Pax Christi Texas

A Tribute to Dr. Ellen Burns

fskeith — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:20:30 +0000

Peace & Justice Activist Extraordinaire

Dr. Ellen Burns died in Houston on December 5, 2011, at the age of 91. She worked to create a more just and peaceful world up to the very end of her life .

I first met Ellen when she moved to Houston to work in the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Office in 1992 (at the age of 72!). She soon joined the local Pax Christi group and later helped found the Houston Peace and Justice Center. Ellen’s activism included protests against nuclear weapons, advocacy for Latino immigrants, stronger gun control laws, abolition of the death penalty, and protests against the School of the Americas. She set a shining example of putting one’s faith into action.

When Ellen retired from the Catholic Archdiocese in 2002, she said, “I was never inactive….I don’t know how God gives me all this energy.” We will miss Ellen’s energy, determination and courage.

- Dave Atwood

Pax Christi Texas 2012 Peacemaker Award

fskeith — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:51:12 +0000

CAIR National Board Vice Chair receives Pax Christi Peacemaker of the Year Award

Sarwat Husain, Vice-Chair of the National Council on American Islamic Relations, receives the Texas Pax Christi Peacemaker of the Year Award from Karen Ball, President of Pax Christi San Antonio. (Photo by Chuck Gibbons)

(WASHINGTON, D.C. 3/27/12) –- Council on American-Islamic Relations

(CAIR) National Board Vice Chair Sarwat Husain recently received the “Peacemaker of the Year” award at the Texas Pax Christi Conference on Compassion in San Antonio.

Husain, who joined other interfaith leaders at Saturday’s conference, is also president of CAIR’s San Antonio chapter.

In presenting the award, Karen Ball, President Pax Christi San Antonio , said Husain “promotes peace in the face of misunderstanding, opposition, bitterness, and threat of violence” and is “motivated to serve the needs of ones who need help and do her part to make this world a better place to live for all.”

When accepting the award, Husain cited the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, which states: “O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct.” (49:13)

She went on to say: “We [all] have to seek common ground and respect our differences as we labor together toward a more civil society.”

Georgetown University professor Dr. John Esposito, author of “Who Speaks for Islam, What a Billion Muslims Really Think,” was the keynote speaker at the conference.

The conference was organized by San Antonio Pax Christi and the University of Incarnate Word Liturgical Outreach. CAIR-San Antonio co-sponsored the event.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

2012 Compassion Conference

fskeith — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:16:34 +0000

Pax Christi Conference in San Antonio

March 23rd & 24th, 2012

Where in the World Is Compassion?

Creating Ongoing Relationships for the Common Good

The 2012 Pax Christi Texas Conference remembers the invitation of NOSTRA AETATE, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. The Declaration speaks of the goodness within Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. We wish to focus on compassion and service which can unite us and help in building peace in the world. We particularly wish to remember what the Declaration says of Muslims,

Join us for interfaith discussions, panel discussions, and prominent speakers. Listen to voices from diverse faiths and create relationships for the common good.

For more information: www.uiw.edu/compassionconference

Conference organized by San Antonio Pax Christi and the University of Incarnate Word Liturgical Outreach,with support from Mission and Ministry, Interfaith Council, Religious Studies, Student Services, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

Featured Speaker: Dr. John Esposito, author of Who Speaks for Islam, What A Billion Muslims Really Think. Also there will be a panel of Muslims of diverse groups sharing on compassion.

Friday, March 23, 5:30 pm. Gathering. 6-8 pm Program. Free and open to public. RSVP for Friday night dinner to narjas@aol.com -or (210) 367 2042

Sat. March 24, 8:30 am. Pre Registration required, Program 9 am-4 pm. All are welcome. 12:30 pm Lunch featuring foods mentioned in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sacred scriptures.

Location: Univ.of the Incarnate Word, Marian Hall, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Special Room Rate for Conference participants: Sleep Inn, 8318 I-H 10 West (15 minutes northwest of UIW). http://www.sleepinn.com/hotel-san_antonio-texas-TX623 (210) 344-5400

Cost: $20.00 registration fee ($10.00 for students) which includes lunch. Pre-Registration required for Saturday events. Checks payable to Karen Ball

Registration, contact: Karen Ball, kcball1@earthlink.net 210-764-1267, provide your name, email and or phone information..

A Prayer for Texas

Sarah Gonzales — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:31:43 +0000

I pray for the day when Texas effectively addresses the root causes of crime – when it understands that the best way to be “tough on crime” is to properly fund and manage programs that reduce poverty, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental disabilities.

I pray for the day when Texas compassionately cares for the victims of crime – when our institutions and churches have effective programs to help victims with their pain and suffering.

I pray for the day when Texas replaces its current system of “retributive justice” with “restorative justice” which seeks to restore the victim, the offender and the community back to wholeness after a crime has been committed.

I pray for the day when all people will be treated fairly and humanely by the criminal justice system, when the poor will receive as high quality legal defense as the rich, and when all prisoners are treated humanely and provided opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.

I pray for the day when Texas realizes that the criminal justice system is a human system that makes mistakes, that innocent people have been sent to prison, including death row, and that the system can never be adequately fixed so that fatal errors won’t be made.

I pray for the day when Texas no longer executes its citizens, when the pastors of churches will stand before their congregations and say, “All life is sacred. We do not have the right to take human life. Only God has that right”, and when the politicians of the state will stand before their constituents and say, “We can provide justice and protect society without taking human life. This is what we should do as a civilized society”.

David Atwood

Welcome to Pax Christi Texas

Sarah Gonzales — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:22:22 +0000

We are a fellowship of Pax Christi groups in Texas. A regional branch of Pax Christi USA and affiliated with Pax Christi International Catholic peace movement. Steeped in the Catholic tradition, our advocacy for peace and justice is based on the Church’s social teaching and on Jesus Christ’s lived example of prayer, nonviolence and solidarity with the poor. We are working to increase Pax Christi membership in Texas and assist in the formation of local groups.

In a world that settles differences by armed violence or the threat of it, Pax Christi offers a nonviolent alternative. In a world that too often defines “revenge” as “justice”, Pax Christi breaks the cycle of violence by fostering reconciliation. In a world where countries invest more money in weapons than in the well-being of their people, Pax Christi calls individuals to disarm their hearts and work toward a world free of nuclear and conventional weapons.

2011 Pax Christi – Texas State Conference

Sarah Gonzales — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:10:07 +0000

Jesus and the Holy Week Journey to Peace

Saturday April 16, 2011

Hosted by Pax Christi-Houston and the Dominican Sisters

Dominican Center for Spirituality, 6501 Almeda, Houston, Texas 77021

8:30 am Gather/Registration – 4:30 pm Conclusion – 5 pm Liturgy

John Dear is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. He is a Jesuit priest, peace activist, organizer, lecturer, and retreat leader. He is the author/editor of 25 books. including Questions Of Jesus, Living Peace, Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings, and his autobiography, A Persistent Peace. From 1998–2000, he was executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest US interfaith peace organization. In 2008, Archbishop Desmond Tutu nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“The key to changing the world and pursuing justice and disarmament is to allow the God of peace to disarm our hearts, make us instruments of peace and lead us together on the road to peace.” John Dear