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ON THE LINE: April edition features Good Friday Way of the Cross stories and more

Posted on April 12, 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.

Pax Christi Metro New York's Cross Banner during the Good Friday Way of the Cross

COMMONWEAL FEATURES PAX CHRISTI METRO NY STATIONS: “Pax Christi Metro New York has now held a Good Friday Way of the Cross across 42nd Street and through Times Square for 30 years in a row. One of this year’s more striking meditations came from students at the Christo Rey High School in East Harlem who spoke at the fifth station – Simon of Cyrene is forced to help carry the cross — about bullying. ‘Like Simon, we are called to help carry the cross of those who are bullied,’ as one student said. But as the students pointed out, bullying is too often condoned by inaction – and then those who condone it are surprised when the victim does not want to become a Facebook ‘friend.’ Read the entire post here: http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=18345

MOHAWK VALLEY PAX CHRISTI STATIONS FEATURED ON YNN: “The Good Friday tradition of the Outdoor Living Stations of the Cross continued in Utica. The walk, organized by the group Mohawk Valley Pax Christi, included 15 stops at various charities, churches and social organizations as community members wound their way through the city. At each stop, they read a Bible passage about Jesus’ journey to the cross. Then different members delivered short sermons of how the lesson applies to modern issues. ‘There will be 15 stops along the way, and we always end in a circle of hope because we believe we have to have courage and hope to continue this important work,’ said organizer Jane Domingue.” Click here to see video of the stations: http://centralny.ynn.com/content/all_news/579685/outdoor-living-stations-of-the-cross-in-utica/

STATE JOURNAL REGISTER HIGHLIGHTS PC-SPRINGFIELD (IL) STATIONS: “Since 1984, a Springfield group has used Good Friday as an occasion to call attention to injustices in our society, and this year was no different. ‘We’re not going to change the world today,’ said Diane Lopez Hughes of Pax Christi Springfield, one of the organizers of the Way of the Cross. ‘But Good Friday is an important time to remember how our faith often calls us to speak for peace and justice. Our greatest example of that is the life and death of Christ,’ she said.” Read the entire article here: http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1607842335/Good-Friday-walk-calls-attention-to-injustice

PAX CHRISTI GREENSBURG (PA) CO-SPONSORS DRONE TOUR: Government Security News’ website featured an article on the Know Drones Tour, co-sponsored by PC-Greensburg (PA): “As the Federal Aviation Administration takes initial steps to authorize the use of unmanned drones in U.S. airspace for surveillance, law enforcement and commercial purposes, opposition to such uses of drones is beginning to take shape. The 2012 Know Drones Tour, a public education campaign focusing on legal, ethical and civil liberties concerns raised by the surge in drone warfare and drone surveillance, will begin in Brooklyn, NY, on April 12, with sidewalk displays of large-scale replicas of the MQ-9 Reaper drone, the workhorse of drone warfare, say tour organizers.” Read more here: http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/26052?c=video_surveillance_cctv

A LETTER FROM FR. JACK MORRIS, SJ, WHO HELPED START PAX CHRISTI IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: The following was excerpted from a letter passed on to us from PCUSA National Council member Nick Mele: “Several weeks ago, I was told that I may have only a week to live, and the word went out. I did have a close call because of internal bleeding from an unknown source. I had four transfusions and when stable returned to my Jesuit residence in Portland. I would like to thank all of those who also gave transfusions of prayer and hope at the time I knew nothing of the gravity of my condition … The letters and cards you sent have been read to me and are appreciated, but I am no longer able to keep up with correspondence…”

Members of PC Southeastern South Dakota march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

PAX CHRISTI LOS ANGELES LEADS ANTI-DEATH PENALTY DEMONSTRATION: The following excerpts are from a story that appeared in the Catholic Sentinel by Mary Hotchkiss: “The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, better known as the LA Congress, is attended by Catholics from around the world… The Anaheim Convention Center is filled with up to 40,000 enthusiastic Catholics who come to attend inspiring liturgies and learn from well-known Catholic educators, including Sr. Helen Prejean… On Saturday of the Congress, a lunch time demonstration against the death penalty was held on a grassy knoll in front of the Convention Center. It was organized by Pax Christi Los Angeles, the Catholic Peace Movement, the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Catholic Legislative Network (check), and Amnesty International. Several hundred people gathered around the speakers and Sr. Helen Prejean. Sr. Helen urged us to remember that Jesus was a victim of the Death Penalty…”

Members of PC-Los Angeles march with Dead Man Walking author Sr. Helen Prejean.

