Tag Archives: Pax Christi Florida

ON THE LINE: February edition features anti-drone activism, anti-torture op-ed, calendar items and more!

Posted on February 14, 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 MEMPHIS HOSTS TALK ON DRONES: From the University of Memphis’ school newspaper, The Daily Helmsman – “The University of Memphis Catholic Center will play host to a discussion on the controversial use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the U.S. military on Tuesday. Pax Christi Memphis, the local branch of Pax Christi International, a non-profit Catholic peace movement that advocates against violence and war, is hosting the discussion. Judy Bettice, coordinator for Pax Christi Memphis, hopes this discussion will open people’s eyes to the moral implications of targeted killing and surveillance. “I hope that people will be more engaged in examining the moral implications of targeted surveillance of civilians and the killing of ‘bad guys,’” said Bettice. “I think the discussion has only been in politics and not in morality.” Read the whole article here: http://www.dailyhelmsman.com/pax-christi-to-speak-about-drone-warfare-1.2984920#.UR0Dh6XCaSo

PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL CO-PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT CODEPINK PRESS CONFERENCE: In a February 4th press conference hosted by CodePink, Marie Denis, President of Pax Christi International and Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace spoke out against CIA Director nominee John Brennan and the use of drone warfare. She represented over one hundred faith-based leaders that called for a rejection of Brennan’s nomination as Director of the CIA. See the YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCaFXb6QPc

Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Rev. Joe Nangle, ofm, leads an Ash Wednesday witness outside the White House with other Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore members, member of the PCUSA National Staff, and others.

PAX CHRISTI USA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWED IN WISDOM VOICES: From Wisdom Voices blog – “Blessed are the peacemakers.” We all know that phrase from the Bible, the Beatitudes. But how many of us center our personal, much less our professional lives on working to create a world in which peace is the dominant factor. It’s not hard to argue that the word “peace” has somewhat disappeared from the national conversation. Drones, guns, war, military intervention, political polarization, bullying, hate talk. But for Sister Patricia Chappell SNDdeN , Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, peace and what it means in the 21st century is the cornerstone of her daily personal and professional life. “We may not be using the actual word ‘peace’ in today’s social justice and peace movement, but all of our efforts are centered around trying to provide peace and to bring peace in a non-violent way,” Chappell said in a recent interview with Wisdom Voices. Click on this link to read the full interview: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/02/04/interview-wisdom-voices-interviews-sr-patty-chappell-on-pax-christi-usa-peace/

PAX CHRISTI ANTI-TORTURE ACTIVIST PUBLISHES OP-ED IN THE HILL: Susan Kerin of Pax Christi at St. Francis Parish (MD), had the following op-ed posted in the Congressional newspaper The Hill: “This month marks the 11th anniversary of the arrival of the first prisoners at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Coupled with the theatrical opening of the torture-justifying film, ‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ the debate on torture has risen to the forefront, and this week, I join the National Religious Campaign Against Torture in its efforts to tell the truth about torture in opposition to the new film and to ensure that the public realizes that President Obama vowed to close the Guantanamo prison, but has reneged on his promise – leaving the United States in a moral lurch. Like most people, much of my opinion on the matter is shaped by my personal experiences and values. Torture is a moral issue. As a person of faith, I was taught that all humans are created in His image. As a Christian, I know that Jesus was a victim himself of torture and informed his followers that ‘what you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me.’ Read the entire op-ed here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/01/25/torture-the-problem-with-torture/

PCUSA DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS PUBLISHES PIECE ON GUN VIOLENCE: The following article by Pax Christi USA Director of Programs Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN, was featured in JustFaith Ministries Voices newsletter – “Oh, when will they ever learn…” These are the haunting and plaintive lines from a 1955 Pete Seeger song ‘Where have all the Flowers gone?’ that have been a recurring loop since the December 14, 2012 massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. On that day those who experienced and heard of this event concluded that madness had reared its evil and ugly head. In a country that boasts of a foundational principle of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ there also exists a madness where we choose to sacrifice our children, our sisters, our brothers, our mothers and fathers instead of placing limits on our right to bear arms. When will we awaken from this madness, this sickness that feeds our desire to own any type of weapon—without limit or restraint of any kind—over the safety and well-being of our children and of one another? The topic at hand is not whether the Constitution gives us the right as citizens to bear arms. The issue is whether we as a society value each other enough to place common-sense, reasonable restrictions on that right… Read the entire article here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/01/13/reflection-oh-when-will-they-ever-learn/

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

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. 1-4 – Pacific Life Community Faith and Resistance Retreat: http://pacificlifecommunity.wordpress.com/

Mar. 2 – Pax Christi Twin Cities and Call to Action are hosting their winter gathering with Sr. Simone Campbell: http://www.paxchristimn.org/2013/01/18/winter-gathering-with-sr-simone-campbell/

Mar. 9 – Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore hosts an anti-drone protest at CIA Headquarters: http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2013/01/stop-cia-killer-drones/

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/

Mar. 23 – Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore’s annual Spring Assembly, “Drone Killings—Not in Our Name!” with Medea Benjamin, Ray McGovern and Phyllis Bennis: http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/

April 6-7 – Pax Christi Florida Spring Retreat, “The Spirituality of Intentional Communities: An Evolving Vision”, with Christine Vladimiroff, osb: http://paxchristiflorida.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/2013-pcf-retreat-brochure.pdf

