"Hatred is a contagious and destructive disease," Presentations coming to San Antonio the week of Feb. 16, 2025

 

 The daughters on the beach.  Now Daughters for Life Foundation honors them. 

PROGRAM DATES AND TIME LISTED AT THE BOTTOM. 

A global expert on “Hatred as a Contagious and Destructive Disease” will be brought to San Antonio by the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Office of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. In the 1800’s, when ten percent of the population of San Antonio had died of contagious diseases, the Incarnate Word Sisters started the first public health care in response to the plea of the mayor. In that tradition of care for life, the Sisters host Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Professor in the Global Health Division - Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/faculty-profile/abuelaish-izzeldin/

Prof. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian Canadian physician and an internationally recognized human rights and inspirational peace activist devoted to advancing health and educational opportunities for women and girls in the Middle East. Prof.  Izzeldin Abuelaish was born and raised in Jabalia Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. Through his work, he has experienced firsthand the impacts of conflict in countries like Palestine, Egypt, Israel, Uganda, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. His experience working as both an insider and outsider to conflict has led him to believe that doctors are particularly well-poised to serve as peacemakers, based on the moral doctrine of their profession. Health and medicine are human equalizers, socializers, harmonizers and stabilizers.

Dr. Abuelaish (third from the right) with San Antonio people who attended the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates where he spoke. 

Prof. Abuelaish has overcome many personal hardships, including poverty, violence, and the horrific tragedy of his three daughters’ and niece’s deaths in the 2009 Gaza War. He continues to live up to the description bestowed upon him by an Israeli colleague, as a “magical, secret bridge between Israelis and Palestinians” and in the world. He is now one of the most outspoken, prominent, and beloved researchers, educators and public speakers on peace and development in the Middle East. He holds twenty honorary doctorates and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.

Elis Wiesel, Nobel Peace Laureate, wrote of Dr. Abuelaish book, I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, "This story is a necessary lesson against hatred and revenge."

 

Dr. Abuelaish with Teo Reyes, Assistant Director of the UIW Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability named for Sister Dot Ettling. 

As President Jimmy Carter put it, “In this book, Dr. Abuelaish has expressed a remarkable commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation that describes the foundation for a permanent peace in the Holy Land.”

The book shares the doctor’s life story as a Gazan doctor growing up in a refugee camp, persisting in getting educated, obtaining a degree from Harvard, securing a position in an Israeli hospital and continuously crossing from Gaza to Israel. During this time he grew in recognizing the humanity of Israelis, developing his faith as a Muslim, and establishing his own family in Gaza.

Then, on January 16, 2009, he suffered horrendous loss when an Israeli tank shelled his home, killing three of his daughters and a niece, only months after having lost his wife to disease.

Despite this horrendous pain and grief, Dr. Abuelaish did not seek revenge or harbor hatred for those who were responsible for the deaths of his daughters and niece, and so many others. He started the foundation Daughters for Life to help educate young women of the Middle East. About – Daughters for Life Foundation.  He emphasizes that educated women are needed as leaders to help create a more justice and peaceful future.  The Incarnate Word Sisters firmly believe in the importance of education and leadership training for girls and women.

Dr. Abuelaish with Jacky Zaval Aguila of the UIW Office of Research and Graduate Studies. 

We bring Dr. Abuelaish with the hope that we may get donations for a scholarship for Daughters for Life, that a young woman from the Middle East may study in San Antonio. 

Presentations: 

Looking for a Sunday morning location.

Feb. 16, Sunday afternoon, 3 PM, Peace Potluck with SA Peace Center.  Location to be determined. Contact: Migdalia Garcia <mgarcia1295@alamo.edu>  

Feb. 17  Tentative:  10:30 to 2:45 pm Presentations in the University of the Incarnate Word Student Engagement Center Ballroom.

Feb. 17, Doctors’ panel at UT Health, time to be announced. 

Feb. 18, Tuesday, 9 am to 10:15 am, University of the Incarnate Word Student Engagement Center Ballroom. Sr. Martha Ann  kirk@uiwtx.edu 

Feb. 18, 10:30 to 11:45 am,  University of the Incarnate Word Student Engagement Center Ballroom. Showing of the documentary film I Shall Not Hate https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x95vnbs    Sr. Martha Ann  kirk@uiwtx.edu 

Feb. 18, 6:30 to 8:30 pm - A "Daughters for Life" Celebration Dinner to build a scholarship for a Middle Eastern young woman to study in San Antonio. Learn of  Our Scholars – Daughters for Life Foundation   Sr. Martha Ann  kirk@uiwtx.edu 

Feb. 19, Wednesday, Executive Book Review, "I Shall Not Hate" by Dr. Abuelaish, 5:30 PM at CHRISTUS Heritage Hall at the Village at Incarnate Word.  Mark Wittig MarkSWittig5@gmail.com