PC-ST. CLOUD (MN) SPONSORS TALK BY MEL DUNCAN OF NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE: “The founding Executive Director of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, Mel Duncan, spoke at the Public Library on April 3^rd. Sponsored by Pax Christi St. Cloud, Duncan described the work of the Peaceforce, begun in 2002 with peace advocate David Hartsough and which has its base in Brussels. Countries where NP teams have contributed to peacebuilding or are doing so now are Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Gautemala, South Caucasus, Kyrgyzstan and South Sudan. In 2007 NP received Special Consultative Status to the UN’s Economic and Social Council. That same year the Fellowship of Reconciliation gave Duncan its Pfeffer International Peace Prize, and the Utne reader named him one of ‘50 Visionaries who are Changing your World’ in 2008.”

A billboard sponsored by PC-St. Cloud (MN) and Vets for Peace.

Upcoming Events:

PC-Richmond (VA) will host a “Spring Day of Reflection: Exploring Relationships with Earth and Ourselves” with the Thomas Berry Educational Center, on April 14. Contact Ginnie Morrow at ginnie.morrow@yahoo.com.
PC-Florida will host their Spring Retreat in Parrish, FL on April 14 and 15. Retreat leader is Sr. Paula Gonzalez. For more info, click here.
PC-Michigan’s 31^st annual state conference, “Power: Who Lies? Who Dies? Who Pays? Who Profits?” will be April 21 at St. Anastasia Church in Troy, MI. Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro and PCUSA Executive Director Sr. Patty Chappell are featured speakers. For more info, click here.
PC-Spokane (WA) is sponsoring “Imagining a New Vision for American Prosperity and Security” with Capt. Wayne Porter at Gonzaga University on April 21. For more info contact Scott Cooper at scooper@ccspokane.org
PC-Arizona will be holding the first Regional Dialog with members of PCUSA national leadership on May 12 at the Phoenix Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Contact Margaret Wolford for more information at wolford2102@centurylink.net

Quicklinks:

Bradenton.com featured photos of PC-Manasota (FL)’s Stations of the Cross … Pax Christi Harrisburg held its 13^th annual Stations of the Cross … Pittsburgh-area Pax Christi hosted its 17^th annual Way of the Cross/Way of Compassion … Pax Christi Indianapolis has a new website … Pax Christi Southern California and Los Angeles co-sponsored the march and gathering called “Replace the Death Penalty with Life: Support SAFE California” … Pax Christi Florida council member Jim Rucquoi participated with other PCF members in a march in Sanford, FL for justice for Trayvon Martin. Jim took video of the march which took place on March 26 … Read Pax Christi International’s April newsletter … Pax Christi Texas honored Sarwat Husain, vice chair of the National Council on American Islamic Relations as their Peacemaker of the Year … Blue Water PC’s Michael McCarthy was published in the IPS journal Other Words … PC-Genesee County (NY) featured the War Orphan program at their recent Pasta for Peace dinner … 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 … Three plays written by playwright and Pax Christi member, Jack Gilroy, are now available as downloads for performance by churches, local groups, schools, etc. on the PCUSA website … PCUSA is seeking an Associate Director of Development …