April 7 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Texas: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

April 15 – Global Day of Action Against Military Spending: http://www.paxchristi.net/international/eng/news.php?id=2233&wat=show

April 20 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Maine: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

April 20 – Pax Christi Michigan State Conference, “Prophetic Leadership of Women: Justice from the Margins,” with Elizabeth Walters, IHM, and Barbara Reid, OP: http://www.paxchristimi.org/2013_state_conference.htm

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi International has launched the Bread is Life campaign, a fast for a just peace in Syria … Pax Christi Florida member Joseph Mahon publishes a blog, ChristFaithPower, dedicated to promoting issues related to peace and justice based on the witness of Cistercian monk, Thomas Merton … Read the latest news from Pax Christi Tampa Bay (FL) in their newsletter … Pax Christi Burlington (VT) member and PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Beatrice Parwatikar posted this piece on economic justice … Pax Christi Southern California holds a monthly peace and justice Mass every third Sunday … Pax Christi El Paso recently screened the documentary “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” … Pax Christi Virginia recently hosted several talks by Paul K. Chappell, Iraq War veteran and director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation … Pax Christi Birmingham coordinator and PCUSA Teacher of Peace Shelley Douglass wrote this piece on having a new perspective for the Bread for the Journey blog … Pax Christi UK recently published a statement on drones … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2013 edition of The Peace Current …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.

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

Tagged Barbara Reid, Beatrice Parwatikar, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Bread is Life, Christfaithpower, Christine Vladimiroff, CIA, CodePink, drones, Elizabeth Walters, Emmett Louis Till, John Brennan, Joseph Mahon, Judy Bettice, JustFaith Ministries, Marie Dennis, Medea Benjamin, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, newtown, Pacific Life Community, Paul K Chappell, Pax Christi, Pax Christi at St. Francis Church Derwood, Pax Christi Birmingham, Pax Christi Burlington, Pax Christi El Paso, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi International, Pax Christi Long Island, Pax Christi Maine, Pax Christi Memphis, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi Minnesota, Pax Christi Richmond, Pax Christi Twin Cities, Pax Christi UK, Pax Christi Virginia, Pete Seeger, Phyllis Bennis, Ray McGovern, Rev Joe Nangle, Shelley Douglass, Sr Anne-Louise Nadeau, Sr. Patty Chappell, Sr. Simone Campbell, Susan Kerin, Syria, The Daily Helmsman, The Hill, torture, University of Memphis Catholic Center, Wisdom Voices, Witness Against Torture, Zero Dark Thirty

HAITI: Pax Christi Florida sends delegation to Haiti

Posted on January 19, 2013 | Comments Off

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/

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Posted in Haiti, News, Regional News, Sakala

Tagged Haiti, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Haiti, Pax Christi Port-au-Prince, SAKALA

ON THE LINE: November edition features members in Iraq, Pakistan; interview with PCUSA Ambassador of Peace, and more!

Posted on November 14, 2012 | Comments Off

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

A SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING PAX CHRISTI GROUPS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY: Members of the Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Long Island and Pax Christi New Jersey regions were hit especially hard by Hurricane Sandy. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them as they continue to recover from the storm. If you wish to send a note of solidarity and support to members of these regions, or ask how you can help PC members who might need some direct help as a result of the storm, you can send an email to the following leaders of those regions:

Rosemarie Pace, Pax Christi Metro New York at info@nypaxchristi.org
Kathy O’Leary, Pax Christi New Jersey at kolearypcnj@gmail.com
Sheila Croke, Pax Christi Long Island at PaxChristi.LongIsland@gmail.com

PAX CHRISTI MINNESOTA MEMBER IN IRAQ: Steve Clemens of PC-Minnesota, is back in Iraq ten years after being there with the Iraq Peace Team. He writes in his blog, “I had left Iraq just 3 months before the US war-of-choice began in March 2003. My experience with the Iraq Peace Team was powerful and life-changing because I was able to act on my faith rather than my fears. So this land between the Tigris and Euphrates has a special place in my heart.” You can follow his reports from Iraq on his blog at http://www.mennonista.blogspot.com/

Five “Prophets of Peace” were named on PC-Florida’s 30th anniversary: Fr. Sebastian Muccilli, Mary Lea Zamora, Carol Ann Breyer, Anne Richter and Maureen O’Connell.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER INTERVIEWS PCUSA AMBASSADOR OF PEACE NANCY SMALL: From NCR – “Among my favorite Pax Christi memories is one of Nancy Small leading a few hundred of us in a prayerful protest against the first war in Iraq from the steps of Brooklyn’s St. James Cathedral, which barred our entry, to Assumption Church, which welcomed us. We walked in total silence except for a drumbeat. Along the way, we offered inquisitive spectators fliers explaining our absence from the huge pro-war rally in Manhattan on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge. We were few compared to the thousands who supported the military action. I recall that The New York Times, which covered the large rally, concluded with a mention of our resistance…” Read the entire interview with Nancy at http://ncronline.org/node/38161/

