe and Los Alamos, N.M. We will transform the nuclear narrative in the public consciousness and inspire a life-affirming future. Alaric Balibrera, whose father was the film documentarian for Los Alamos Labs from 1967 to 1982, realized his exposure as a child to nuclear contamination and the terrible consequences of nuclear weapons. He will be hunger striking from July 16th to August 6th to increase the awareness to the mounting nuclear crisis that threatens all nations on this planet. Ellie Voutselas of Pax Christi New Mexico has pledged to join his hunger strike from July 16-22. Others are invited to join in this action. Please see http://www.nukefreenow.org for complete information.

PAX CHRISTI ILLINOIS HOLDS MASS ON THE GRASS PRIOR TO MARCH: On Sunday morning, May 20^th in Chicago, prior to the March for Justice and Reconciliation organized by the Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW), nearly 100 members of Pax Christi USA, the Catholic Worker and 8^thDay Center for Justice gathered in Grant Park for a Eucharistic Liturgy. Presiding at the liturgy was Fr. Bob Bossie, SCJ, a long-time Chicago peace activist. After Mass the group joined the IVAW rally and marched with the thousands from around the country who were saying “no” to NATO’s ever-expanding mission and ever-increasing costs that serve the strategic goals of the 1% while forcing austerity at home and destitution and death around the world. To see photos and read a full report, go here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/05/23/regional-event-catholics-gather-for-eucharist-prior-to-nato-summit-march-for-reconciliation-and-justice/

Members of Pax Christi Illinois share in the Eucharist prior to joining the March for Justice and Reconciliation at the NATO Summit in Chicago in May.

PAX CHRISTI METRO NEW YORK HONORS JEWISH PEACEMAKER: The Times Ledger of New York featured an article on Rabbi Michael Weisser, who was honored by Pax Christi Metro New York at an awards reception on June 3. You can read the article here, http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2012/22/weisserhonored_ne_2012_05_31_q.html. Also honored were Bud Courtney for his peacemaking on the lower east side of Manhattan, in Iraq, and at the Arizona/Mexico border; and Carla DeYcaza for her work for human rights, transitional justice, and nonviolent conflict resolution in Africa. Read more at http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/05/25/regional-event-pc-metro-new-york-honors-peacemakers/

PAX CHRISTI HAITI COLLEAGUE HONORED AS ARCHITECT OF THE FUTURE: Daniel Tillias, Program Director of Pax Christi in Haiti and a frequent speaker to Pax Christi local groups in the U.S., was honored recently as an “Architect of the Future.” Daniel was recognized as one of ten outstanding social entrepreneurs from around the world. Read more here: http://architectsofthefuture.net/portfolio/daniel-tillias/

PAX CHRISTI MANASOTA CHAPTER OBSERVES MEMORIAL DAY: On Memorial Day, the Manasota (FL) Chapter of Pax Christi, together with members of the Coalition for Concerned Patriots and the Southwest Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, gathered around the Peace Pole erected several years back at Island Park—in the Sarasota Bayfront area—to remember in song and prayer all who locally stood for peace and justice and had passed on before us. We remembered fifteen area peace activists, including Les Druckemiller who was responsible for erecting the Peace Pole. About twenty people gathered for the service and a picnic luncheon.

Upcoming Events:

June 16 – Rochester (MN) Pax Christi group with others will host Kathy Kelly on “Afghanistan: The Cost of Perpetual War.” For more information: http://www.paxchristimn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/KathyKelly2.pdf
July 28 – Regional dialogue with PCUSA national leadership, local groups and members in St. Louis: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
August 4-6 – New Mexico Pax Christi with other groups invites you to participate in Nuke Free Now, a weekend event Aug. 4-6^th in Santa Fe and Los Alamos , N.M. Please see www.nukefreenow.org for complete information.

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Houston honors U.S. vets by calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan … Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore has posted an excellent prayer service on the use of drones by Art Laffin … Pax Christi Michigan conference inspires hope, action … Pax Christi Long Island board member and Pulitzer Prize winner Bob Keeler writes about his worst nightmare in Newsday … Pax Christi Baltimore’s Chuck Michaels is featured talking about liturgy in this article in the Herald Malaysia Online … Jim O’Callahan of Downtown Brooklyn Pax Christi wrote this review on the film Cite Soleil: Sun, Dust and Hope … Read the thoughts and opinions of Mike McCarthy of Blue Water (MI) on his blog … Pax Christi Maine hosted a state assembly titled “Resisting the Culture of Violence” in May … Pax Christi Long Island’s Memorial Day service was mentioned in a letter to the editor to Newsday … Read Pax Christi International’s June newsletter … JustFaith Ministries in collaboration with Pax Christi USA just released a special 12 session module for small groups on “Just Peacemaking.” There is a special discount for Pax Christi local groups wanting to purchase the module … PCUSA is seeking an Associate Director of Development and a Program Director …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to johnnypcusa@yahoo.com.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Calendar, Local Group News, News, On The Line, Regional Events, Regional News

