Tag Archives: John Dear

REGIONAL EVENT: Retreat with Fr. John Dear, S.J. on “Jesus the Peacemaker”

Posted on March 11, 2013 | Comments Off

jd“Jesus the Peacemaker,” a weekend retreat with John Dear, April 5-7, 2013, at the Kirkridge Retreat Center, near East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Join longtime peace activist and author Rev. John Dear for a weekend retreat in the Poconos on the first weekend after Easter to reflect on Jesus as a peacemaker and practitioner and teacher of nonviolence, our own practice of peace and nonviolence, and how we can become better peacemakers and people of Gospel nonviolence. We will hear reflections on Jesus and the Gospel, and have time for prayer, silence, discussion, community building, worship and celebration. In particular, we will examine Jesus’ call to become peacemakers as the fulfillment of our vocations as the sons and daughters of the God of peace, as well as the story of Luke 10, when Jesus sends his disciples on the mission of peace and how he is sending us on that same mission today. We too will be sent forth to make peace, walk the road to peace, and live in his resurrection gift of peace. For information, visit: www.kirkridge.org

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ON THE LINE: January edition features PC Illinois’ interfaith peace service, PC Florida’s Haiti delegation report, and more!

Posted on January 9, 2013 | Comments Off

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 ILLINOIS CO-SPONSORS INTERFAITH PEACE SERVICE: The 8th annual World Peace Day Inter-Faith Prayer Service, co-sponsored by Pax Christi Illinois, was held on January 1st on the campus of North Central College in Naperville. The theme for this years’ service was, “Breaking Down the Mysteries Between Us: Seeking Peace Through Understanding”. In explaining the hope for this years’ celebration, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro stated, “Even though this past year has been marked by incidents of unspeakable violence, polarization and hostilities in our nation and around the world, the truth is that more and more people of faith are coming together across religious and cultural boundaries to give witness to our common humanity. There is more that unites than there is that divides us. Our hope is that this service will build on the successful interfaith efforts of the last year and deepen the bonds of respect and love between us.” Read the whole article here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/01/04/regional-news-pax-christi-illinois-joins-diverse-religious-communities-in-calling-for-world-peace/

Participants in the World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service add their piece of colored paper to the map of the world.

Participants in the World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service, co-sponsored by PC-Illinois add their piece of colored paper to the map of the world.

PAX CHRISTI GROUPS MARK THE FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS: Traditionally, many Pax Christi groups hold vigils, prayer services, and actions on December 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Pax Christi Florida chapters held vigils dedicated to a commitment to nonviolence as a remembrance of the school children in Newtown, Connecticut . Pax Christi Northeast Florida held one in downtown St. Augustine at the Plaza de la Constitution, with nine people participating, including 2 priests: Fr. Rene Robert and Fr. Sebastian Muccilli. Other PCF members held vigil in downtown Jacksonville in front of the new County Courthouse.

Members of Pax Christi Northeast Florida vigil on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Members of PC Northeast Florida vigil on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

LONG-TIME PAX CHRISTI MEMBER PUBLISHES NEW BOOK: An Invitation to Think and Feel Differently in the New Millennium, by Fr. Harry Bury, long-time member of Pax Christi USA, describes an innovative way of looking at life that brings meaning and  fulfillment to oneself and others. It tells stories that touch the deepest layers of our humanness, awakening our imagination and transforming our understanding in a manner that delights and fulfills us. The intent of this book is to generate new stories for the New Millennium in order to overcome cynicism with reasonable hopefulness, while suggesting practical measures ‘the least of us’ can take to make life wonderful for ourselves and for everyone in the world. Read more about Fr. Harry’s book here: http://www.harryjbury.com/HarryJBury/Books.html

PAX CHRISTI WESTERN NEW YORK COORDINATOR DELIVERS ADVENT HOMILY: This homily was given by William Privett, coordinator of Pax Christi Western New York, on December 8-9 at his parish. “Today’s Gospel reading quotes Isaiah, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ Still today we have the responsibility to ‘Prepare the way’ and ‘straighten the paths’…for our Lord. 2000 years later, we can all observe that the path is not straight, the hills are still not level. About 20 years ago, it occurred to me during my meditation that I not only COULD, but was CALLED UPON, to give birth to Jesus into this world. What I will share in the next few minutes is what I have learned in the past few decades, and that is making the path straight is doing what Jesus calls us to do – Love without violence. I believe that Loving without violence, for those of us who believe in Jesus is making the path straight and leveling the hills. Is it even imaginable to you that we could pPrepare the way for Jesus’ with violence, mayhem, destruction and death?” Read the entire homily here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/12/29/christmas-2012-birthing-the-prince-of-peace-love-without-violence/