LAKESHORE PC (WI) COVENANTS WITH OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES: Lakeshore Pax Christi in Manitowoc County in Wisconsin have covenanted with Lakeshore United Methodist Church, First Lutheran Church, St James Episcopal Church, and Fox Valley Friends (Quakers) to work for justice. The “Covenanting Celebration for RUTH of Manitowoc County” (RUTH=Responding with Understanding, Truth and Hope) was on October 29. RUTH members work to help persons in need, assisting at the Domestic Violence Shelter, tutoring children, mentoring those returning from prison and jail, volunteering at Hope House and planning the men’s homeless shelter, advocating for children in the CASA program, foster parenting and participating in a myriad of ways of ways of serving and giving locally and on mission trips. RUTH members have concluded that systemic and structural change must also occur if the public good is to be fully served. Read more at http://www.htrnews.com/article/20121026/MAN0101/310260158/Lakeshore-Update?nclick_check=1

PAX CHRISTI HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER HOLDS PEACE FESTIVAL: The Pax Christi group at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, CA, worked with their school’s Campus Ministry Department to celebrate their annual St. Francis Peace Festival, October 1 -4. Every student in the school was invited to contribute some research, art, prayer, skit, etc. on the topic of peace. Each teacher (across the curriculum) was invited to share a peace lesson in their class. The school’s Alumni Hall was filled with colorful and thought-provoking work and activities that invited the students to take a stand for non-violence and peace-making. The week culminated with a Catholic mass on the feast of St. Francis. The mass began with large puppets created by the Art and Religion Departments, presenting a story of two fighting communities who find a way to sow seeds of peace.

Members of the Pax Christi chapter at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, CA held a peace festival on the Feast of St. Francis.

PAX CHRISTI MEMBER PUBLISHES NEW BOOK ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP: In Blessings for Leaders, long-time Pax Christi member Dan Ebener skillfully weaves an understanding of one of the most powerful and familiar Bible passages with insights drawn from his experience developing faith-filled leaders in churches and ministry organizations. Ebener reflects on how the paradoxes of leadership can be understood from a careful reflection on the Beatitudes: It takes wisdom, empathy, humility, justice, mercy, service, peace and courage to lead as a Christian. Read more about the book on Dan’s website here: http://www.servantleadershipmodels.com/blessings_for_leaders.html

CONGRATS! PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS: Watch the video below prepared by Pax Christi Florida Council member Jim Rucquoi celebrating PC-FL’s 30^th anniversary:

PAX CHRISTI WESTERN NEW YORK COLLABORATES TO MOVE VIOLENCE TO HOPE: From the Buffalo News – “Peaceful Genesee envisions a community free of violence of all forms, where all people treat each other with dignity and respect, and that develops ways to peacefully transform conflicts. Its partners include Genesee Community College, government, non-profits, the high school, faith leaders and individuals. The collaborative is working to move from violence to hope in Genesee County, with 58,000 people and 3,300 documented instances of violence and disruption…” Read the rest of this article by PC Western NY coordinator Bill Privett at http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121101/OPINION/121109972/1074

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Nov. 16 – PCUSA at the SOA with Medea Benajamin and Bill Quigley, 6-8pm, Friday: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/pax-christi-usa-at-the-soa/

Nov. 16-18 – Annual Vigil and Action at the School of the Americas in Columbus, GA: http://soaw.org

Nov. 16-18 – Ignatian Family Teach-in in Washington, D.C. PCUSA staff members Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau and Rachel Roa will be presenting a workshop: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/11/13/press-release-pcusa-to-present-at-the-ignatian-family-teach-in-for-justice/

Nov. 18 – Regional Dialogue in Southern California: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Dec. 1 – World AIDS Day: http://www.worldaidsday.org/

Dec. 2 – First Sunday of Advent: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120212.cfm

Dec. 10 – International Human Rights Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Day

Dec. 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121212.cfm

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

Quicklinks:

Chase Nordengren, former coordinator for the Pax Christi chapter at the Catholic University of America, is now a blogger for the “Young Voices” section of National Catholic Reporter … Pax Christi Austin and PC-Austin member Kay Arnold were featured in an interview on The Way podcast … Former PCUSA National Council member and member of PC Metro DC-Baltimore Donna Toliver Grimes was named the Assistant Director of African American Affairs at the USCCB. Read this interview with Donna done last February by Mary Liepold. Congrats Donna! … PC-Indianapolis member JoAnn Lingle was in Pakistan on a peace delegation in October. Read her blog entries here … Bud Ryan of PC-New Mexico had a comment published in The New York Times blog regarding an article on the just war theory … Pax Christi Tucson participates in their parish’s “Theology Uncorked” program which is discussing gun violence with survivors of the January 2011 shooting in Arizona that killed 6 people and wounded 12 others including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords … Pax Christi Pentagon Area (VA) held a drone protest outside CIA headquarters last weekend … Pax Christi Teacher of Peace Ruben Garcia was featured this month in the Christian Science Monitor … Pax Christi South Dakota members protested the death penalty and were featured in several news outlets in October, including this story in the San Francisco Chronicle … Pax Christi Upstate New York member Jack Gilroy was one of several authors of this invitation to “Awake to Drones!” … See more local and regional updates in the fall edition of The Peace Current …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.