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

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

Tagged Blue Water Pax Christi, Capt. Wayne Porter, Catholic Sentinel, Commonweal, Diane Lopez Hughes, Gonzaga University, Helen Prejean, Jack Gilroy, Jack Morris SJ, Jane Domingue, JustFaith Ministries, Know Drones Tour, Mel Duncan, Michael McCarthy, Mohawk Valley Pax Christi, Nancy O'Byrne, Nick Mele, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Arizona, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Genesee County, Pax Christi Greensburg, Pax Christi Harrisburg, Pax Christi International, Pax Christi Los Angeles, Pax Christi Manasota, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi Richmond, Pax Christi Southeastern South Dakota, Pax Christi Southern California, Pax Christi Spokane, Pax Christi Springfield, Pax Christi St. Cloud, Pax Christi Texas, Pittsburgh-area Pax Christi, Sr. Patty Chappell, State Journal Register, Tom Cordaro, YNN

ON THE LINE: February edition features PC members and groups in the news

Posted on February 8, 2012 | 2 Comments

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

HAITI PROJECT UPDATE IN THE DIGITAL JOURNAL: Our colleagues in Haiti were happy to share this story with us: “The “Jaden Tap Tap” (Tap Tap Garden) urban community garden was proudly inaugurated on January 22, 2012 in Cite Soleil, Haiti. The Tap Tap Garden is Haiti’s largest urban garden containing more than 500 brightly painted tire gardens, flower garden, and a nursery of 1,000 trees. Nearly 600 community members, NGO’s, and government officials joined Bochika, SAKALA-Pax Christi Ayiti, and SOIL in celebrating the inauguration of the garden, as well as a new community Eco-San Toilet. The crowd was delighted to participate in the daylong event that featured a “farmers market”, agricultural demonstrations, musical and dance performances by local youth, and special appearance by internationally recognized Haitian recording artist, BelO.” Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/568647#ixzz1lo5f8Z8H

Megan McKenna, PCUSA Ambassador of Peace, with godchild Megan, receiving the Hecker Award.

PCUSA AMBASSADOR OF PEACE WINS ISAAC HECKER AWARD: Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Megan McKenna was honored in January in Boston with the Isaac Hecker Award, presented by the Paulists. At the award reception, it was stated, “Grounded in and informed by the meaning of Scripture, Megan’s writing tackles many of the issues of our day – much like the call of the 99% to reorder priorities, redistribute wealth, and attend to basic human needs. She addresses the ever-widening economic and resource gaps nationally and internationally, the role of women in church and society, and the global challenges for use of our natural resources. She offers a blueprint for contemporary analysis and action for social justice.” Read more at http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/02/08/ambassador-of-peace-megan-mckenna-receives-isaac-hecker-award/

FORMER PCUSA ED FEATURED IN THE ERIE TIMES: ”Dave Robinson lectured on global poverty as executive director of Pax Christi USA. His job took him to places like Iraq and Haiti, where he got an up-close look at the effects of poverty. But poverty was never too far from home for Robinson, who lives in Union Township. ‘You get past the beautiful landscapes and the friendly people, and we’re suffering out here in this rural part of the county,’ he said. ‘We have disproportionately high poverty rates. Lack of jobs, lack of transportation, pretty much any social problem that you want to focus on, we’ve got it right here.’ So when it came time for Robinson to decide whether to follow the national Catholic peace and justice movement from Erie to Washington, where Pax Christi moved its headquarters over the summer, he chose to stay in an area he loves while focusing his efforts on helping people in need in southeastern Erie County.” Read more at http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301299819

Dave Atwood of PC-Texas speaks at a press conference in Houston for the Campaign to Promote Permanent Residency for Temporary Protective Status Beneficiaries from Central America. Photo courtesy of PC-Texas.

PC COLLEGE OF HOLY CROSS MEMBER DONATES HAIR: ”Kenilworth native Marielle McKenna is an active fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that funds pediatric cancer research grants. Recently, she decided she wanted to do something more for children with cancer. ‘A friend of mine shaved her head for St. Baldrick’s foundation and I thought she was crazy,’ McKenna said. ‘I thought donating her hair was going far enough and shaving was an unnecessary extreme. I thought I could never do something like that. Then after reflecting on it for a while and seeing how happy my friend was, I asked myself why couldn’t I do something like that? I went online to the Web site and signed up as a shavee.’” Read more at http://wilmette.patch.com/articles/bald-is-beautiful-for-kenilworth-woman

