Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch
Each month, “On The Line” features news items and announcements from around the nation featuring Pax Christi members, local groups, regions and partners. These are gleaned from articles in local newspapers, websites, magazines, and elsewhere.
PAX CHRISTI ILLINOIS CO-SPONSORS INTERFAITH PEACE SERVICE: The 8th annual World Peace Day Inter-Faith Prayer Service, co-sponsored by Pax Christi Illinois, was held on January 1st on the campus of North Central College in Naperville. The theme for this years’ service was, “Breaking Down the Mysteries Between Us: Seeking Peace Through Understanding”. In explaining the hope for this years’ celebration, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro stated, “Even though this past year has been marked by incidents of unspeakable violence, polarization and hostilities in our nation and around the world, the truth is that more and more people of faith are coming together across religious and cultural boundaries to give witness to our common humanity. There is more that unites than there is that divides us. Our hope is that this service will build on the successful interfaith efforts of the last year and deepen the bonds of respect and love between us.” Read the whole article here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/01/04/regional-news-pax-christi-illinois-joins-diverse-religious-communities-in-calling-for-world-peace/
PAX CHRISTI GROUPS MARK THE FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS: Traditionally, many Pax Christi groups hold vigils, prayer services, and actions on December 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Pax Christi Florida chapters held vigils dedicated to a commitment to nonviolence as a remembrance of the school children in Newtown, Connecticut . Pax Christi Northeast Florida held one in downtown St. Augustine at the Plaza de la Constitution, with nine people participating, including 2 priests: Fr. Rene Robert and Fr. Sebastian Muccilli. Other PCF members held vigil in downtown Jacksonville in front of the new County Courthouse.
LONG-TIME PAX CHRISTI MEMBER PUBLISHES NEW BOOK: An Invitation to Think and Feel Differently in the New Millennium, by Fr. Harry Bury, long-time member of Pax Christi USA, describes an innovative way of looking at life that brings meaning and fulfillment to oneself and others. It tells stories that touch the deepest layers of our humanness, awakening our imagination and transforming our understanding in a manner that delights and fulfills us. The intent of this book is to generate new stories for the New Millennium in order to overcome cynicism with reasonable hopefulness, while suggesting practical measures ‘the least of us’ can take to make life wonderful for ourselves and for everyone in the world. Read more about Fr. Harry’s book here: http://www.harryjbury.com/HarryJBury/Books.html
PAX CHRISTI WESTERN NEW YORK COORDINATOR DELIVERS ADVENT HOMILY: This homily was given by William Privett, coordinator of Pax Christi Western New York, on December 8-9 at his parish. “Today’s Gospel reading quotes Isaiah, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ Still today we have the responsibility to ‘Prepare the way’ and ‘straighten the paths’…for our Lord. 2000 years later, we can all observe that the path is not straight, the hills are still not level. About 20 years ago, it occurred to me during my meditation that I not only COULD, but was CALLED UPON, to give birth to Jesus into this world. What I will share in the next few minutes is what I have learned in the past few decades, and that is making the path straight is doing what Jesus calls us to do – Love without violence. I believe that Loving without violence, for those of us who believe in Jesus is making the path straight and leveling the hills. Is it even imaginable to you that we could pPrepare the way for Jesus’ with violence, mayhem, destruction and death?” Read the entire homily here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/12/29/christmas-2012-birthing-the-prince-of-peace-love-without-violence/
PAX CHRISTI MICHIGAN MEMBER WRITES ON COLOMBIAN’S WORK FOR JUSTICE: Pax Christi Michigan member, Carol Jachim, wrote the following story about Jorge Parra’s struggle for justice. “It was International Peace Day in September when I first met Jorge Parra, a humbling man who walked with a cane. We marched together with 25 peace advocates for a mile or so from a downtown Detroit Church to Comerica Park where the Detroit Tigers were playing a home game. Did we make a difference? Did anyone notice? One only wonders with hope. As we gathered in a small park, Jorge spoke, through an interpreter, telling us his reason for being in the U.S. — to draw attention to his and his coworkers’ plight in a General Motors plant in Columbia. GM Colombia (Colmotores), the most profitable GM plant in Latin America, fired over 200 workers who suffered work-related injuries and diseases, including spinal fractures and cancer…” Read the rest of the story here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/12/21/human-rights-colombians-story-moves-us-to-question-the-meaning-of-joy-and-peace-this-season/