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

Tagged Anne Richter, Bill Quigley, Bishop Alemany High School, Blessings for Leaders, Bud Ryan, Buffalo News, Carol Ann Breyer, Chase Nordengren, Christian Science Monitor, Dan Ebener, Donna Toliver Grimes, drones, Fr Sebastian Muccilli, Gabrielle Giffords, Ignatian Family Teach-in, Iraq, Iraq Peace Team, Jack Gilory, Jim Rucquoi, JoAnne Lingle, Kathy O'Leary, Kay Arnold, Lakeshore Pax Christi, Mary Lea Zamora, Maureen O'Connell, Medea Benjamin, Mennonista, Nancy Small, National Catholic Reporter, ny times, Pakistan, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Austin, Pax Christi Catholic University of America, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Indianapolis, Pax Christi Long Island, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Minnesota, Pax Christi New Jersey, Pax Christi New Mexico, Pax Christi Pentagon Area, Pax Christi South Dakota, Pax Christi Southern California, Pax Christi Tucson, Pax Christi Western New York, Peaceful Genesee, Rachel Roa, Rosemarie Pace, Ruben Garcia, San Francisco Chronicle, School of the Americas, Sheila Croke, Sr Anne-Louise Nadeau, Steve Clemens, The Way Podcast, Theology Uncorked

ON THE LINE: October edition features drone protests, regional dialogue news, and more!

Posted on October 10, 2012 | Comments Off

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

PAX CHRISTI MEMBER ARRESTED IN DRONE PROTEST: Ten members of New York’s Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars protesting the U.S. use of drone aircraft were arrested recently at the gate of the Air National Guard’s Hancock Field in DeWitt, New York. Pax Christi member and playwright Jack Gilroy was one of those arrested. The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard reports: “Ten members of a group protesting the U.S. use of drone aircraft were arrested this morning at the gate of the Hancock Field in DeWitt. It was peaceful and over quickly. After a trooper delivered a last warning about 9:40 a.m., state and DeWitt police and Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies walked down the shoulder of East Molloy Road, told the protesters they were under arrest, put them in handcuffs and walked them to waiting patrol cars.” Read the whole story here: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/10/05-11

PAX CHRISTI INDIANPOLIS MEMBER ON PEACE DELEGATION IN PAKISTAN: Pax Christi Indianapolis member JoAnne Lingle is part of a delegation of U.S. peace activists protesting drone warfare in Pakistan. She writes, “On the Peace March, we will be traveling to the tribal areas of Waziristan, a 200 mile trip, the areas hit by drone strikes. We want to reach out to the people there to show that we care about their lives; we want to show the American public how civilians are being targeted by drones; we want to come back to the U.S. and tell the stories of drone victims. Our larger goal is to stop the drone strikes. We will be working with the political party of Imran Khan, other anti-war groups in Waziristan, the Foundation for Fundamental Rights and the Pakistani chapter of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. No political party would be against us; on the contrary they all welcome us.” The delegation was in the news yesterday when the Pakistani military blocked their access to a tribal region on the border of Afghanistan. Read more about the delegation here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/09-5

Pax Christi Dallas members participate in the “Shut the Door on War” march and rally marking the anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.

PAX CHRISTI METRO D.C.-BALTIMORE CHOOSES PEACEMAKER OF THE YEAR: Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore will hold a prayerful and celebratory evening of peace on Saturday, November 10. The Service of Peace led by Fr. Bob Albright, an interactive liturgy of the word and prayer service, will be followed by the annual Peacemaker of the Year Award Dinner. Our special guest and 2012 award recipient is Sr. Katherine Corr, SNDdeN, of Baltimore. In the 1980s, she founded Jobs With Peace, a Baltimore non-profit that spearheaded a campaign to establish the Baltimore Development Commission, which was organized to make public the amount of local dollars that support the military budget. Read more on Sr. Katherine at: http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2012/09/25/sr-katherine-corr-named-2012-peacemaker-of-the-year/

PAX CHRISTI ATLANTA’S REGIONAL DIALOGUE FEATURED IN DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER: From The Georgia Bulletin – “From fighting racism and building bridges between Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land to visiting prisons, Catholic activists with Pax Christi USA talked about a vision for the international peace movement. Some 40 members of the organization spent Saturday, Sept. 15, at St. Jude Church, Sandy Springs, talking with each other and the organization’s executive director, Sister Patricia Chappell, to plan for the future. A priority is to increase the number of young people involved with Pax Christi and have the organization look more like the Church, including having leaders who are people of color. Sister Chappell, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, said the membership of the organization needs to better reflect the diversity of the Church. Read more here: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2012/09/27/paxchristievent/

QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH SR. PATTY CHAPPELL IN THE GEORGIA BULLETIN: “Sister Patricia Chappell is helping to build a road map for the future of Pax Christi USA, the Catholic peace movement. Its executive director for the last nine months, Sister Chappell is going around the country to gauge the opinions of and pick up insights from members of the organization. She spent some time in Atlanta where a regional meeting was held at St. Jude Church, Sandy Springs, Sept. 15. Sister Chappell has been a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for 35 years. One of seven children, she grew up in New Haven, Conn., with a civil servant father and a nurse mother. She sat down to talk about her organization and vocation. Her responses are excerpted below. Read the interview here: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2012/09/27/qa_chappell_paxchristi/