PC TAMPA BAY COORDINATOR JOHN STEWART FEATURED IN COUNTERPUNCH ARTICLE ON NASA MISSION: ”John Stewart of Pax Christi-Tampa Bay maintained before the Curiosity launch: ‘NASA is planning a mission that could endanger not only its future but the state of Florida and beyond. The absurd—and maddening—aspect of this risk is that it is unnecessary. The locomotion for NASA’s Sojourner Mars rover, launched in 1996, and the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers, both launched in 2003, was solar powered, with the latter two rovers performing well beyond what their engineers expected. Curiosity’s locomotion could also be solar-powered. NASA admits this in its EIS, but decided to put us all at risk because plutonium-powered batteries last longer and they want to have the ‘flexibility to select the most scientifically interesting location on the surface’ of Mars.’” Read more at http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/01/16/the-toxic-crash-of-phobos-grunt/

LONGTIME PAX CHRISTI MEMBER MARY ALLICE PRATT DIES: “Mary Alice Pratt, a longtime Central Kentucky social activist, died January 12. She would have turned 83 the next day. Ms. Pratt had worked for decades on social justice issues with the University of Kentucky Newman Center-Holy Spirit Parish; was active in the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice; and once wrote and performed a one-woman show on the life of Dorothy Day, a co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, whose work greatly influenced Ms. Pratt.” Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/12/2026248/mary-alice-pratt-central-kentucky.html#storylink=cpy

TIFFIN AREA PC MEMBER GOES TO TRIAL FOR HOUSE ACTION: Josie Setzler, a peace activist and grandmother from Fremont, is one of five people on trial in D.C. Superior Court this week for disrupting congressional hearings to protest government treatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Ms. Setzler was one of 14 members of Witness Against Torture who stood up in the citizens’ gallery of the House of Representatives during deliberations June 23 on the defense authorization bill. It contained a measure to eliminate funding from any efforts to repatriate Guantanamo detainees… Ms. Setzler, 58, is charged with unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor. In addition to her membership in Witness Against Torture, she heads Tiffin Area Pax Christi and People for Peace and Justice Sandusky County. Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2012/01/04/Fremont-woman-among-5-on-trial-for-House-protest.html

Upcoming Events

PC-Minnesota’s winter gathering with PCUSA Teacher of Peace Bill Quigley, March 3, at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Minneapolis. For more info, click here.
PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Rev. John Dear, SJ will speak at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta, March 14. For more info, click here.
PC-Florida will host their Spring Retreat in Parrish, FL on April 14 and 15. Retreat leader is Sr. Paula Gonzalez. For more info, click here.
PC-Michigan’s 31^st annual state conference, “Power: Who Lies? Who Dies? Who Pays? Who Profits?” will be April 21 at St. Anastasia Church in Troy, MI. Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro and PCUSA Executive Director Sr. Patty Chappell are featured speakers. For more info, click here.

Quicklinks

Religious leaders hold a paper chain at PC- Illinois' World Peace Day event. Photo courtesy of PC-Illinois.

Blue Water (MI) Pax Christi’s Michael McCarthy on “Drones Come Home To Roost”… PC NJ coordinator Kathy O’Leary featured in Change.org article on one individual’s unjust detention … PC St. Francis Church (MD) coordinator Susan Kerin had a letter on Israeli-Palestinian issues published in the Washington Post … Pax Christi New York City launched a new website last month … Great online interview with former National Council member Donna Grimes … Art Laffin reviews PC NM co-coordinator Bud Ryan’s movie The Forgotten Bomb in Tikkun … Interested in joining the Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team? … Nominate someone for the Pax Christi USA National Council. Deadline is March 5 … An interview with Pax Christi member Sr. Rita Clare Gerardot was featured in NCR …

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

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

Tagged Art Laffin, Bill Quigley, Blue Water, Bud Ryan, CounterPunch, Dave Robinson, David Atwood, Donna Grimes, Erie Times, Isaac Hecker Award, John Dear SJ, John Stewart, Josie Setzler, Marielle McKenna, Mary Alice Pratt, Megan McKenna, Michael McCarthy, Paulists, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team, Pax Christi Ayiti, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Holy Cross, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi Minnesota, Pax Christi Tampa Bay, Pax Christi Texas, SAKALA, Sr. Patty Chappell, Sr. Rita Clare Gerardot, Susan Kerin, The Forgotten Bomb, Tiffin Area Pax Christi, Tom Cordaro

ON THE LINE: Good Friday actions, We Are One rallies, interfaith events, and more!

