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 results of the National Council election are in and we’re pleased to announce that Jean Stokan and Sr. Rose Marie Tresp, RSM have been elected as new members of the council, and current vice-chair Cathy Woodson was re-elected to another term. Additionally Edward Martinez and Cynthia Morris-Colbert have been added to the council to fill appointed positions. Also, the Constitutional amendments passed and will be incorporated into PCUSA’s constitution.
GIVING THANKS FOR THE LIFE OF LONG-TIME MEMBER NICK EOLOFF: (by Florence Steichen, Pax Christi MN) Veterans, peace-makers and workers for justice, people of Guatemala and Palestine, and countless others lost a dear friend and faithful supporter when Nick Eoloff, 84, died May 24 in St. Paul. Nick Eoloff was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves. Nick married Mary Lou Bunting December 26, 1955; they are the parents of six children, 14 grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. Among their many works for peace, Nick and Mary adopted Mordechai Vanunu, in 1996 when Mordechai was serving an 18 year prison term in Israel for revealing the existence of Israel’s nuclear weapons program. They visited him in prison, corresponded with him, and enlisted friends to write to Mordechai. Mary and Nick last saw Mordechai in 2005, after his release from prison in 2004, and have remained in contact. Mary phoned when Nick died, and knew that Mordechai could not come to Nick’s funeral because his freedom of movement is severely restricted even though he finished his sentence 10 years ago… Read this entire article at http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/06/04/obituary-remembering-long-time-pax-christi-usa-member-nick-eoloff/
PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA HOSTS WORKSHOP FOR CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PCF MEMBERS: (by Johnny Zokovitch) On Saturday, May 17, over 30 participants gathered at Barry University for the 4th in a series of workshops entitled, “We Grow Together: Pax Christi USA and Catholic Communities of Color,” hosted by Pax Christi Florida. Members of the Archdiocese’s Office of Black Catholic Ministry, leaders from several parishes, Pax Christi local group coordinators and state council members, and Pax Christi USA National Staff members were present for the all-day workshop which included overviews of Catholic Social Teaching and the priorities of Pax Christi USA, presentations on the corrective histories of African Americans and Latino/as in the Church, and sessions employing social analysis and planning for next steps… Read more here http://paxchristiusa.org/2014/05/19/news-pax-christi-florida-hosts-we-grow-together-pax-christi-usa-and-catholic-communities-of-color-workshop/
PAX CHRISTI PHOENIX WITNESSES AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY: (from John Zemblidge) Pax Christi-Phoenix continues to witness to the nonviolent Christ in opposition to the death penalty in Arizona. For several years our chapter has sponsored prayer vigils on the eve of executions along with Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona and the Arizona Ecumenical Council. We traveled to Tucson in February to attend Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona’s annual meeting. An ongoing relationship has ensued between Pax Christi member Margaret McChesney and death row inmate Frank McCray. Several Pax Christi members continue to visit prisoners in Maricopa County Jail who are facing prosecutions that may result in sentences of death. Long-time members Inge Casey, Dan Peitzmeyer and Bob Basque continue to work tirelessly in addressing forums and meetings of other organizations involved in the abolition movement. On May 15, our chapter hosted Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery where we dialogued and discussed the death penalty in a peaceful and present manner. On May 18, Pax Christi-Phoenix participated in a peaceful prayer vigil outside the Phoenix Downtown Sheraton where the National Association of the Boards of Pharmacy will hold their annual meeting. Abolitionists view pharmacists as allies in the effort to stop executions. With the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma on April 30, states like Arizona that use compounded drugs from non-corporate pharmacies face increased scrutiny.
PAX CHRISTI MEMPHIS HOSTS DAY-MERTON PLAY: (from Janice Vanderhaar) St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Memphis will collaborate with Pax Christi Memphis in presenting the two-hour play “Pilgrims and Prophets of Peace: Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton” written and performed by Pax Christi Southern California leaders Sharon and David Halsey-Hoover on Friday, June 20, 2014. There will be an informal meet-and-greet at 6:30 to welcome guests from the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, Memphis Theological Seminary, and local congregations. For more information, see http://www.paxchristimemphis.org
BISHOP ALEMANY SENIOR WINS PEACE SCHOLARSHIP: (from Sharon Halsey-Hoover) Earlier this month, Pax Christi Southern California recognized its choice for the Pax Christi Southern California Student of the Year Award. This year’s recipient is Eddie Motta, a senior and member of Pax Christi Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, CA. The award includes a $250 scholarship to the college of his choice.
PAX CHRISTI LOS ANGELES REACHES OUT TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: (from Sharon Halsey-Hoover) On Wednesday, May 12 Pax Christi Los Angeles held an informational meeting with four local high schools about Pax Christi and the starting of high school groups on their campuses. Another six schools responded that they could not attend but would like more information. At the meeting, clips from the Pax Christi video were shown and Fr. Chris Ponnet, from Pax Christi Los Angeles, and Don Levan, from Bishop Alemany High School, spoke about the mission of Pax Christi and of how a group could add focus and opportunity to their attempts to address social justice concerns. In addition to the four Directors of Campus Ministry there were eleven students in attendance. After the meeting the attendees joined in the parish noon liturgy and then shared lunch. It was wonderful to experience so much interest in Pax Christi and in the desire for peace and nonviolence.
Upcoming or Ongoing Events:
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 DC, 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.
July 18-20 – Annual Peacemakers’ Retreat with PCUSA Teacher of Peace Elizabeth McAlister and Frida Berrigan, in Pardox, NY, http://www.pyramidlife.org/programs/
Quicklinks:
Pax Christi Long Island member Nancy Dwyer had a letter published in Newsday on gun violence … Pax Christi Texas is asking all PCUSA members to keep Mac and Joyce Hall, long-time members, in your prayers. Mac is struggling with cancer and may not be with us much longer, writes Dave Atwood … Pax Christi Hartford (CT) hosted Catholic Worker Cathy Breen this week to speak about her experiences working with Iraqi refugees … Long-time Pax Christi USA member Paul Magno has the opportunity to attend the War Resisters International meeting in South Africa in early July and help popularize what the Plowshares movement is about to an important international audience. Paul is raising funds to be able to attend. If you want to support him, contact him at pmagno@igc.org … The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns has published a new newsletter, “Encounters: A Newsletter on Faith, Economy and Ecology.” Click here to see the latest edition and information on how to receive it … Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Eric LeCompte met with Pope Francis last month on behalf of the global Jubilee movement … Pax Christi International’s June 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.
Ted – in case you did not see your picture in the attached update from Johnny …