Jorge Parra

Jorge Parra

PAX CHRISTI MICHIGAN MEMBER WRITES ON COLOMBIAN’S WORK FOR JUSTICE: Pax Christi Michigan member, Carol Jachim, wrote the following story about Jorge Parra’s struggle for justice. “It was International Peace Day in September when I first met Jorge Parra, a humbling man who walked with a cane. We marched together with 25 peace advocates for a mile or so from a downtown Detroit Church to Comerica Park where the Detroit Tigers were playing a home game.  Did we make a difference?  Did anyone notice?  One only wonders with hope. As we gathered in a small park, Jorge spoke, through an interpreter, telling us his reason for being in the U.S. — to draw attention to his and his coworkers’ plight in a General Motors plant in Columbia.  GM Colombia (Colmotores), the most profitable GM plant in Latin America, fired over 200 workers who suffered work-related injuries and diseases, including spinal fractures and cancer…” Read the rest of the story here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/12/21/human-rights-colombians-story-moves-us-to-question-the-meaning-of-joy-and-peace-this-season/

PAX CHRISTI MAINE MEMBER ASKS IF WE SEE THE POOR? The following article was published in the Bangor Daily News by Mary Ellen Quinn of Pax Christi Maine during the Advent season. “As a social worker in this community over the past three decades, I have seen the resources allocated to those living in poverty rise and fall. In recent years, there has been a steady downward spiral. At both federal and state levels, budgets cuts are being made that severely jeopardize the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. It is difficult to witness the current congressional debate on who will receive a tax break, knowing that the income of the top 1 percent of wealthiest Americans has risen close to 75 percent in the past 30 years. At the same time, the income of those on the lowest rung of the ladder has seen only a 1-percent increase…” Read the entire column here: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/17/opinion/how-do-we-see-the-poor-or-do-we-see-them-at-all/

PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA MEMBERS ON A DELEGATION TO HAITI: Three Pax Christi Florida Council members made a trip to visit Pax Christi Haiti in November. They spent 5 days in Cite Soleil to see firsthand how the Sakala Peace Program is making a difference in the lives of the children and families living in one of the poorest communities in the world. They returned filled with hope and inspiration from working with these bright, promising youth and resilient, innovative adults. Read their full report here: http://paxchristiflorida.org/take-action/report-of-our-trip-to-pax-christi-port-au-prince/

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Jan. 6-12 – Witness Against Torture, Close Guantanamo: http://witnesstorture.org/

Jan. 6-12 – National Migration Week: http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/index.cfm

Jan. 11-13 – National Weekend of Prayer to End Slavery and Trafficking: http://www.weekendofprayer.net/index.html

Jan. 18-19 – Pax Christi Cleveland West is presenting a retreat with Fr. Emmanuel McCarthy on gospel nonviolence. Contact 216.651.0550 for more information.

Jan. 21 – MLK Day: http://mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php

Jan. 27 – Pax Christi Metro New York presents Peacemaking Through the Arts, featuring a play on Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day: http://www.nypaxchristi.org/events.html

Feb. 2 – Regional Dialogue in Michigan: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Feb. 13 – Ash Wednesday

Feb. 23 – Regional Dialogue in Minnesota: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Mar. 1-3 – Pax Christi Metro New York’s retreat, “Have this mind in you which was in Christ Jesus…Conversion to the active love of Jesus by praying Sacred Scripture,” with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: http://www.nypaxchristi.org/events.html

Mar. 10 – Regional Dialogue in Richmond, VA: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Mar. 23 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Metro New York and Long Island: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi member Fr. Tim Taugher and Fr. Fred Daley were featured in this article from The Post Standard (NY) following the Newtown massacre … Watch this incredible slideshow of Pax Christi Houston events from throughout 2012 put together by Dave Atwood … A number of Pax Christi members, including Ambassadors and Teachers of Peace, were featured in this article in NCR on Catholic peacemaking … Pax Christi New Mexico co-coordinator Bud Ryan had this comment published in the New York Times … Read the new reflection from PCUSA National Council member Nick Mele on “Sex and violence” … A photo from the Sakala project in Haiti was featured in The Global Fund for Children’s blog … The latest edition of Pax Christi Metro New York’s newsletter Kerux is available online … Many thanks to Sue Malone who is stepping down as coordinator of Pax Christi Massachusetts and a grateful welcome to Pat Ferrone who is stepping into her place … Pax Christi El Paso (TX) continues their regular film series this month with the movie “Encounter Point” … Read the January edition of Pax Christi International’s newsletter online … See more local and regional updates in the fall edition of The Peace Current …