Members of the South Dakota Pax Christi conference team pose prior to their retreat with Sr. Helen Prejean. (To see more photos go to: http://www.presentationsisters.org/news/news-item.php?ID=1088)

PAX CHRISTI-ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL MEMBERS WORK TO SAVE A LIFE: From The Prep News – “The Students for Life Club and Pax Christi (St. Louis University High School) recently joined forces to work to save the life of one man. Pax Christi and Students for Life together sent six people to a rally at Kiener Plaza last Saturday in support of Reggie Clemons, an inmate on death row. Clemons was sentenced to death for his involvement in the 1991 rape and murder of two young women on the Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis. Jurors convicted Clemons despite what some viewed as a lack of physical evidence and charges of prosecutorial misconduct and police coercion. Clemons, who was sentenced to die in 2009, has appealed his conviction. This week he is appearing before a special judge appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to review the evidence and hear testimony about prosecutor misconduct, racial bias (Clemons is black), and police brutality. Clemons has consistently maintained his innocence. Around 100 people attended the rally to show their support for Clemons. The rally included a number of speakers and a lot of music. Read more at: http://student.sluh.org/prepnews/index.php/news/student-life/1481-pax-life

BISHOP GUMBLETON PC (MI) MARCHES FOR PEACE: St. Leo’s Bishop Gumbleton Pax Christi partnered with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Jeanie Wylie Community for a Peace Walk through downtown Detroit on September 21, International Day of Peace. Walkers gathered around the peace pole outside of St. Peter’s for prayer, invoking the spirit of St. Francis in calling for peace and healing, locally and globally. Prayers were also offered in commemoration of the anniversary of the execution of Troy Davis and in memory of all victims of violence, including a neighborhood man who was murdered this past summer at the very site where the prayer service was held. The Gospel mandate to challenge economic violence was highlighted when Colombian hunger striker Jorge Parra, President of the Association of Current and Former Injured Employees of General Motors in Colombia (ASOTRECOL), joined the gathering. Jorge is in Detroit to call attention to workers’ rights violations in the hope of persuading GM to mediate a just settlement on behalf of injured Colombian workers who have lost their jobs. Despite being in the third week of the hunger strike and suffering a serous back injury that requires the use of a cane, Jorge joined the long walk up Michigan Avenue to downtown. Led by a banner reading “End War,” marchers carried signs reading “Drones Kill,” “Instead of War, Feed the Poor,” and “Another World is Possible” to Grand Circus Park in the shadow of Comerica Park where large crowds were gathering for a Detroit Tigers’ home game. During a short vigil outside the ball park, Jorge shared his story and offered a prayer on behalf of workers and their families. It was an honor to walk and pray with Jorge on behalf of all the workers who are engaged in this righteous struggle for justice. Upon returning to St. Peter’s, walkers were treated to vegetarian chili prepared by Pax Christi members followed by a peace and justice sing-along featuring the music of Motown’s own Stevie Wonder. (Submitted by Kim Redigan)

Bishop Gumbleton Pax Christi members march

Members of St. Leo’s Bishop Gumbleton Pax Christi march on the International Day for Peace.

PAX CHRISTI METRO WEST HOLDS RETREAT DAY: On Sunday September 16th Pax Christi Metro West (meaning the towns and cities around Framingham Massachusetts) gathered for a midday retreat to start their 2012-13 activities. Eleven members were present. We reflected on the upcoming (April 2013) 50th anniversary of Pope John XXIII letter Pacem in Terris, using materials from Pax Christi as well as Center of Concern. This time of reflection helped us understand the context of the world and Church at the time of that letter, our present day context as well and the impact of those intuitions of Pope John that helped us then and now be committed to peace. We ended our time together with practical next steps in the Faithful Budget campaigns, both national as well as in Massachusetts, the assisted suicide proposition on our November ballot and local International Peace Day participation in Framingham.

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Oct. 14 – Pax Christi Indianapolis presents “Moral Implications of Public Budgets” with Sr. Mary Wendeln of Nuns on the Bus: http://www.paxchristiindy.org/

Oct. 19-21 – Pax Christi Michigan annual retreat: http://www.paxchristimi.org/2012_retreat.htm

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

Oct. 26-28 – Pax Christi Richmond’s retreat, “Reflecting on Peace from a Vatican II Perspective,” contact Mike Jackman at mike.jackman@capitalone.com for more information

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

Nov. 3 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Metro New York/Long Island: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Nov. 9-10 – Pax Christi Western New York annual retreat: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/10/08/regional-event-pax-christi-western-new-york-holds-15th-annual-retreat/

Nov. 10 – Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore’s Peacemaker of the Year Award Dinner: http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2012/09/25/sr-katherine-corr-named-2012-peacemaker-of-the-year/

Nov. 18 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Southern California: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Quicklinks:

Former National Council chair Judy Coode has co-edited a book on the liturgical readings, published by Orbis Books … Pax Christi International Co-President Marie Dennis has a series running on the PCUSA website on civil discourse during this election year; click the link to read the latest post with links to previous ones … Read the latest edition of Pax Christi Michigan’s newsletter Peace Connections … Pax Christi Florida is calling for letters to stop an October 16^th execution … Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Shelley Douglass writes in the blog on lessons she learned from her mother … Pax Christi was included in an article on Religions Working for Peace in the Huffington Post … Former Pax Christi-Catholic University coordinator Bob Shine writes on reaching out to students, young adults … Pax Christi Northern California recently hosted a day of reflection on “Lives Well Lived” … See more local and regional updates in the summer edition of The Peace Current …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.

