On 12 March 2012, Bishop Kevin Dowling and Marie Dennis, Co-Presidents of Pax Christi International, have written a letter addressed to H.E. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs on the critical situation in Syria and the mediation role of the Russian government. The letter is (1) in support of the mediation efforts of Mr Kofi Annan; (2) humanitarian and medical teams urgently need to be granted safe access; and (3) Russia should stop all arms supplies to Syria. All member organisations of Pax Christi International are invited to write similar letters of concern to the Russian Embassy in their country. Read a copy of the letter by clicking here.
SCHEDULED EVENTS
The PCMNY Board meets
the first Thursday of alternate months at 6:30 PM in
the PCMNY office in St. Joseph's Greenwich Village
Parish House, 371 Sixth Avenue.
HOLY
INNOCENTS
PRAYER SERVICE
In the midst of Christmas and New Year’s, our Church
asks us to stop and remember the holy innocents who
were and are victims of violence. Consequently,
each December 28th,
the Feast of the Holy Innocents, PCMNY offers a
prayer service to commemorate victims of violence,
especially children. Through readings, song, and
calls to action, we recall how Jesus came as a
vulnerable infant to be one with us and how children
today fall prey to violence and need our support.
Whether American children subject to bullying or
child soldiers in war-ridden countries, we pray for
the strength and commitment to work for the
betterment of society for generations to come.
Click here to download the December 28, 2011
service.
PEACEMAKING THROUGH THE ARTS
Our
2012 Peacemaking
through The Arts Winter Benefit was
a special tribute to Fr. Daniel Berrigan, icon of
the Catholic peace movement. It incorporated
readings from Fr. Berrigan's prose and poetry
combined with music to stir the soul. See the
accompanying article to learn more about it.
Fifteen hundred people received Pax Christi Metro New York’s Lenten Reflection outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012. You can read what it said in our Seasonal Reflection.
Pax Christi Metro New York held its annual retreat on March 10th to the 11th at St. Joseph’s Renewal Center in Brentwood, Long Island. Judith Schiavo, spiritual director and retreat leader, helped us respond to “Our Call to Justice and Peace: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Healing.
Good Friday Way of the Cross
This year's Good Friday Way of the Cross
was the 30th
consecutive commemoration of Christ's passion and
remembrance of how he continues to suffer in the world
today.
Our theme is "Lessons of the Cross: How do I do for
others what Jesus is doing for me? How am I called
to live in this world?"
Peacemaker Awards Reception
Help us celebrate our
2012 Peacemakers on Sunday, June 3rd, from 3 to 6 PM, in
Casserly Hall below St. Joseph's Greenwich Village
Church. We will be honoring Rabbi Michael Weisser for
his interfaith outreach and his loving response to a KKK
Grand Dragon that led to conversion and transformation.
We will also be honoring Bud Courtney, Catholic Worker
and member of the Kairos Community, Christian Peacemaker
Teams, and "No More Deaths" on the Arizona/Mexico
border. And we will be honoring Carla DeYcaza, a young
adult who founded Pax Christi at Vassar College when she
was still a student there, who interned at PCMNY during
that same time period, and who now teaches at NYU’s
Center for Global Affairs
and conducts research on human
rights and peacebuilding in Africa.
This is a benefit to support the peace work of PCMNY.
Recommended donation to be announced.
Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial
Once again, we will commemorate
the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with
prayer, talk, and a public witness to express our
opposition to nuclear weapons. This memorial service
will take place on Sunday afternoon, August 5th.
Details to come as the day draws closer.
RECENT EVENTS
PEACEMAKING THROUGH THE ARTS ~ 2012
The Burning Bush: The
Words and Witness of Daniel Berrigan
by Rosemarie Pace
Marvelous, the best thing I’ve seen, moving, enlightening, inspiring, fabulous, wonderful, beautifully done, a lovely event, a gift! Such was just some of the praise given to the man and the tribute that over 200 people paid to the iconic priest, poet, and prophet, Fr. Daniel Berrigan on Sunday, January 29th, in St. Joseph’s Greenwich Village Church. Fr. Berrigan turned 90 years old last May, and Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) decided there could be no better subject for its Peacemaking through the Arts Winter Benefit than this influential man as he achieved this wonderful milestone.