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ON THE LINE: December edition features remembering Bishop Sullivan & Fr Gower, new book by Eli McCarthy, and more!

Posted on December 19, 2012 | Comments Off

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. We are publishing this edition a week later than usual. We apologize for any inconvenience in this change in schedule.

BISHOP WALTER SULLIVAN, FORMER PAX CHRISTI USA BISHOP-PRESIDENT, PASSES: Today is the funeral of Bishop Walter Sullivan, former PCUSA bishop-president from 1991 through 2003. The funeral is in Richmond. If you have not already had the opportunity, we encourage you to check out our special webpage dedicated to Bishop Sullivan. It includes reflections and comments from people who knew and loved him, an obituary, photos and more. You can see the page here: http://paxchristiusa.org/about/ambassadors-of-peace/remembering-bishop-walter-sullivan/

Rev. Jim Gower

Rev. Jim Gower of Pax Christi Maine died on Monday.

REV. JIM GOWER, EARLY PCUSA AMBASSADOR OF PEACE, PASSES AT 90: It is with great sadness that we learned from Bill Slavick that Rev. Jim Gower, long-time member of Pax Christi Maine and a true ambassador for peace for Pax Christi USA during the early years, passed away on Monday morning earlier this week. Denny Dreher, regional coordinator for Pax Christi Maine, wrote: “At approximately 1:30 a.m. today, December 17, our beloved Fr. Jim Gower died–falling gently into the arms of the loving God whom he served so joyfully and faithfully for so many years… I happened to read a letter in the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) e-mail message this morning and was struck by the realization of how Fr. Jim followed St. Francis’s lead in serving God. He had no trouble setting the goal of following Jesus… [W]e give thanks for the gift of Fr. Jim’s presence in our lives–and with our efforts as Pax Christi for so many years.” Read more about Fr. Jim at http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/12/19/obituary-rev-jim-gower-the-first-ambassador-of-peace-for-pax-christi-usa-dies/

SR. PATTY IN ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES NEWSPAPER: The following article appeared in The Tidings, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, following the regional dialogue sponsored by Pax Christi Southern California in November. “Sister Patty Chappell — who had been on the job as executive director of Pax Christi USA (PCUSA) for just a year — was walking between tables in the meeting room at St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care around noon on Nov. 18. The Sister of Notre Dame de Namur was making points not only with inflections of her Southern down-home voice, but also with her waving arms and hands…” Read more of this article at http://www.the-tidings.com/index.php/news/newslocal/2935-pax-christi-leader-catholic-peace-movement-more-critical

Port Huron Billboard

This month, Blue Water PC (MI) has posted this billboard in downtown Port Huron.

FR. JOHN DEAR WRITES ABOUT PAX CHRISTI METRO DC-BALTIMORE MEMBER ELI MCCARTHY’S NEW BOOK: “A new book, Becoming Nonviolent Peacemakers: A Virtue Ethic for Catholic Social Teaching and U.S. Policy by Eli Sasaran McCarthy, proposes a new ethics of peace that takes us from the old paradigms of warfare, greed, militarism and imperialism into a new global network of nonviolent relationships through nonviolent peacemaking. McCarthy examines different approaches to nonviolent peacemaking, and recommends ‘a virtue based assessment’ using the example of Jesus, Gandhi and Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Pakistani Muslim apostle of nonviolence. You can read more about Eli’s book here: http://ncronline.org/node/39711/. And for a YouTube video featuring Eli at Georgetown, go to http://youtu.be/aZvIOk2lv-M

PC-Austin witness

Pax Christi Austin (TX) members on the steps of St. Mary’s Cathedral following their participation in the November 30th Sant’Egidio vigil.