Tagged Architect of the Future, Art Laffin, Bob Keeler, Bud Courtney, Carla DeYcaza, CDF, Chuck Michaels, Daniel Tillias, Downtown Brooklyn Pax Christi, Ellie Voutselas, Floyd Cook, Fr. Bob Bossie, Hiroshima, Joan Tirak, JustFaith Ministries, Lansing Peace Community, LCWR, Mary Johnson, Memorial Day, Mike McCarthy, Nancy Dwyer, New York Times, Newsday, nuclear weapons, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Haiti, Pax Christi Houston, Pax Christi Illinois., Pax Christi International, Pax Christi Long Island, Pax Christi Maine, Pax Christi Manasota, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi New Mexico, Pax Christi St. Louis, Rochester Pax Christi, Unity March for Justice and Reconciliation at the NATO Summit, Washington Post

REGIONAL EVENT: Michigan conference inspires hope, calls for action

Posted on May 27, 2012 | Comments Off

by Joan Tirak, Pax Christi Michigan Coordinator

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Gracias por todo! Thank you, Lord, for everything! We are still reeling from the excitement generated at our 31^st Annual Pax Christi Michigan State Conference. Our featured speakers, PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro, and Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, complimented each other perfectly – Tom with his challenging instructional style and Sr. Patty with her prophetic call to action. The event was held at St. Anastasia Church in Troy, MI on April 21^st.

Nearly 250 people attended from toddlers to octogenarians – black, brown, yellow and white – with workshops presented by professors, lawyers, peace activists, non-violence trainers, high school and college students – religious and secular – all riveted on the conference theme: “Power: Who Lies? Who Dies? Who Pays? Who Profits?” Workshops focused on economic justice, racism, immigration, clothing with a conscience, welfare rights, civil resistance, costs of war, jobs with justice, and emergency managers attack on democracy.

Tom spoke boldly to the POWER theme, responding to the searing questions – who lies, who dies, who pays, who profits – with courage, clarity and conviction, challenging the systems that create the imbalances in power and wealth throughout the world. He spoke of the racism that lies at the heart of each of those questions – presenting a well-documented analysis that brought rousing applause. Tom continued his exchange with participants, answering questions as he autographed his book, Be Not Afraid: An Alternative to the War on Terror at the Pax Christi resource table.

In the late afternoon at the outset of the conference’s final presentation, Sr. Patty instantly connected with the tired but enthusiastic crowd – speaking passionately to the theme, “Can Conversation Lead to Transformation.” She talked about the dehumanization that people routinely experience in their day to day lives from the power elites. Her pace heightened as she openly shared what it means to be overlooked, demeaned and demoralized as a person of color. Then – with a burst of courage – she boldly proclaimed that whether the violence comes from the nation, the state or the church – as with the recent Vatican decree against the Leadership Conference of Women Religious – it must be challenged! At that, people rose to their feet, chanting, “Amen, Sister, Amen!” As the groundswell quieted down, Sr. Patty made a point of clarifying that we need to wait for the LCWR response; but then have our marching boots on and be ready to follow along in support. What a redeeming moment for all who share the pain of the Vatican attack on our dear sisters.

A signature highlight of each year’s PCM conferences is the presentation of our annual peace awards. The 9^th Annual Young Adult Peacemaker Award went to African American Samantha Przybylski, a student at Grand Rapids Community College, who led her first protest/petition when she was just 10 years old. The 21^st Annual Purple Ribbon for Peace Award was presented to lifelong PCM member activists Doreen and Neville D’Souza of East Indian origin, who literally raised their four sons in the Pax Christi Michigan community. During the presentation, the D’Souza sons and their families proudly joined their parents on stage.

So what keeps Pax Christi Michigan, now in its 37^th year of Gospel Peacemaking, going and growing? It’s evaluation comments like: “This conference was so terrific, personable, deep, rooted in genuine Gospel values and truth.” “Great speakers…valuable information – feel inspired to make more commitment to social justice!” So, what more can we ask? The mission is clear – keep on, keeping on!

