ON THE LINE: May 2014 edition includes Stations of the Cross reports, new workshop offering, and more

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.

QUICK NOTE FROM NATIONAL: The Spring 2014 edition of our newsletter, The Peace Current, was sent out several weeks ago. If you have not received a copy, it means that your membership is not up-to-date. You can renew quick and easy on the website here: http://paxchristiusa.org/join-u/. To see the PDF version of the newsletter on the website, go to http://paxchristiusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/spring2014newsletter-web.pdf.

PAX CHRISTI ST. LOUIS HOSTS FIRST WORKSHOP WITH LOCAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF COLOR: (by Laura Kent) In mid-April, Pax Christi St. Louis hosted the first workshop, “We Grow Together: Catholic Communities of Color and Pax Christi USA.” The workshop is designed to bring together Catholic communities of color with members of various Pax Christi USA regions to create a community that is built on inclusivity and based on Gospel values. “If we do not count in our membership, members of the communities whom we would like to serve, then as a peace and justice organization, Pax Christi should shut down.” It was with this acknowledgement from Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, that a group of twenty-one St. Louisans began a workshop at Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, April 12 to learn together about Pax Christi. Participants hailed from many parishes and local organizations, all with the common cause of working for justice… Read more at http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/04/29/news-pax-christi-usa-holds-first-workshop-with-catholic-communities-of-color-in-st-louis/

PAX CHRISTI GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE NATION HOST GOOD FRIDAY WAY OF THE CROSS EVENTS: Over two dozen Pax Christi USA local groups hosted or co-sponsored a “Way of the Cross” event on Good Friday, connecting the sufferings of Christ during his passion with the suffering of our brothers and sisters at the hands of violence, greed, poverty, sickness and war. In this edition of “On The Line”, you can see photos (below) from PC Illinois and PC South Dakota participating in these events. Several groups, like PC Metro New York, received local news coverage of their events. Mohawk Valley Pax Christi in Utica, NY sent us this link to the opening reflection of their Stations of the Cross, posted on the website of the local newspaper: http://www.uticaod.com/section?template=videodetail&vid=3482951928001&vidtitle=The%20Mohawk%20Valley%20Pax%20Christi%20Outdoor%20Stations%20of%20the%20Cross

PC METRO NEW YORK HONORS 2014 PEACEMAKERS: (from Rosemarie Pace) Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) is very proud to announce this year’s honorees and to celebrate not only their accomplishments but also what they stand for. This year’s Peacemakers are exceptional in their commitment to end gun violence, abolish nuclear weapons, advocate for Palestinian rights, and serve the poor and needy. They stand strong in their resolve to offer compassionate alternatives inspired by their values and beliefs. On Sunday, June 1st, Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) will be paying tribute to Sandy Hook Promise; Maryknoll Sister Jean Fallon; and The Carmelite Commission for Peace, Justice, and the Integrity of Creation… Read more at http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/05/08/regional-news-pax-christi-metro-ny-honors-2014-peacemakers/

PC MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDES REFLECTION FROM DEATH ROW INMATE IN STATIONS OF THE CROSS: (from Pat Ferrone) Members of Pax Christi Massachusetts co-sponsored the annual Stations of the Cross in front of the Boston Statehouse on Good Friday. Station 11 was the presentation of a piece written by a man with whom PC-MA state coordinator Pat Ferrone has been communicating for the last 1.5 years. Marc James Asay has been on Death Row in Florida since he was 23, and is now 50. You can read his reflection at http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/05/05/reflection-living-in-the-shadow-of-death/

Pax Christi Long Island member Jacqueline Jill Rito brought a small group of students to Italy recently, covering Rome, Florence and Assisi for Holy Week 2014. She snapped this photo (to the left), writing that “the inspirational feeling and word in Rome regarding ‘the people’s Pope’ was palpable – witness this drawing on a street-sign advertisement across from Castel Sant’Angelo, just down the street from St. Peter’s Basilica.” Thanks for sharing!

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

May 15 – International Conscientious Objection Day, http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/conscientious-objection/

May 17 – Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore’s annual assembly, “From Just War to Just Peace in the Age of St. Francis,” http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2014/04/register-now-annual-assembly-may-17-at-gonzaga-college-high-school/

May 23 – Global Day of Action to Close Guantanamo, http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/05/13/take-action-may-23rd-is-global-day-of-action-to-close-guantanamo/. Pax Christi USA is an endorser.

May 29 – National Call-in Day for Justice for Immigrants, http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/index.shtml; Pax Christi USA is an endorser.

June – Torture Awareness Month, http://www.tassc.org and http://www.nrcat.org/

June 3-14 – On the Road to Ground the Drones action in Illinois and Michigan, http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/04/29/drones-on-the-road-to-ground-the-drones-action-june-3-14/

June 27 – Momentum 2014 Event in D.C., http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/momentum-2014/

June 29-July 3 – Starvin for Justice: Fast and Vigil to End the Death Penalty, http://www.abolition.org/fastandvigil/; Pax Christi USA is an endorser.

Quicklinks:

PC Southern California recently showed Brave New Films’ new movie, “Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars,” and shared that its producers would very much like to have viewings at other Pax Christi events. If your region or group is interested, contact Tim Molina at timothy@bravenewfoundation.org … Leona Wieland and members of the Southeastern South Dakota Chapter of Pax Christi hosted a “Take Back the Night Vigil” at the site of a recent murder in Sioux Falls … You can watch the 2014 Vanderhaar Symposium, in honor of PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Gerry Vanderhaar, at this link on YouTube … Pittsburgh-area Pax Christi hosted PCUSA Ambassador of Peace John Dear earlier this week to talk about nonviolence … Read Pax Christi Metro New York’s Easter reflection … Check out the new video from Campaign Nonviolence … PC Texas member Dave Atwood wrote this reflection about his friendship with a young man on death row … Pax Christi International’s May 2014 newsletter is online … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2014 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.