PAX CHRISTI PENTAGON-AREA LEADS ANTI-DRONE PROTESTS: Pax Christi Pentagon-Area (VA) has been actively working on the drone issue for the past several months. Their most recent protest was featured on PressTV. “A recent rally held by mainly Christian peace organizations in front of CIA headquarters in Virginia was to protest against the increasing usage of drones by the U.S. both abroad and in its own skies… The rally did not only focus on the domestic usage of drones, it also voiced concerns about the so-called ‘double tapping’ attacks used in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia, meaning that a second attack always follows the first one, targeting the rescuers trying to help the initial victims. ‘They hit them twice, it is insidious and immoral and it is shameful, it is shameful on our government for doing such a thing,’ said organizer Jack McHale.” See more coverage at http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/09/277107/americans-protest-drone-use/

PAX CHRISTI METRO NEW YORK HONORS STUDENT FOR WORK FOR PEACE: “David L. Maloof II, resident of Darien and a member of the Fairfield College Preparatory School Class of 2013, has been awarded the Eileen Egan Peacemaker Award from Pax Christi New York for his work in helping to create a basketball facility at a Palestinian Christian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. Maloof worked for several years to create a basketball court and add a ping-pong table to the refugee camp whose previous recreational facilities for teens consisted only of a dirt soccer field. He returned to the camp this past summer to run a basketball clinic for the children at the camp. Maloof also coaches wrestling for inner-city Stamford children.” Read more at http://www.darientimes.com/12409/darien-teen-awarded-peacemaker-award/

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Dec. 28 – Feast of the Holy Innocents: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122812.cfm

Jan. 1 – World Day of Peace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Day_of_Peace

Jan. 6 – Epiphany Sunday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010613.cfm

Jan. 6-12 – National Migration Week: http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/index.cfm

Jan. 21 – MLK Day: http://mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php

Feb. 2 – Regional Dialogue in Michigan: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Manteca (CA) was featured in the news for a talk they sponsored on climate change … Pax Christi USA welcomes our newest group, Aquinas High School Peace and Justice Club in La Crosse, WI … Pax Christi Metro New York released this statement following the violence in Newtown, CT last week … Pax Christi Twin Cities (MN) member Steve Clemens was named an honorary award recipient by the Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice. You can see his remarks from the ceremony on YouTube … Pax Christi Massachusetts has started a new forum for students and young adults. Contact Brian at brianashmankas@yahoo.com if you want to connect … A number of Pax Christi groups, from Long Island to Minneapolis and all over, are participating in the 2 Million Friends campaign … Pax Christi Illinois is participating in the 8th Annual World Peace Day Interfaith Service … Pax Christi International was nominated for the Tipperary International Peace Award … Read the December edition of Pax Christi International’s newsletter online … Read Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Shelley Douglass’s reflection in the wake of the recent election … Many thanks for the long service of Kathy O’Leary, state coordinator for Pax Christi New Jersey. Kathy is stepping down as coordinator this month … Pax Christi Metro New York was honored as a 2012 Great Nonprofit Top-Rated Award Honoree … See more local and regional updates in the fall edition of The Peace Current …

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REFLECTION: Journal from England and Scotland (part two)

Posted on September 15, 2012 | Comments Off

Rev. John Dear, S.J.by Rev. John Dear, S.J.
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

For the last three weeks, I’ve been traveling through Scotland and England on a national speaking tour about Jesus and peacemaking. This is the second half of my journal account. Read the first part here.

Monday, Sept. 3, Birmingham, England

Tonight, I spoke at St. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham’s City Centre. “How can we keep on speaking about peace even though we are so widely dismissed by people and ignored by the mainstream media and culture?” someone asked. “How do we communicate with people in the military?” another asked. In my talk about Jesus and peacemaking, I urged people to speak out, to be prophetic voices on behalf of the God of peace, to denounce our war in Afghanistan and pursue the Gospel vision of peace — and to be faithful to the task at hand, no matter what the outcome. We leave the results in God’s hands.

Yes, we may be ignored, dismissed and rejected, but so was Jesus, I said. Why should we expect a different reaction? We need to be rooted in daily prayer, a group or community of like-minded friends, and regular public action for peace. Then we just keep on going forward, doing what we can modestly for peace and justice.

I urged them to think of their own heroic abolitionists — William Wilberforce, John and Thomas Clarkson, and the Quakers — who worked so tirelessly for an impossible goal, the abolition of slavery. They spoke out and persevered. Our challenge is even greater — to work for the abolition of war, poverty and nuclear weapons. We have to keep speaking out and building a new global movement for peace whose results we might not live to see.