The tribute began with a warm welcome from PCMNY’s co-president, Carolyn Zablotny. As she spoke, a photo of a younger Fr. Berrigan at a lectern draped with a Pax Christi banner was displayed on a large center screen. The lectern at St. Joseph’s was similarly draped this day.
After the welcome, the readings commenced. Margaret Flanagan, PCMNY secretary, served as narrator, providing background and linking excerpts from various poetry and prose of Fr. Berrigan’s prolific writings. Rosemarie Pace, Mary Anne Muller, Pierre Fidelia, Kate McDonough, and Raymond Todd gave voice to the story of Fr. Berrigan’s life as a young priest being called to peacemaking, an activist protesting war, a preacher teaching the Gospel of Nonviolence, and a defendant explaining the impossibility of not intercepting the war-makers’ deadly deeds.
Between each reading, Amanda Daloisio, Paul Fesefeldt, Jim Reagan, and Carmen Trotta, all Catholic Workers and members of the folk group, “The Filthy Rotten System” (whose name comes from a quote of Dorothy Day), led the audience in the singing of classic folk tunes.
Following the readings, everyone was treated to personal testimonials from Frida Berrigan, Fr. Berrigan’s niece; Elizabeth McAlister, his sister-in-law; and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton. Each shared a different aspect of how Fr. Berrigan touched his or her life, leading to and participating in his work for peace and social justice.
Finally, Fr. Berrigan, himself, slowly approached the lectern and, in his now frail voice but with his still sharp mind, read his poem, “Parable,” composed after the 9/11/01 attacks, thrilling the audience with his simple presence.
Throughout all the presentations, a remarkable PowerPoint slide show created by S. Mary Jennings highlighted key moments in Fr. Berrigan’s illustrious life and quotes from the readings.
As might be expected, once the tribute was over, numerous people surrounded Fr. Berrigan to cease the opportunity to speak to him. He humbly obliged each and every one, smiling graciously and responding to them gently.
Most also went to the hall below the church to continue the celebration, socializing and enjoying a delightful variety of refreshments, including Ben & Jerry ice cream, which bears its own story: As some might remember, back in 1994, Fr. Berrigan was one of eight social activists invited to promote Ben and Jerry’s new smooth ice cream flavors. Fr. Berrigan is seen in the ad relishing a bowl of mocha fudge. PCMNY was pleased to have a copy of the original poster on display and grateful to Ben and Jerry for donating two tubs of their delicious ice cream.
Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase three of Fr. Berrigan’s books, published by Orbis: The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness, written with Thich Nhat Hanh; Testimony: The Word Made Fresh; and Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings Selected with an Introduction by John Dear from which the readings for this tribute were chosen.
So many people contributed to the success of this tremendous event, only some of whom are named here, but all who are much appreciated. Of course, the most important of all is Fr. Berrigan, himself, and so this report ends as did the program, with his words:
"Dear Brothers and Sisters everywhere: Even though this rounds off what I have to say, what I have to say continues to be said elsewhere, even by silence: Continue to resist death and say yes to life."
AROUND THE REGIONS
PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL: Letter to Russian Federation on Syria
OTHER NEWS
AMBASSADOR OF PEACE: Megan McKenna receives Isaac Hecker Award
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LABOR JUSTICE: Trader Joe’s and the CIW sign fair food agreementLABOR JUSTICE: Trader Joe’s and the CIW sign fair food agreement
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Interested in joining the Pax Christi Anti Racism Team? Learn more.
371 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10014 | (212)420-0250 | fax (212)420-1628 | nypaxchristi@igc.org
