Fr. John Dear and the Beatitudes Center has several upcoming events that will be of interest to Pax Christi members. Use this link to see the list of upcoming episodes of the Nonviolent Jesus podcast, including this Monday’s (Nov. 3) with Joan Baez.
Fr. John writes that Joan Baez is “a lifelong activist for peace, justice, civil and human rights, and an equally passionate believer in nonviolence. She has released over 30 albums, traveled the world singing for peace for over 60 years, published a great autobiography called ‘And a Voice to Sing With,’ and recently published her first collection of poems, ‘When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance.’ [She] performed Woodstock, opened Live Aid, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. PBS did a spectacular biography of her … called ‘How Sweet the Sound’ … Listen in as Joan reveals how her Quaker parents and her year in Baghdad influenced her early childhood. How a meeting with long time peace activist Ira Sandperl and hearing Dr. King speak at her high school changed her life forever. … She also shares personal anecdotes about Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Dr. King and her experience with Vaclav Havel and the Czech Republic’s Velvet Revolution. Listen in as she quotes Gandhi and TS Elliot when encouraging me and all of us to be activists, and then reads me her new poem, ‘This Is Not Optimism’ and ends by singing a civil rights anthem of encouragement.”
The podcast episodes are posted on Mondays, right away on National Catholic Reporter, Apple, Spotify, and many other major platforms including YouTube, will get posted to the Beatitudes Center website between 8am-9am PST, and starting Monday on substack.com
Zoom programs
Each program listed below will last 90 minutes, starting at 11 AM Pacific/2 PM Eastern. Cost is $30 each (scholarships are available!). Participants will be sent a zoom link on the Wednesday before the event. A recording will be available two days after the event.
Cancellation policy: Refunds will not be honored after the zoom link is sent out. If you have any questions, please email Kassandra at beatitudescentermb@gmail.com.
Saturday, November 15: Exploring the mystical dimensions of the peace of God that surpasses understanding, with Jim Finley
Fr. John welcomes back the revered teacher of contemplation and mysticism, Jim Finley. A student of Thomas Merton and clinical psychologist, Jim Finley teaches how connecting to our Divine indwelling can transcend fear and shame and awaken to our True Self. A faculty member at Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation, Jim hosts a widely popular podcast, “Turning to the Mystics.” He is author of several bestsellers, such as Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, The Awakening Call, and The Contemplative Heart, and recently published his memoir, The Healing Path.
In his talk he will reflect on God as infinite peace and how prayer and meditation are a doorway to God and infinite peace, but they preclude all violence.
>>Use this link to register for the November 15 event with Jim Finley.
Saturday, December 20, The theology of the Incarnation of the God of Peace in a world of war, with Elizabeth Johnson
In this conversation, Fr. John will ask Sr. Elizabeth Johnson about the meaning incarnation and Christmas, the nativity story from Luke, especially how the angels announced to poor shepherds the coming of peace on earth in Jesus, and what it might mean for us today to be people of the incarnation of the God of peace among the poor, the marginalized, the homeless, the refugees and all those hoping for justice and peace.
Sr. Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ is distinguished professor of theology emerita at Fordham University in New York City. A former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America and also of the American Theological Society, an ecumenical association, she loves to teach and mentor. Following her retirement, she was inducted into Fordham University’s Hall of Honor. The recipient of many accolades, she authored She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse which received the Grawemeyer Award in Religion. Among her many other books are Come Have Breakfast; Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God; and Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love.
>>Use this link to register for the December 20 event with Elizabeth Johnson.
Saturday, January 24, Blessed are those who mourn, with Paula D’Arcy
Paula D’Arcy is a writer, international retreat leader and founder and president of Red Bird Foundation which supports the growth and spiritual development of those in need throughout the world. She is a former psychotherapist whose personal tragedy led her to reach out to others encountering grief and loss. Her foundation has sponsored two international gatherings of women which honored women’s voices as a force of peace and healing for the world. Visit: www.redbirdfoundation.org
Among her best-selling books are Gift of the Red Bird, Waking up to This Day, Winter of the Heart, When People Grieve, Seeking with All My Heart, The Divine Spark, A New Set of Eyes, and Love that Beckons.
She will reflect on the second Beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn.” In light of the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza, the Russian war on Ukraine, wars in Africa, growing poverty, the collapse of democracy, increasing authoritarianism and white supremacy, and the growing threat of nuclear war and catastrophic climate change, we’re all grieving, and need to make grief a regular spiritual practice. “Grief is a doorway that may take us to places we’ve never anticipated,” she says. “Yet within this experience, powerful gifts are given to the heart which is willing to open to love’s depth.” With Jesus, we grieve over our refusal to learn the things that make for peace (Luke 19).
>>Use this link to register for the January 24 event with Paula D’Arcy.
The Nonviolent Jesus podcast
November 3: On this episode, Fr. John will talk with musician and activist Joan Baez.
Upcoming podcasts include:
- Ivana Hughes
- Rev. Andrew Young
- Rep. Jamie Raskin
The podcast episodes are posted on Mondays at the National Catholic Reporter website, Apple podcasts, Spotify, and many other major platforms including YouTube. They are posted to the Beatitudes Center website between 8 AM-9 AM PST.