Whenever I meet people in the U.S. who are in the military, young people interested in entering the military or people who work at military bases or nuclear weapons installations, I always ask them to not to join the military, to quit the military, to quit their jobs building weapons, I continued. We need to urge everyone to leave the culture of war and find life-giving work. This is what Archbishop Oscar Romero did. He was always calling upon people to leave the death squads and the elite culture. “Be converted to the Gospel,” he told people. Few did, and eventually they killed him, but he was faithful and did what he could, and his death planted the seeds for peace that continue to reverberate around the world…

To read the entire article, click here.

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Posted in Ambassadors of Peace, Bread for the Journey, Dear, Nonviolence, Reflection, Sharing Wisdom

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REFLECTION: Journal from England and Scotland (part one)

Posted on September 14, 2012 | Comments Off

Rev. John Dear, S.J.by Rev. John Dear, S.J.
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

This week, I’m traveling through Scotland and England on a national speaking tour about Jesus and peacemaking. Here is a little journal account of the first half of my journey. Next week, I’ll post the second half.

Wednesday, Aug. 22, Edinburgh, Scotland

I arrived this morning from Amsterdam after a long journey and rested for a while at the Jesuit house on Lauriston Street near the Grassmarket plaza at the foot of the famous Edinburgh Castle. I know the Jesuits here from previous visits and feel at home in this beautiful city. It claims to be a city of peace, and because it hosts the world’s largest arts, drama and literature festival every August, I think it just might be worthy of the name. Thousands of people come from all over the world to attend this monthlong festival, which features more than a thousand programs.

In the midst of it all, little St. John’s church at the foot of the castle offers its own monthlong Spirituality of Peace program, featuring music, prayers and speakers on every aspect of peace. They invited me to speak this evening.

The weather is perfect — sunny, warm, breezy. I walked through the city streets and enjoyed a cup of coffee in one of the cafes before my evening event at St. John’s. It was billed as “a conversation on the spirituality of peace and nonviolence” with Kathy Galloway, the former director of the Iona Community and current director of Christian Aid of Scotland, one of the world’s largest Christian charity organizations, and me. Activist Brian Larkin, director of the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, hosted us and moderated the conversation.

We had a lovely evening, talking to a good crowd about our life journeys and the Christian life of peace. I spoke of the Beatitudes and the call to be peacemakers. Kathy talked about love as the basis for our work, and gave us concrete examples about how she maintains her peace — baking bread, tending to the garden, taking time for prayer. Kathy is a lifelong peacemaker, a respected church leader and a great writer, the author of many well-known books on spirituality. Afterward, we both enjoyed the reception at the peace and justice center. A wonderful evening and a good start to my British pilgrimage…

To read the entire article, click here.

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ON THE LINE: September edition features 30 Days of Peace, Caravan of Peace, Los Alamos story and more!

Posted on September 13, 2012 | Comments Off

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.

ALPENA PEACE PEOPLE PAX CHRISTI GROUP SPONSORS 30 DAYS OF PEACE: From the Alpena News – “If participants in this year’s 30 Days of Peace take anything away from attending one of the multitude of planned activities, Sister Mary Hughes hopes it is inner peace. ‘My hope is that initially it will help people as individuals to find a peace within themselves and that will be spread to their relatives, their friends and their neighbors,” Hughes said. “If we have an atmosphere of peace within our community, it will spread. It will affect the leaders we choose for local and state, and our church and civic groups. It will affect the activities in the community and promote wholesome living.” On Sept. 14, An Evening of Poetry, Readings, Blues and Jazz will be held from 7-9 at Cabin Creek Coffee in downtown Alpena. Poems and readings promoting peace will be given by representatives of the local Pax Christi, a Catholic organization that strives to create a world that reflects the peace of Christ. ‘People come to this event who never come to anything else given by LARCC or Pax Christi, so if you have different things, you get different people,’ said Hughes of the wide diversity of events planned for the entire month.” Read the whole story here: http://www.thealpenanews.com/page/content.detail/id/522591/30-Days-of-Peace-initiative-coming-up.html?nav=5042

