ON THE LINE: Way of the Cross additions, PC-Texas coordinator receives award, PCUSA-JustFaith partnership update

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.

UPDATE ON GOOD FRIDAY WAY OF THE CROSS EVENTS: More than 15 “Way of the Cross” prayer witness events are being planned around the country for Good Friday. Pax Christi members are initiating or co-sponsoring this powerful witness in Denver and Louisville, Sioux Falls and Boston, and all across the U.S. We’ll continue to add listings on our Lent page, so feel free to send your information in to Johnny at johnnypcusa@yahoo.com.

SUCCESSFUL STATE CONFERENCE IN TEXAS: Frank Skeith, the long-standing Pax Christi Texas state coordinator was awarded the Pax Christi Peacemaker award (in absentia) at Pax Christi Texas’s state conference this past weekend. PC-Texas asks all of us to keep Frank in our prayers as he recovers from a recent operation. Fr. John Dear, S.J. provided a powerful and intensive review of the gospels in his keynote presentations, “Jesus and the Holy Week Journey to Peace”, with an emphasis on the nonviolent Christ. Over 115 participants attended the conference, hosted by Pax Christi Houston.

PHOTOS FROM THE PRAY-IN: In February, Pax Christi Long Island participated at a “pray-in” at Rep. King’s office, shortly before he was scheduled to hold his so-called “radical Muslim hearings.”

For more photos, visit the PC-Long Island website at http://paxchristilongisland.org/index.php/16-past-events-past-events/14-pray-in-at-peter-kings-office.

PAX CHRISTI USA-JUSTFAITH MINISTRIES PARTNERSHIP: Local Pax Christi groups have sent speakers to share the story of Pax Christi and Christian nonviolence with more than 40 JustFaith groups throughout the U.S. in the past 3 months. Pax Christi members have connected with JustFaith groups in Atlanta and the Washington, D.C.-area, Phoenix and Portland, Indianapolis and Cleveland, and dozens of other cities. We encourage local Pax Christi groups and members to reach out to JustFaith groups in your area, promoting the work your group is doing on behalf of peace and justice and inviting JustFaith participants to join you!

SEEDING NEW GROUPS: Organizing toolkits for starting a new group were sent out recently to Bucknell University (PA), Salve Regina University (RI), Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, NY; and local group organizers in Las Cruces, NM and Springfield, MA. We wish many blessings to these new groups as they discern and begin their work for peace and justice!

ENDING HOMELESSNESS: Pax Christi Memphis focused on the issue of homelessness during March with two events. On March 1, members of Pax Christi Memphis attended the meeting of the Memphis City Council in support of the Mayors’ Plan to End Homelessness in Memphis and Shelby County. At their March 19 meeting, the group discussed local homelessness issues in Memphis with Brad Watkins from the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, who presented an account of the work the Center on this issue.

IN BRIEF: On May 8 in Plano, Texas, Pax Christi Dallas will co-sponsor the film, Iraq for Sale, with Iranians for Peace and Justice… Pax Christi Phoenix, along with the Arizona Death Penalty Forum and the Coalition of Arizonans to End the Death Penalty, held witnesses that included prayer services on March 29th when the State of Arizona put Eric King to death… Pax Christi Burlington (VT) will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year, on October 4. Thanks PC-Burlington for your steadfast witness!…