Posted on April 13, 2011 | Comments Off

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

Each week “On The Line” features news items and announcements from around the nation featuring Pax Christi members, local groups, regions and partners.

GOOD FRIDAY WAY OF THE CROSS EVENTS: A number of Pax Christi groups–from Mohawk Valley Pax Christi in NY to PC members in Beaverton, OR to Pax Christi Harrisburg (PA) and many more–plan or participate in “Way of the Cross” event on Good Friday, connecting the sufferings of Christ during his passion with the suffering of our brothers and sisters at the hands of violence, greed, poverty, sickness and war. Click here to check out resources on the website for planning and enacting a Way of the Cross prayer and witness. Email me at johnnypcusa@yahoo.com to have your group’s Way of the Cross observance added to the list of groups participating around the nation.

WE ARE ONE: Pax Christi members across the country participated in last week’s “We Are One” rallies in support of unions and labor justice. Pax Christi member Jeff Zokovitch (right) was a featured a speaker (on behalf of the Georgia Teachers Federation) at the Atlanta rally. Pax Christi USA National Council member Adrienne Alexander and Pax Christi Illinois member and Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro (left) were photographed at the rally in Chicago.

BANGOR (ME) DAILY NEWS: Pax Christi Maine was featured in an article about last Saturday’s “Bring the War Dollars Home” rally in Bangor which attracted around 100 participants. The article noted that Mary Ellen Quinn of PC-Maine was one of the main speakers. To read the entire article, click here.

INTERFAITH EVENTS: Tri-Valley (CA) Pax Christi has been central in organizing a series of upcoming interfaith activities. On April 19 a DVD will be shown of a talk by Professor Huston Smith that was sponsored by the Oakland Diocese Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission. Smith’s talk, “Some World Religion Jewels I Have Uncovered Since Writing My 1958 Book on World Religions,” will be combined with discussion of questions posed by Smith. This program will be held in St. Augustine’s Hall from 7 to 8:15 pm in Pleasanton. The second activity involves visiting Hindu, Jewish, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim religious centers to join our neighbors in prayer. The visits are spread over the period of May to August. For more information on these events, contact Gus Nystrom at GANystrom@sigmaxi.net.

IN BRIEF: Pax Christi at the University of Dayton (OH) sponsored several events this past year, including a vigil on the anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, Oscar Romero Stations of the Cross, Invisible Children and LiNK documentary screenings, and morning prayer on Friday’s during Lent… Blue Water (MI) Pax Christi coordinator Michael McCarthy has a blog, McCarthy’s Weekly – Pax Vobiscum. Recent posts have focused on where are tax dollars go and the ‘no-fly zone’ issue in Libya… Pax Christi at Seton Hall Prep (NJ) recently participated in a school-wide day devoted to peace and justice. Fr. John Dear, S.J. was the keynote speaker and over 30 workshops were presented to students and faculty… Pax Christi East San Jose (CA) recently had a member named to be on the San Jose Police Chief’s Community Advisory Board. Several others are doing major mentoring of gang members in the Eastside neighborhoods, transforming violent teenagers into positive community leaders. On May 7, a member of PC East San Jose is conducting a major “weapons turn in/amnesty day” lead by youth who have recently renounced their gang affiliations… Pax Christi at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Marietta, GA offers the Vow of Nonviolence yearly to all parishioners at each Mass on the Sunday celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday. They also profile once a month in the parish bulletin a great peacemaker. The March 2011 selection was Father Emmanuel Charles McCarthy.