LONG-TIME PC-FLORIDA, MICHIGAN MEMBER PASSES: In late August, we learned that long-time Pax Christi USA member and local group leader Herb Bazur had died. Herb was 88 years old. Herb was active in Pax Christi USA for many years, including his local participation with Pax Christi groups and members in Michigan, Florida and Indiana. Known for his Pax Christi USA rose tattoo, Herb was often the center of laughter and joy at the many Pax Christi gatherings he and his wife Betty attended. Herb’s family writes in his obituary, “We will work to keep alive the memory of our charismatic and colorful Herb in many ways. He would encourage us to stop and smell the flowers, love our neighbors, walk with the marginalized, vote with poor people in mind, and spread joy.” Read more about Herb here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/08/27/obituary-herb-bazur-long-time-pax-christi-usa-leader-age-88/

Caravan of Peace

Pax Christi Texas members participated in the Caravan of Peace in August.

PAX CHRISTI ST. CLOUD PROTESTS AT CAMP RIPLEY: From The Morrison County Record – “The exercises at Camp Ripley usually involve training soldiers and public safety agencies. But the exercises at the National Guard base Monday involved the constitutional right to free speech. A peace vigil/protest was held Monday by the Little Falls Partners for Peace and Occupy Little Falls in front of the gates of Camp Ripley. In addition to several demands, one of the group’s goals was to increase public awareness about the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often called drones. Two factions with opposing views about war stood across from each other, both literally and figuratively, near the gates of Camp Ripley. Standing north of Highway 115 in front of Camp Ripley’s gates, members of the Little Falls Partners for Peace and Occupy Little Falls held what they termed a “peace vigil” and drone protest. About 14 in all, others were from the Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace, Women Against Military Madness from the Twin Cities, Alternatives to War, St. Cloud Occupy, Pax Christi St. Cloud and Alexandria Peace, joining the Little Falls contingent.” Read more at: http://mcrecord.com/archives/515939/exercise-at-camp-ripley-right-to-free-speech/

NCR ARTICLE ON THE PASSING OF JOSHUA CASTEEL: From NCR’s Tom Roberts – “The news, expected but dreaded, began to leak out on Facebook on Saturday night. Joshua Casteel had died earlier that day. He was 32. And the postings, which seemed endless, as well as those on the site of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and on Pax Christi USA all seemed to ache in trying to say some version of the same thing: How do we tell those who should know about this life of grace and courage, of holiness and unending search, of both consummate resolution and relentless questions? How did he fit it all into such a short time, and how do we explain that the world — the church, the state and beyond — needs to know of this life?” Read more here: http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/inspirational-soldier-turned-conscientious-objector-dies-lung-cancer-32

PAX CHRISTI NEW MEXICO REMEMBERS HIROSHIMA: From The Santa Fe Reporter – “Members of various activist organizations and local residents against nuclear weapons gathered in Ashley Pond in Los Alamos on Sunday. The rally, which was mainly organized by Pax Christi New Mexico and lasted all afternoon, celebrated the 67th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Dozens of framed pictures of victims and information about the bombing’s aftereffects were scattered around the area to pay homage to the victims. Organizers also established a live stream of the 8:15 am annual bell ringing in Hiroshima, Japan, the precise time the bomb was dropped in 1945. Father John Dear, an Christian anti-nuke activist nominated by Desmond Tutu for the Nobel Peace Prize, called the atomic bomb ‘the biggest sin’ and Los Alamos as its birthplace. ‘We gather here to repent that greatest sin,’ he told the crowd. Read the whole article here: http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3714-los-alamos-remembers-hiroshima.html

Proetest at Los Alamos

Pax Chrsti New Mexico members Fr. John Dear and Bud Ryan at the Hiroshima Day event at Los Alamos.

PAX CRISTI MICHIGAN SUPPORTS SCHOOL SALE TO MUSLIM ORGANIZATION: From The Detroit News – “An interfaith coalition plans to demonstrate its support Tuesday night for the sale of a school building owned Farmington Public Schools to a Muslim organization. The sale last year of the former Eagle Elementary School in West Bloomfield for $1.1 million has drawn protests from groups alleging the district showed undue favor to the buyer, the Islamic Cultural Association, which plans to open a school there. Taking ‘a stand against Islamophobia,’ coalition members plan to attend the West Bloomfield Township Planning Commission meeting, which is at 7:30 p.m. The commission is expected to consider issues related to the Islamic group’s construction plans for the site. Coalition members include Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit, Pax Christi-Michigan, Detroit Meeting of Friends, Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Pointes for Peace and Michigan Coalition for Human Rights. Read more at: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120814/METRO02/208140446/Controversy-surrounds-sale-school-W-Bloomfield-Muslim-group?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Sept. 15 – Regional Dialogue in Atlanta, GA: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Sept. 21 – International Day of Peace: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs090/1011223557022/archive/1110865699008.html