PAX CHRISTI MAINE MEMBER ASKS IF WE SEE THE POOR? The following article was published in the Bangor Daily News by Mary Ellen Quinn of Pax Christi Maine during the Advent season. “As a social worker in this community over the past three decades, I have seen the resources allocated to those living in poverty rise and fall. In recent years, there has been a steady downward spiral. At both federal and state levels, budgets cuts are being made that severely jeopardize the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. It is difficult to witness the current congressional debate on who will receive a tax break, knowing that the income of the top 1 percent of wealthiest Americans has risen close to 75 percent in the past 30 years. At the same time, the income of those on the lowest rung of the ladder has seen only a 1-percent increase…” Read the entire column here: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/17/opinion/how-do-we-see-the-poor-or-do-we-see-them-at-all/
PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA MEMBERS ON A DELEGATION TO HAITI: Three Pax Christi Florida Council members made a trip to visit Pax Christi Haiti in November. They spent 5 days in Cite Soleil to see firsthand how the Sakala Peace Program is making a difference in the lives of the children and families living in one of the poorest communities in the world. They returned filled with hope and inspiration from working with these bright, promising youth and resilient, innovative adults. Read their full report here: http://paxchristiflorida.org/take-action/report-of-our-trip-to-pax-christi-port-au-prince/
Upcoming or Ongoing Events:
Jan. 6-12 – Witness Against Torture, Close Guantanamo: http://witnesstorture.org/
Jan. 6-12 – National Migration Week: http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/index.cfm
Jan. 11-13 – National Weekend of Prayer to End Slavery and Trafficking: http://www.weekendofprayer.net/index.html
Jan. 18-19 – Pax Christi Cleveland West is presenting a retreat with Fr. Emmanuel McCarthy on gospel nonviolence. Contact 216.651.0550 for more information.
Jan. 21 – MLK Day: http://mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php
Jan. 27 – Pax Christi Metro New York presents Peacemaking Through the Arts, featuring a play on Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day: http://www.nypaxchristi.org/events.html
Feb. 2 – Regional Dialogue in Michigan: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
Feb. 13 – Ash Wednesday
Feb. 23 – Regional Dialogue in Minnesota: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
Mar. 1-3 – Pax Christi Metro New York’s retreat, “Have this mind in you which was in Christ Jesus…Conversion to the active love of Jesus by praying Sacred Scripture,” with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: http://www.nypaxchristi.org/events.html
Mar. 10 – Regional Dialogue in Richmond, VA: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
Mar. 23 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Metro New York and Long Island: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
Quicklinks:
Pax Christi member Fr. Tim Taugher and Fr. Fred Daley were featured in this article from The Post Standard (NY) following the Newtown massacre … Watch this incredible slideshow of Pax Christi Houston events from throughout 2012 put together by Dave Atwood … A number of Pax Christi members, including Ambassadors and Teachers of Peace, were featured in this article in NCR on Catholic peacemaking … Pax Christi New Mexico co-coordinator Bud Ryan had this comment published in the New York Times … Read the new reflection from PCUSA National Council member Nick Mele on “Sex and violence” … A photo from the Sakala project in Haiti was featured in The Global Fund for Children’s blog … The latest edition of Pax Christi Metro New York’s newsletter Kerux is available online … Many thanks to Sue Malone who is stepping down as coordinator of Pax Christi Massachusetts and a grateful welcome to Pat Ferrone who is stepping into her place … Pax Christi El Paso (TX) continues their regular film series this month with the movie “Encounter Point” … Read the January edition of Pax Christi International’s newsletter online … See more local and regional updates in the fall edition of The Peace Current …
- Send your news items, announcements, photos and links to stories about Pax Christi groups or members to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org.