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.
PAX CHRISTI USA MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER FOR SPRING 2016 ARRIVING SOON! In addition to the stories we feature in On The Line about local groups, individual members, regions and partners, each membership newsletter includes two pages of updates from the national, regional and local levels. The Spring 2016 edition went to the post office yesterday and should start arriving in members’ mailboxes next week, but if you want a sneak peek of the newsletter, you can view it online by going to https://paxchristiusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/39803_nl_pax_web.pdf
PAX CHRISTI NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MEMBERS AMONG THOSE ARRESTED AT AIR FORCE BASE: (by Elizabeth Murray) On Sunday, March 6, as part of the Pacific Life Community’s action in front of California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, a number of PLC’ers were arrested for “crossing the line” onto Vandenberg Air Force Base. The following is a brief account of the action written by Elizabeth Murray, who was arrested on trespass charges along with Charley Smith, Jorge Manly-Gil, Karan Benton and Pax Christi Northern California members Ed Ehmke, Mary Jane Parrine, and Tom Webb. We walked together, arm in arm, as one line toward the row of soldiers barring our entrance to Vandenberg Base. A few yards from the soldiers’ lineup, we paused; Charlie, whom we had selected to be our representative, advanced alone right up to the troops to offer our letter to Col. Moss. He asked several times for someone to come forward to receive our letter to the base commander, but our request was met by stone-still silence… To read the full account, visit http://www.nukeresister.org/2016/03/08/seven-anti-nuclear-activists-with-the-pacific-life-community-were-arrested-at-vandenberg-air-force-base/
PAX CHRISTI MEMPHIS EXPLORES ISLAMIC IDEAS OF GOD’S MERCY: (from PC-Memphis newsletter) In his presentation to those attending the February meeting of Pax Christi Memphis, Dr. Mohammed Moinuddin pointed out that of the 99 names for God recognized in the Islamic faith, the most important is “merciful.” All 114 Chapters of the Qur’an begin with the phrase ‘In the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful,’” Dr. Moinuddin said. “We are reminded of his mercy throughout.” The former president of the Muslim Society of Memphis provided a fascinating lecture and slide presentation that explained the Islamic perspective of mercy… Read more at http://www.paxchristimemphis.org/
PAX CHRISTI MICHIGAN COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENTS ON NONVIOLENCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS: (from PC-Michigan e-newsletter) Bob Podzikowski, Chair of the PC-Michigan State Council, spoke to the Mercy High School Social Justice class this past November. Bob’s presentation was at the invitation of teacher, Ann Lusch (long-time PCM member), who also facilitates Mercy’s Just Peace program. Bob’s presentation on nonviolence centered on Pope Francis’ visit to the United States in 2015. He recounted the Pope’s inclusion of four notable Americans in his speech to Congress: Abraham Lincoln, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. Bob went into detail with Dr. King’s Six Principles of Nonviolence and their impact on the lives of those courageous individuals who choose love instead of hate and seek to defeat injustice, not people… Read more at http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1109591091770&ca=6552d59f-6249-4e31-bf2e-52018d7efe31
PAX CHRISTI USA AMBASSADOR OF PEACE JOHN DEAR TEACHING ONLINE CLASS ON NONVIOLENCE: (from Campaign Nonviolence website) John Dear will offer a six week class on nonviolence, called “Living Nonviolence,” based on his best-selling book, “The Nonviolent Life,” starting on Monday, April 4, 2016. The class will feature six, ten minute videos of John reflecting on various aspects of nonviolence. A new ten minute video will be available to registrants every Monday starting on April 4th. Participants will then have a chance in the day or two after watching the video to post questions or comments on the class Google Groups web discussion board, which John may respond to, and then participants will be invited to write a short reflection piece or journal entry by the end of that week on the questions or topics raised. John will read all entries, and try to respond to the reflection pieces, depending on class size. For more info, visit https://org.salsalabs.com/o/859/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=85267
PAX CHRISTI METRO NEW YORK RECALLS POPE FRANCIS IN LENTEN REFLECTION: (from PCMNY website) “Thus says the God of hosts: Judge with true justice, and show kindness and compassion toward each other. Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor; do not plot evil against one another in your hearts.” -Zechariah 7:9-10. Pope Francis has declared this an “Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy” and has specifically asked that “the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 17). In his Lenten Message for 2016, he guides us in how to do just that. First, Pope Francis encourages us to listen attentively to the word of God… For the entire reflection, go to https://paxchristiusa.org/2016/02/20/lent-2016-seasonal-reflection-from-pax-christi-metro-new-york/
TEACHER OF PEACE AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN: This year, Pax Christi USA will honor an outstanding peacemaker with the Teacher of Peace Award, in the tradition of Sr. Thea Bowman, Cesar Chávez, Dorothy Day, and Pope Paul VI. This award recognizes women and men whose lives and work exemplify the theme of Pope Paul VI’s World Day of Peace message, “To reach peace, teach peace.” All nominations must be received by email or postmarked by April 11, 2016 to be considered. When sending in your nomination by email, please include “Teacher of Peace nomination” in the subject line. For more information, go to https://paxchristiusa.org/2016/02/04/teacher-of-peace-nominations-sought-for-2016-pax-christi-usa-teacher-of-peace/
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Upcoming or Ongoing Events:
Mar. 2-13: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ “Workers’ Voice Tour”, Eastern U.S.
Mar. 13: Election of Pope Francis, 2013
Mar. 20: Palm Sunday
Mar. 20-26: Romero Week from SHARE El Salvador
Mar. 21-27: Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination
Mar. 22: World Water Day
Mar. 24: Holy Thursday, Feast of Blessed Oscar Romero
Mar 24-25: Faith and Resistance Retreat in DC; contact the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, 202-882-9649, artlaffin@hotmail.com
Mar. 25: Good Friday, International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Mar. 27: Easter
Mar. 27-Apr. 2: Shut Down Drones at Creech AFB action, Nevada
Mar. 31: Cesar Chavez, b. 1927
Apr. 1-3: Witness Against Torture retreat in Cleveland, OH
Apr. 4-May 9: Living Nonviolence online class with Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Rev. John Dear
Apr. 5-18: Global Days of Action on Military Spending
Apr. 8-9: Gandhi-King conference in Memphis
Apr. 8-12: Midwest Faith and Resistance Retreat, Minneapolis
Apr. 14-18: SOA Days of Action in DC
Apr. 15-18: Ecumenical Advocacy Days: Lift Every Voice: Racism, Class and Power
Apr. 16-18: Democracy Awakening in DC
Apr. 22: Earth Day
Apr. 23: Breaking the Silence: Confronting Race, Power and Privilege. Pax Christi Michigan’s state conference, in Lansing, MI
Apr. 25-May 1: SOA Delegation to the Border; contact marialuisa@soaw.org
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Quicklinks:
Registration for the 2016 Pax Christi USA National Gathering in Maryland is now open … Pax Christi Michigan’s Winter 2016 newsletter is available online … Pax Christi International has named a new Secretary General, Margaretha Vanaerschot … Pax Christi Metro D.C. member Paul Magno describes the 35-year history of Plowshares in this article in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists … Pax Christi Toronto co-hosted a workshop to teach young people about using nonviolent activism to raise public awareness on protecting the environment … Read Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Tonie Malone’s reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent … The Pax Christi group of the Presentation Sisters focuses on human life issues … Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit spoke at Sacred Heart Church in Camden, N.J. on Feb. 13 at a program entitled “Peace and Planet: Imperatives for the 21st Century.” … Pax Christi International’s March 2016 newsletter is online … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2016 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.