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

Tagged Bishop Gumbleton, Bishop Gumbleton Pax Christi, Bob Albright, Bob shine, Common Dreams, drones, Hancock Field, Huffington Post, International Day of Peace, Jack Gilory, JoAnne Lingle, Jobs with peace, Jorge Parra, Judy Coode, Kim Redigan, M=Pax Christi Metro New York, Marie Dennis, Mary Wendeln, Orbis Books, Pakistan, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Atlanta, Pax Christi Catholic University of America, Pax Christi Dallas, Pax Christi Detroit, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Indianapolis, Pax Christi Long Island, Pax Christi Massachusetts, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Metro West, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi Minnesota, Pax Christi Northern California, Pax Christi Richmond, Pax Christi South Dakota, Pax Christi Southern California, Pax Christi St Louis University High School, Pax Christi Western New York, Prep News, Reggie Clemons, Shelley Douglass, Shut the Door on War, Sr Katherine Corr, Sr. Patricia Chappell, Syracuse Post-Standard, The Georgia Bulletin

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

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/

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 67^th 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

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 …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.

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

Tagged 30 Days of Peace, Albany Times Union, Alpena Peace People, Bishop Gumbleton, Bud Ryan, Camp Ripley, Cite Soleil, Dave Atwood, David O'Brien, Detroit News, Esther Pineda, Haiti, Heather Brouillet Navarro, Herb Bazur, Hiroshima, Intercommunity Justice and Peace, International Day of Peace, Jean Stokan, John Dear, Joshua Casteel, Los Alamos, Marie Dennis, Momentum 2012, Morrison County Times, Nancy Small, National Catholic Reporter, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Atlanta, Pax Christi Detroit, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Illinois., Pax Christi International, Pax Christi Massachusetts, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi Minnesota, Pax Christi New Mexico, Pax Christi Richmond, Pax Christi South Dakota, Pax Christi St. Cloud, Pax Christi Texas, Santa Fe Reporter, Slave Trail Walk, Tom Roberts

ON THE LINE: August edition features Hiroshima Day actions, PC members supporting the Sisters, and more!

Posted on August 8, 2012 | 2 Comments

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

HIROSHIMA DAY WITNESS: Numerous Pax Christi local groups from around the nation participated in events, prayer services, and public actions to commemorate the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima 67 years ago. Here is a sampling of what groups did: Pax Christi New Mexico members hosted their annual “Sack Cloth and Ashes” vigil at Los Alamos. Pax Christi Metro New York hosted prayer, talk, and a public witness to express opposition to nuclear weapons with historian David Watt providing a historical critique of the bombings and Leila Zand, Middle East Program Director from Fellowship of Reconciliation, sharing a contemporary look at the nuclear threat with Iran. Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore members joined others at the Pentagon where members of the Atlantic Life Community were arrested for nonviolent action. Pax Christi-St. Maurice Church in S. Florida held a special evening of remembrance that included speakers and Japanese drumming. Members of Pax Christi Rochester (MN) lit peace lanterns to illuminate the threat of nuclear war. Pax Christi of Pomona Valley (CA) sponsored a peace vigil.

Nonviolent action on Hiroshima Day at the museum where the Enola Gay is displayed in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Ted Majdosz)

PAX CHRISTI MICHIGAN SUPPORTS LCWR: On their website, PC-MI writes, “We are writing to assure LCWR that Pax Christi Michigan stands firmly in support of your members throughout the United States AND in absolute opposition to the Vatican decree issued against you on April 18, 2012. We are deeply saddened by the decree contents and want you to know that we stand in awe of the positions you have taken and the leadership you have given through your prophetic works over these many years. Moreover, Pax Christi Michigan is a proud signatory of the Pax Christi International letter of support which was issued just a few weeks ago, publically declaring our solidarity with LCWR in praise of your work. PCM joined other National Sections, including Pax Christi USA, and numerous PC Regional Members as signatories of this powerful letter…” To read the entire letter, click here: http://paxchristimi.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/open-letter-to-the-leadership-conference-of-women-religious-from-pax-christi-michigan/

Members of Pax Christi Indianapolis support women religious outside the Cathedral. (Photo courtesy of Val Fillenwarth)

WOMEN OF GOD SLIDESHOW: Former Pax Christi USA Development Director Jo Clarke has put together an excellent slideshow called “Women of God” which is now playing on the Erie Benedictines’ website. At a time when our women religious have come under Vatican criticism, this slideshow really celebrates the incredible, diverse ministries of our Sisters. Click here to see the slideshow: http://eriebenedictines.org/

PAX CHRISTI HARRISBURG (PA) LEADER PASSES: Patricia Mary Schulder “wasn’t afraid to get arrested across from the White House for protesting the Vietnam War — and did. She wasn’t afraid to hold an anti-war sign in front of the federal building in downtown Harrisburg — and did that, too. [She] believed it wasn’t enough to hope and pray for peace and justice. She also worked for it… ‘Pat made a difference in the world,’ said Mary Hertzel of Harrisburg, a fellow member of Pax Christi. ‘She came to peace vigils at noon at the Federal Building. She held posters about ending war. She always worked for peace. She also gave great Christmas parties and served delicious food. We will miss her very much.’ Read the entire story at bit.ly/NRZmB2

SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE FOR JANITORS: Dave and Peggy Atwood of Pax Christi Houston were arrested in support of the Justice for Janitors campaign. Dave also delivered a powerful letter of support to janitors organizing for their rights in that city. This is an excerpt from his message: “his is not a matter of supply and demand as some in the business world would like to say. This is a question of basic justice. Paying poverty wages to someone to do an essential job is just plain unjust. And so I say to the large companies who are making record profits and to their CEOs who are earning millions of dollars each year, treat these workers right! If you do so, your company will do better and the Houston economy will benefit. And I say to the janitors and other low-wage workers of Houston: ‘Stand your ground, my brothers and sisters! Your cause is just and God will bless you.’” Click here to see their video in support of the campaign: http://youtu.be/PqU3yk9-7B0. Click here to see photos from the action in which Dave and Peggy were among those arrested: http://www.chron.com/business/article/Protesters-block-intersection-in-support-of-3716827.php?cmpid=emailarticle&cmpid=emailarticle

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

July 1-August 9 – Forty Day Fast for the Truth of Gospel Nonviolence, http://lifeofanunorsister.blogspot.com/2012/07/forty-day-fast-for-truth-of-gospel.html

August 5-9 – Faith and Resistance Retreat in Washington, D.C., commemorating the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; contact Art Laffin at artlaffin@hotmail.com for more information

Sept. 7 – Momentum 2012 with Bishop Gumbleton, Bishop Kevin Dowling and Teacher of Peace Ruben Garcia at Trinity University in Washington, D.C., http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/momentum-2012/

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

Sept. 21 – International Day of Peace

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

Quicklinks:

PC Pacific NW member Nick Mele writes on various peace and justice topics on his blog, The Disconnect … Pax Christi Florida member Pat Mahon reflects on Hiroshima on his blog, ChristFaithPower … Pat O’Neill had his letter in support of the Transform Now Plowshares published in the Knoxville (TN) newspaper … Pax Christi El Paso is showing “The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It” for August … PC Metro NY Director Rosemarie Pace was quoted in a comment on the New York Daily News’ website regarding the theater attack in Aurora … Pax Christi Mariposa hosted a speech by Dan Flaming of the Economic Roundtable in July … Pax Christi members in the Bay-Area (CA) are supporting Hyatt housekeepers in their boycott of Hyatt Hotels … Pax Christi Illinois member Tom Cordaro has a series running on the PCUSA website critiquing the theology and practice of nonviolence from an anti-racist perspective … See more local and regional updates in the summer edition of The Peace Current …

Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.

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

Tagged Art Laffin, Bishop Gumbleton, Bishop Kevin Dowling, Dan Flaming, Dave Atwood, Erie Benedictines, faith and resistance retreat, Hiroshima, International Day of Peace, Jo Clarke, Justice for Janitors, LCWR, Momentum 2012, Nick Mele, Pat Mahon, Pat O'Neill, Patricia Mary Schulder, Pax Christi, Pax Christi Atlanta, Pax Christi El Paso, Pax Christi Florida, Pax Christi Harrisburg, Pax Christi Houston, Pax Christi Illinois., Pax Christi Indianapolis, Pax Christi Mariposa, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi Metro New York, Pax Christi Michigan, Pax Christi New Mexico, Pax Christi Northern California, Pax Christi Pacific Northwest, Pax Christi Pomona Valley, Pax Christi Richmond, Pax Christi Rochester, Pax Christi St. Maurice, Peggy Atwood, Rosemarie Pace, Ruben Garcia, Slave Trail Walk, Ted Majdosz, Tom Cordaro

ON THE LINE: May edition features peace awards, upcoming events, and more

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Comments Off

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

PAX CHRISTI LONG ISLAND PEACE AWARDS: Journalist and writer Susan Perretti and Bethpage High School teacher/advisor Jacqueline Jill Rito were given the PCLI Peace Award for 2012 on April 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Manhasset. Susan and Jacqueline, members of PCLI, were honored for their work in bringing the message of peace from the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers to Long Island. Jacqueline first heard of the Afghan Youth from reading about them on the PCUSA website and speaking with Amy Watts who was coordinating PCUSA’s relationship with the Afghan youth. At the award event, there was a great phone conversation between people from 5 or 6 countries, moderated by PCUSA Teacher of Peace Kathy Kelly.The AYPV developed the Global Days of Listening program, which enables conversations between ordinary people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Egypt and an expanding list of other countries. Also honored were three students from Bethpage High School, Leila Dastgheib-Beheshti, Holly Josephs and Shawn Mehrzad for their efforts in presenting the Global Days of Listening at their high school, at Adelphi University, and at the United Nations.

Jacqueline Jill Rito ( left) and Susan Perretti received Pax Christi Long Island’s 2012 Peacemaker Awards. Their blue scarves are a symbol of the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, reminding us we are all united under one blue sky.

