Pax Christi Southeastern South Dakota

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.

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.

ED. Note: Sorry for posting this a day late. I was out sick yesterday.

WAY OF THE CROSS: By our report in the national office, over 20 Good Friday Way of the Cross prayer and witness events were held throughout the United States, connecting the suffering of Jesus with the suffering of our sisters and brothers because of poverty, injustice, war, violence, sickness, and more. Here are a few links, photos and news stories sent in from groups across the country:

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Pax Christi New Jersey joined other groups to focus on immigration advocacy: http://tinyurl.com/3flvncy
Pax Christi members in Seattle participated in an extended liturgy at the Federal Building downtown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RqkFxMBq10
Photos with Pax Christi Metro-D.C.-Baltimore members from PCUSA partner Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1670996618216.2084636.1336393679
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL: PCUSA’s partner JustFaith Ministries had groups participate in places like Edmonton, http://tinyurl.com/3lf5g3b, and in Louisville, KY, home to the national office of JustFaith Ministries
YNN featured a video of Mohawk Valley (NY) Pax Christi’s Good Friday event on their website: http://tinyurl.com/6zkrxpa
WYNC featured Pax Christi Metro New York’s Midtown march: http://tinyurl.com/5u5tb3n

THE HUFFINGTON POST: Pax Christi Metro New York’s coordinator, Rosemarie Pace, wrote a piece which was published on The Huffington Post on Good Friday. The reflection centered on the importance of Good Friday within our tradition and shared information about the Way of the Cross which Pax Christi Metro New York holds each year. You can read the whole story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosemarie-pace/good-friday-stations-of-t_b_851197.html

IMPROVING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS: For the past three years, members of Pax Christi of the Pomona Valley in Southern California have been working on justice issues concerning immigrant rights and improved police-community relations as members of an active justice coalition in the city of Pomona. As part of this work, Pax Christi members have attended and spoken at public hearings, participated in peaceful demonstrations, worked at building positive relationships with community leaders and written letters to the editor and op-ed pieces for the local newspaper. A significant milestone was reached in this work in April, when the Pomona City Charter Review Commission voted
to add language to the city charter saying that the Pomona City Council shall create a police review commission. The question of a police review commission will now go before the city’s voters in a general election. Pax Christi members plan to continue to be involved in advocacy as the election approaches.

PHOTO: Leona Wieland and Sr. Gabriella, co-chairs of Pax Christi Southeastern South Dakota, sent us this photo from a recent event they held in Sioux Falls:

IN BRIEF: Pax Christi Marin (CA) will be hosting an event on homelessness featuring the Gubbio Project’s executive director Laura Slattery, on May 9th, at San Rafael. The event is featured in THE MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL: http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_17924475… Long-time member of Pax Christi Memphis, Father John Atkinson, will celebrate 50 years of ministry on May 13, 2011… Beatitudes Pax Christi (MI) is involved in the Moveable Peace 2011 project with Michigan Peaceworks… Students belonging to Bishop Alemany High School Pax Christi (CA) have participated in a St. Francis Peace Festival, attended functions coordinated by the Los Angeles chapter of Pax Christi, and written letters concerning federal and state legislation… La Crosse-area Pax Christi (WI) has been focusing on immigration issues and hospitality toward our Latino/a brothers and sisters.