Sept. 22 – Pax Christi South Dakota Conference with Sr. Helen Prejean: http://presentationsisters.org/vocation-outreach/events/Pax_Flyer_September_2012.pdf

Sept. 29 – Pax Christi Richmond with the Catholic Diocesan Office of Justice and Peace and the Office for Black Catholics will co-sponsor the Slave Trail Walk. Contact Mike at mike.jackman@capitalone.com for more information.

Sept. 29 – Pax Christi Minnesota State Assembly with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer: http://www.paxchristimn.org/2012/08/18/jack-nelson-pallmeyer-to-headline-minnesota-peace-assembly/

Sept. 29 – Regional Dialogue in Illinois: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Oct. 20-21 – Pax Christi Florida’s Fall Assembly and Regional Dialogue: http://paxchristiflorida.org/events/

Oct. 27 – Pax Christi Massachusetts Regional Dialogue: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Quicklinks:

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, founding Bishop-President of Pax Christi USA, was featured in the Albany Times Union … Many thanks to all of the Pax Christi regions and groups who took out an ad in the Momentum 2012 program booklet. See videos, listen to the speeches and see photos from the event on the PCUSA website … PC Metro DC-Baltimore member Jean Stokan wrote the article, “U.S. Elections: The Whole World is Watching” for the Intercommunity Peace and Justice newsletter … The Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, John Onaiyekan has been named Pax Christi International’s 2012 Peace Laureate … At the August 6th remembrance of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan in WWII at the Quaker Meeting House in West Hartford,CT, PC-Hartford member Kate McLoughlin was a featured speaker … Pax Christi International Co-President Marie Dennis has a series running on the PCUSA website on civil discourse during this election year … Pax Christi Massachusetts board member and PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Nancy Small reflected on the 9/11 anniversary in this blog post … The Pax Christi USA-produced film on Haiti was chosen for another film festival … Heather Brouillet Navarro of PC-St. Louis, Sr. Esther Pineda of PC-Salinas (KS) and historian David O’Brien were elected to the National Council … See more local and regional updates in the summer edition of The Peace Current …

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

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BOOK REVIEW: Memoir on Birmingham bombing a study in forgiveness

Posted on September 1, 2012 | Comments Off

Rev. John Dear, S.J.by Rev. John Dear, S.J.
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

This year, my summer reading included Carolyn Maull McKinstry’s memoir, While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Rights Movement (Tyndale, 2011, 301 pp., with Denise George), which I picked up at the Civil Rights Institute on a recent visit to Birmingham, Ala. I was profoundly moved by her story about the infamous Sept. 15, 1963, Ku Klux Klan bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, which killed her four girlfriends. She tells of the long aftermath of pain, grief and resentment that led to her astonishing turn toward forgiveness and universal love. Carolyn McKinstry, I believe, is a rare Gospel witness of truth and love, and I highly recommend her book.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of that bombing, which came just weeks after Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the Washington Mall. It was one of the most horrific tragedies of the era.

Carolyn, her family and friends were devoted members of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The pastor’s sermon that morning was called “A Love that Forgives,” and was to be based on Luke 23:34 — “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” They were all looking forward to it.

Fifteen-year-old Carolyn was just a few feet away when the Klan bomb exploded, killing her best friends: Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley. They were in the bathroom preparing for the church service, which was to feature them. She had spoken to them only seconds before. The bomb killed them instantly. One side of the church was badly damaged. The beautiful, large stained glass window of Jesus was untouched, except that debris blew a hole right through Jesus’ face.

Earlier that year, Carolyn had skipped school to march with Dr. King and hundreds of other young people in the massive spring protest against segregation. Like every other African-American in Birmingham, she had experienced and witnessed firsthand the white racism, the evil system of segregation, the ongoing bombings and the inhumane injustices. But that day, she herself faced down Bull Connor’s vicious German shepherds and white police officers, then received the full force of the water hoses, which tore off a large patch of her hair…

To read the entire article, click here.

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Posted in Ambassadors of Peace, Book Review, Bread for the Journey, Dear, Human Rights, Sharing Wisdom

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