PEACE AWARD PRESENTED TO PAX CHRISTI NEW JERSEY: From NorthJersey.com: “New Jersey Peace Action (NJPA) will host its 55th anniversary dinner on Sunday, April 29, at the Regency House, 140 Route 23 North, Pompton Plains. NJPA is working to end torture, close Guantanamo Bay Prison, and stand up for the civil liberties of all, including the American Muslim community. As part of this campaign, Captain James ‘Yusuf’ Yee will speak on ‘9/11 and Guantanamo: The Struggle for Justice Ten Years Later.’ David Mortensen, a resident of Rockaway Township, will present the Sylvia and Oscar Ackelsberg Peace Award to Pax Christi New Jersey at the annual dinner. He is also a member of the Multifaith Peace and Justice and Alliance and the August 9th Saving Lives Task Force, two organizations working with New Jersey Peace Action to help bring lasting peace and justice to the world. ‘I am honored to be asked to give an award to Pax Christi New Jersey, one of our sister organizations that is making a difference in the cause of peace,’ said Mortensen. Read more by clicking here.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON THE DEATH PENALTY: The Catholic Sun featured a letter from Deacon Paul Hursch expressing the sentiments of Pax Christi-Phoenix members who pray and witness for the abolition of the death penalty. Deacon Hursch wrote, in part, “I was heartened to see the article affirming our Church’s position on capital punishment (‘Forgive us as we forgive others,’ The Catholic Sun, March 15). Many Catholics do not consider these state sanctioned homicides as an affront to our Church’s prohibition against the unnecessary destruction of human life. Most Catholics affirm the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death, but make an exception for the people on death row. Somehow these lives don’t merit God’s forgiveness, but rather the most severe punishment. My firsthand experience has proven this wrong. The three men whom I have visited on death row over the past 10-plus years are men whose lives have been changed through the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God…”

PC-Arizona members against the death penalty

PC-Phoenix coordinator Dan Wolford tables at a vigil against the death penalty.

PAX CHRISTI METRO NEW YORK COORDINATOR ADDRESSES THE PAX CHRISTI AGENDA: In an op-ed piece for The Huffington Post, PC-Metro NY coordinator Rosemarie Pace wrote about the Pax Christi Agenda:” In the April 14 issue of The Tablet, the newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, there was a letter in the ‘Readers’ Forum’ that was titled ‘The Pax Christi Agenda.’ Having been a member of Pax Christi for nearly 25 years and having been Director of Pax Christi Metro New York for nearly 12 of those 25 years, I thought I was pretty familiar with Pax Christi’s agenda, but I could not recognize it in that letter. It made me realize that there’s an awful lot of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Pax Christi out there that begs to be informed. Consequently, I offer this description of the Pax Christi ‘agenda’ for all who might be curious. Pax Christi was founded by Bishop Pierre Marie Theas and Marie-Marthe Dortel Claudot in France at the end of WWII for reconciliation between France and Germany; hence, its first and foremost agenda item to this day is reconciliation… Read the entire article by clicking here.

Mary Lea Palo Zamora

PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA STATE COUNCIL MEMBER PASSES: From the PC-Florida website: “It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you that Mary Lea Zamora, long-time member of Pax Christi Florida and Pax Christi Northeast FL and former member of PCF’s council, entered into eternal life Tuesday, April 24th at 9:45 a.m. Ron, her dearest friend and devoted husband, was at her side. Mary Lea showed all of us not only how to live well but also how to die with great acceptance, courage, and grace… We, who knew and loved this exceptional woman, are certain that the gates of heaven were flung wide open at her arrival. Until we meet again gentle and holy woman: Mary Lea Zamora … Presente!”

PAX CHRISTI TEXAS REMEMBERS LONG TIME MEMBER: David Atwood wrote the following tribute to Dr. Ellen Burns who died in Houston on December 5 at the age of 91. “I first met Ellen when she moved to Houston to work in the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Office in 1992 (at the age of 72!). She soon joined the local Pax Christi group and later helped found the Houston Peace and Justice Center. Ellen’s activism included protests against nuclear weapons, advocacy for Latino immigrants, stronger gun control laws, abolition of the death penalty, and protests against the School of the Americas. She set a shining example of putting one’s faith into action. When Ellen retired from the Catholic Archdiocese in 2002, she said, ‘I was never inactive….I don’t know how God gives me all this energy.’ We will miss Ellen’s energy, determination and courage. Read more on the PC-Texas website.

Upcoming Events:

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

May 17 is DREAM Day of Action, sponsored by United We Dream in support of the DREAM Act.

PC-Illinois will be participating in the Unity March for Justice and Reconciliation at the NATO Summit in Chicago, May 20. PC-Illinois will host a Mass and a meet-up to march together. Contact PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro at tomcordaro@juno.com for more information.

PC-El Paso hosts PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear, SJ on May 24 at St. Pius X Catholic Church Community Center. Click here for more info.

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Metro New York coordinator remembers support of Mary’s Pence … Mary Mitchell promotes Pax Christi in a letter to the editor on Afghanistan … Reddit post from a workshop presenter at Pax Christi Michigan’s state conference … CatholicCulture.org featured a story on PCUSA being a signatory to a letter asking the President Obama to ban land mines … Central MA Pax Christi held a retreat with the theme “The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation” on April 14 with Marie Dennis, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns … Pax Christi International Co-President Marie Dennis featured in Catholic Free Press article on war with Iran … Read Pax Christi International’s May 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 …