Feb. 20   @TheIntersection; 8-8:30 AM virtual Ann Helmke (DHS) <Ann.Helmke@sanantonio.gov>; 

Feb. 20  CHRISTUS Children's Hospital, 12 noon - 1pm.  livestreamed presentation.  Reeves, Jenny L. <jenny.reeves@christushealth.org>

DATES, TIMES, AND PLACES FOR DR. ABUELAISH'S OTHER PRESENTATIONS WILL BE POSTED HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  

These are some of the growing plans: 

Multiple presentations at the University of the Incarnate Word and at the Peace Center at Northwest Vista College at various times. 

Feb. 19 Rotary Club presentation, noon-time

Contact: Sister Martha Ann Kirk kirk@uiwtx.edu  210-883-5934

Jesus Christ in the Rubble: A Cold Manger in Our Time

It has been 452 days since the war in Gaza erupted.   Statistics are shocking.  More than half of the fatalities are women and children among more than 45,000 of them in total, buried in the graves, buried in the rubbles of Gaza, or whose body lying on the ground waiting.  What the human race is losing, the longer this war takes, are lives, and the value of humanity.  People have mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, children, friend, etc.  Suddenly, by the strike of a missile or bomb, their loved one is gone.  In some cases, their loved ones are gone.   

When will this war be over?  I sometimes think, without weapons, people will not die that easily in masses.  I asked myself several times what can I do when I am here?  The Palestinians in Gaza died not only because of weapons, bombs, or missiles.  Technically, these weapons killed the majority of them.  The billion-dollar business of manufacturing weapons is an infrastructural and social sin.  It feeds families, puts children to school, and puts food on the table.  Those are not the reason for infrastructural sin but those instruments are used to kill in the battlefield.  The battlefield is in Gaza with people who are innocents.  These businesses are instruments to these thousands of fatalities.  For people to act on justice, we have to face the reality.  The people of Gaza are not only dying from starvation, injuries, lack of medical attention, cold, but indifference to stop the instruments from being used to kill the people.

On Christmas, Rev. Munther Isaac of the Lutheran church in Bethlehem in Gaza, spoke of Jesus in the rubble.  One-third of the victims are children and there are still children who are suffering from starvation.  Palestinians have been a witness of historical persecution, and discrimination. He talked about how the United States commercialized Christmas, displaying staggering lights.  People spend money and time on gifts, sometimes unnecessary while the country continues to send bombs and weapons to Israel.  Israel is by far the biggest recipient of military aid from United States.  Palestinian armed groups including Hamas took hostages indiscriminately while Israel also cut off electricity in Gaza.  Now, there have been 1.9 million displaced Palestinians with more than 45,000 killed and more as the people are under the rubbles of buildings struck down by missiles, thousands of people who have been amputated, disabled, and facing a dire threat of famine every day.  We know the story.  We can see this in the news from all media, conversations, and movements in universities, organizations, communities, etc.  Has this genocide been normalized and this war still continues to perpetrate before the eyes of world?

It has been more than one year since Israel defended itself against the Hamas attack.  People have left their homes forcedfully.  These people have been displaced several times.  Some are living on the streets or in tents.  On the other side of this complex situation, we, the faithful are praying for the nation's leaders to consider the immediate ceasefire, reconciliation, diplomatic talks, and arms embargo.

As a people of faith, we bring light to the world.  The following are just a few of the things that you can do to help with the situation in Gaza.

1. Write a letter to President, contact congressmen/representatives regularly about ceasefire, arms embargo and support humanitarian works.   
2. Write a letter regarding the concerns on US military support to Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to editors to newspapers you are subscribed to.  You can refer to this guide if needed.
3. Be aware of the companies benefiting from the war and the occupation.  AFSC's investigation on the matter is here.
4. Be aware of what is happening.  Free ebooks on understanding the Gaza here.
5. Raise awareness in social media and with your friends and family and write a blog about the situation Gaza
6. Support humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Palestinian Children Relief Fund, the United Nations Relief and Workers Agency (UNRWA), United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations World Food Programme,  Women for Women International, International Rescue Committee

Incarnate Word Sisters' Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is coming up with an event soon to bring the Palestinian Canadian Physician, Dr. Abuelaish, a human rights and international peace activist, for a speaking engagement.  He lost three of his daughters, and niece in one incident to an Israeli shelling that hit his residence in Gaza.  He lost other relatives to this conflict.  Regardless of this painful situation, he continues to work for peace.  In his book "I Shall Not Hate", he exposed hatred as a contagious and destructive disease.  