Comments Off

Posted in Ambassadors of Peace, Calendar, Local Group News, News, Regional Events, Regional News

Tagged Doreen and Neville D'Souza, Joan Tirak, Pax Christi Michigan, Samantha Przybylski, Sr. Patty Chappell, Tom Cordaro, Tom Gumbleton

ON THE LINE: Pax Christi groups, members featured in articles on Israel-Palestine, concealed gun law, and more

Posted on June 8, 2011 | 1 Comment

“On The Line” features news items and announcements from around the nation featuring Pax Christi members, local groups, regions and partners. During the summer months, “On The Line” will appear on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month.

FROM THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, by William Slavick of Pax Christi Maine: “The uproar about President Obama’s call for Middle East negotiations based on the 1967 border, with points given to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for lecturing Obama in the Oval Office (“Netanyahu defines the real Mideast conflict,” Our Views, May 29) primarily serves to indicate how uninformed Congress and U.S. mass media are regarding Palestine.

“Every peace negotiation for 20 years has begun and ended with the 1967 line with mutually agreed land swaps.

“It was Netanyahu who was off the reservation in arguing not from “facts on the ground,” as usual (if we can take it, we’re going to keep it), but reverting to the day when Israel, without the fourth most powerful military and sufficient nuclear bombs to destroy most of the Arab world, feared an Arab attack…” To read the entire article, click here.

FROM THE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, by Trudi Jenny of Pax Christi Madison (WI): “At a recent Capitol Square Farmers Market, Pax Christi-Madison conducted an informal survey on the proposed concealed weapons bill by asking passers-by to vote on whether concealed weapons should be allowed at the market. The results were 36 in favor (of which four would amend to require permits), and 318 opposed.

“This supports the findings of a statewide survey done by Third Eye Strategies of Springfield, Va., on the issue of guns in public in Wisconsin. Their report, done for Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, found most voters in opposition to concealed carry (see www.waveedfund.org).” To read the entire article, click here.

Pax Christi Minnesota members at a demonstration on May 1st.

FROM THE STATEN ISLAND (NY) ADVANCE: Pax Christi Staten Island will holds its annual Dorothy Day Pilgrimage honoring the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement on June 11.

Participants will meet at 10:30 a.m. at her gravesite in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. After a brief prayer service, the group will proceed to the former Spanish Camp where Dorothy Day’s cottage once stood and walk along the beach as Ms. Day did.

Memories and thoughts concerning Ms. Day’s life will be discussed. For information, call Charles Kitts at 718-447-3464 or e-mail him at charleskitts@aol.com.

FROM THE ST. CLOUD (MN) TIMES: “Pax Christi-St. Cloud and the Alternatives to War Committee have announced a ‘peace-messaging’ contest for youths in area schools and faith communities.

“The contest, which goes through Memorial Day, is open to children and youths through age 18. Entries will be evaluated by members of the two organizations based on how clearly and effectively they express a positive vision of authentic peace.

“Up to 50 entries will be selected as winners. Those whose entries are selected will have their design printed on a repurposed T-shirt that they will receive, and their design will be displayed at events sponsored by both organizations as well as posted on the Alternatives to War Committee’s website.”

PEACEMAKERS ANNOUNCED: Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) held their 2011 Peacemaker Awards Reception on Sunday, May 22 at the Academy of St. Joseph in Greenwich Village. PCMNY honored Marie Dennis, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and Co-president of Pax Christi International; Fr. Michael Perry, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge, Brooklyn; and Renata Mulder, PCMNY Board and Development Committee Member.

IN BRIEF: Click here to see photos from Pax Christi Long Island’s Memorial Day Peace Procession at Jones Beach … Pax Christi Central Seattle will be holding an evening conversation on June 9 at the Maryknoll Mission House with Eleanor Gilmore and Sheila Lemieux, sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, as they share their account of nonviolent civil resistance and active peacemaking … Pax Christi Duluth (MN) hosted a Dorothy Day series that culminated with a presentation by Art Laffin of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C. The group has also been engaged in letter-writing campaigns to their legislators through Bread for the World and calling legislators about demilitarization … Pax Christi Phoenix organized a vigil against the death penalty on May 25 when the state of Arizona executed Don Beatty … Joan Tirak, coordinator of Pax Christi Michigan gave presentations to the JustFaith groups at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing (MI) and at St. Girard Church in Lansing.