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.
FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S FATHER PASSES AWAY: Pax Christi USA learned that the father of Dave Robinson, former Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, passed away last week. Jean Stokan, former PCUSA staff member, wrote: “Dave had come back home after being with his father for a week in New Jersey, when he got the word from his sister, who was with him at the time of his death… It all happened so fast. I think it was only two weeks ago that they got a diagnosis of cancer.” Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, asked that we “keep Dave and his family in our prayers and may the soul of his father rest in peace.” Messages of sympathy can be sent to: David Robinson & Family, 10175 Dietzel Road, Union City, PA 16438.
VANDERHAAR SYMPOSIUM HAPPENS THIS WEEK IN MEMPHIS: The Vanderhaar Symposium was founded in memory of Dr. Gerard A. Vanderhaar, a professor of religion and peace studies at Christian Brothers University and a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace. Vanderhaar spent his lifetime promoting peace through active nonviolence, writing six books, as well as speaking the message worldwide. The symposium seeks to continue Vanderhaar’s legacy by bringing a noted scholar or peace activist to Memphis each year to address social and moral issues related to peace and justice and/or Catholic social teaching. This year’s symposium features several young dynamic speakers on the theme, “Communities Engaged in Resolving Urban Social Conflict.” The symposium will take place on Thursday, March 14. For more information: http://www.gvanderhaar.org/
PC ILLINOIS MEMBERS MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN FOSTER ON IMMIGRATION REFORM: (From PC-Illinois member Tom Cordaro) “On February 20th members of Pax Christi Illinois organized a religious leaders delegation to urge Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The delegation included minsters and representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian (Catholic and Protestant) and Unitarian faith communities in the 11th Congressional District. The group urged Congressman Foster to embrace key principles that should be included in any immigration reform legislation; family unification, a pathway to citizenship, worker protections and an immediate moratorium on all deportations. The group was well received and will continue to work with local immigrant communities to advocate and organize in support for these principles.”
PC MADISON (WI) MEMBER REPORTS BACK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY: (Trudi Jenny of PC Madison attended the Feb. 17th climate change rally in Washington, D.C. This is her report.) “It was a long bus ride and a long rally in frigid wind chills, but the short of it is—the climate action grassroots movement is alive and very well! Three busloads (150 people) from Wisconsin arrived in D.C. around 11:00 am on February 17th, just in time to join everyone gathering near the Washington Monument. Between 35,000 and 50,000 souls from across the country braved the cold to express the urgent need to lower our carbon emissions if we are to save God’s gift of Earth. Young and old carried signs, chanted and sang, and shared their own stories, inspired by the words of rally speakers including Bill McKibben (350.org), Michael Brune (Sierra Club), two leaders of First Nation tribes in Canada, and Tom Steyer, a California investment fund manager and major Obama fundraiser.The event brought back memories of being in D.C. to participate in civil rights marches and protests against the Vietnam War. While those events were much larger, it was inspiring and energizing to be among so many of my fellow citizens who are working on the front lines of what I consider to be the most important issue of our time. If we don’t save the Earth, all our peace-building efforts will be thwarted.” Read the entire article here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/02/26/care-for-creation-report-back-from-february-17th-climate-rally-in-dc/
Upcoming or Ongoing Events:
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 5-7 – PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear, S.J. hosts a retreat on “Jesus the Peacemaker” at Kirkridge Retreat Center in PA: http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/03/11/regional-event-retreat-with-fr-john-dear-s-j-on-jesus-the-peacemaker/
April 6 – “Jesus, Model for Our Nonviolence,” Pax Christi Massachusetts’ retreat with Fr. Simon Harak, S.J.: http://paxchristima.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 – 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
April 26-29 – Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Retreat in Winona, MN: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!searchin/national-cw-e-mail-list/april$2026%7Csort:date/national-cw-e-mail-list/JlxevjlWaoc/6x9YFwqa0J0J
Quicklinks:
Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore members protested outside the White House during the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan last month … Pax Christi Long Island member Bob Keeler spoke on the American War Economy in February … Pax Christi at Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo offered workshops on nonviolence education at their parish in February … As part of Pax Christi Memphis’s “Conversation About Predator Drones,” the group presented The Predator, a two act play by PCUSA member Jack Gilroy that highlights America’s fascination with drones … Pax Christi Haiti Program Director Daniel Tillias was featured in a video for his work in Cite Soleil … Pax Christi International has launched the Bread is Life campaign, a fast for a just peace in Syria … Pax Christi Western New York regional coordinator William Privett is stepping down from the position this Spring. Thanks for your years of service Bill! … Pax Christi International’s March 2013 newsletter is online … 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.