We are eagerly looking forward to having you at this event to create a more just and peaceful world.  We are interested in hearing from you.  If you are interested in collaborating and supporting the event, please drop JPIC an email (jpic.office@gmail.com) or reach out to Sr. Martha Ann Kirk (kirk@uiwtx.edu).

• Demand a ceasefire by all parties to end civilian suffering - Amnesty International
• Tell Congressman to embargo arms, and weapons used in Gaza conflict.
• NBC News | Two young brothers in search of food join the crowds waiting outside the only functioning bread shop left in Khan Younis in Gaza. More at... | Instagram
• Donate to Help Children in West Bank and Gaza | Save The Children
• PCRF
• UNICEF, for every child
• UN World Food Programme (WFP)
• Palestine | Women For Women
• Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) | International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• Christ in the Rubble preach

Christ in the Rubble in Lutheran Church, Bethlehem on Christmas 

Pax Christi and Incarnate Word Sisters Peace Prayer

On December 7 at 9am, Pax Christi together with Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation joined together to create a space for peace in Madeleine room of the Heritage building.

We remembered the people who died in Gaza-Israel 13-month-old war that has surpassed 44,000 death toll as reported by the region's local health officials on December 5.  One-third of these casualties are children.  We remembered the 104,268 wounded people since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access. 

In June, Ukrainian officials said “Russian invaders” had killed more than 12,000 civilians, including 551 children. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported in February that more than 10,200 civilians had been confirmed as killed, with nearly 20,000 injured.  The London-based Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) charity reported that 7,001 people had been killed in Ukraine as of September 23, with more than 20,000 civilians injured.

Eighty-three years ago, on December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked the United States Navy based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Although Europe was steeped in World War II since September 1939, the United States remained unscathed and only partially involved through its lend-lease program. For precautionary measures, between July 1940 and December 1941, the armed forces swelled from 291,000 to 1,655,000 while actively recruiting 131,000 medical personnel. The Japanese attack damaged 339 war planes, 21 American ships, and took the lives of 2,403 people. Although Pearl Harbor was a human tragedy and the magnitude of its impact on everyday civilians could never be calculated, the attack did not represent the largest loss of life in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Iwo Jima, for example, lost 6,000 soldiers to the battle and Okinawa lost more than 12,000.  Two battleships were lost and considered not salvageable–the USS Arizona and the Oklahoma which had entered circulation in 1913.

The late Dr. Martin Luther King collaborated with leaders for a lasting peace.  His leadership, vision, eloquent speech, and powerful message brought people together towards justice and peace.  He left us something to ponder:

"We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say we will not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace."

In this season of Advent, let us ponder on the Sunday's Gospel and reflect on the invitation to work towards Advent's message of hope, peace, joy, and love.  Below are reflections of the Pax Christi members and Incarnate Word Sisters.

by Karen Ball, Pax Christi Texas

I had 3 musings/ponderings:  

1.  Jesus refused to play by the rules of the empire.  His disobedience to power of empire, both of religious and state authority, led to his execution at the colluding hands of both.   

2.  Acknowledging the historical date that this prayer for peace was taking place on (Pearl Harbor), I asked us to ponder how the United States could have been awake to the interconnection of life.  I mused that as a nation we could have chosen neither isolationism nor armed conflict, but instead chosen to openly welcome Jewish refugees and provide care and sanctuary.  

3.  I recognized that the United States is AN EMPIRE and invited us as citizens to organize disruptions to the abuses of the United States nation state and Christian nationalism.  How can we be watchful to refuse collusion with powers of empire (love of power) and be awake to opportunities for nonviolence evolving (power of incarnate love)?  

Our collective hope and joy live in and through the power of universal, ever expanding love.

by S. Marylou Rodriguez, CCVI JPIC US Collaborator

In Luke 3:1-6, we can see the two opposites of the world.  Those who desire and enjoy worldly power for their own sake and those with the inner power of contemplation that brings goodness to the world.  John received the inspiration from God in the desert.   It is that time of reflecting in the quiet, arid, and dry environment when he was moved by something Holy.  He started proclaiming what is good, to turn away from what is not good. The holiness of God invited John to go to where the people were so that he could preach the call of their times. What is the prophetic witness and what message are we invited to share with our neighbors, friends, and family? John lived God's calling.  He was eating honey and locust.  His clothes were not lavished with gold or perfume, but he was united with the simplicity of nature.  He called people to prepare for God, repent, and change their lives.  In the light of peace, he brought others to Christ.  It was not about him but for him to point to Christ while Christ pointed to our God.

Amidst the arid parts of our lives, this is an invitation to create a space of peace.  Let us be mindful that in other parts of the world or other places, some long for peace as war continues to wreck people's lives and the environment.  Some people are grieving because their loved ones are no longer to be found or have gone to their eternal rest, for their homes that are supposed to be safe places to gather have been turned down into gravel, stones, and stacks of wood.  

How are the taxpayers, the common American people where weapons, artillery, and firearms are being manufactured, the organization leaders, and national and world leaders, participating in this war, violence, and degradation of the value of human lives?   

How can we partake in peace-building efforts?

What lifestyle are we called to practice so that we can witness what God is asking us to exemplify to those around us?

by S. Eilish Ryan, CCVI, UIW Professor Emerita 

The gospel (Matthew 17:9a, 10-13) for Gaudete Sunday opens with the crowd crying out to John the Baptist, "What are we to do?"

As often happens with lectionary readings, the verses before the proclaimed text provide the background.  John had accused the crowds of being a "brood of vipers," and had admonished them to "produce fruit with repentance."  

In today's text, John indicates what to do through some practical examples: provide for the basic needs of others, act honestly in carrying out one's duties, and exercise authority with justice and truth, not for personal gain.

How do I hear and follow John's message in my life and in today's world?

by Arthur Dawes, Pax Christi Texas President

The Visitation (Luke 1: 39) is a story nestled by St. Luke between the Annunciation (Chapter 1:26) and the Magnificat (Chapter 1:46). To Catholics, the Annunciation and the Visitation are known as the first and second mysteries of the Rosary. 

The story presents Mary as visited by the angel. Mary affirmatively responds to the message: "Thou shall be with a child." 

Then following this Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth for three months, Mary returns and boldly affirms "My soul magnifies the Lord." Luke 1:46

Any fourteen-year-old, by any stretch of our imaginations today, is very young. In haste, she traveled four miles (by herself?) to visit her older cousin, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit whose baby leaped at the sight of Mary.

Here we have bonds of family, maternal and family support.  We have emotion and energy: Mary "set out in haste", Elizabeth "cried out with a loud voice," the baby in Elizabeth's womb "leaped for joy." 

They all shared, they all visited. They were there for one another. Like the times in Nazareth, we too face uncertainty, and many have anxiety. We seek a time to reflect and also a time to be present to one another. For within ourselves as well as in the community, we can find support, where the Spirit resides. In Pax Christi, let us find words of spirit and action, as our motto: Pray, Study, Act.

Like Mary and Elizabeth... May we find consolation in the miracles in our lives and in community. Let us console one another and embrace Hope and Trust in God.

May we too feel and shout, leap for joy, and share stories (scriptures) with one another.

Especially in this Advent time of anticipation, and uncertainty, let us not forget our brothers and sisters who are struggling. Let us remember that ministry is a form of worship to our Loving God.

Prayer of Hope and Hopelessness

Peace Prayer Dance by S. Marth Ann

Inside the U.S. arms factory making weapons for Ukraine : NPR

The Biggest Weapons Manufacturers in America - 24/7 Wall St.Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine | Council on Foreign Relations

Peace Processes | United States Institute of Peace
How Women Ended Liberia’s Civil War: Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace – The Nonviolence Project – UW–Madison
Alliance for Peacebuilding

JPIC US - Newsletter in December

Click the image to activate the links to the details of each of the newsletter sections.

 

Laudato Si Movement Local Community Encounter in San Antonio

A day after the election, Laudato Si Animators gathered for the “Encounter” to share stories, pray, reflect, and encourage each other to continue building a more sustainable world by working on our local communities, and the organizations we belong to. The meeting was held on November 6 at 6:00-8:30 pm.  

We started with a prayer and closed with a prayer especially chosen for this event.  We had a pizza as a prize given to UIW Laudato Si for being a good contributor to advocacy for Care for Creation. 

Through this community where we belong, we brought hope that everybody was learning about building a more sustainable society through educating ourselves, reflecting our lifestyle, and bringing others into the awareness.  Some are grieving due to the lack of interest in Climate Action from the upcoming leadership in the United States.   Some were learning what actions to take.  We centered our hearts in contemplation and pondered the joys, surprises, and challenges. One shared about the abuse of natives by taking away their lands and now working towards reconciliation of these families or individuals wounded by the past.  Some projects were about care for creation beyond gardening.   

How could we support renewable energy in concrete actions while having a just transition away from fossil fuels? This contemplation moved us to share our own individual hopes and communal dreams.  The Laudato Si Movement's new executive director stated that "it is through our Catholicity that we embrace universality, diversity, and unity and bring the mission of the organization for the care of all in creation."

There is a lot more work to do.  However, in the community, it makes the work collaborative and not seemingly daunting and overwhelming.  Through the stories and works shared, we have become a container of information for the inspiration of the animators.  We need each other to restore the creation to a healthy state.

The last item on our agenda is to live in hope.  Working for justice is knowing that it is a continuous effort of collaboration and education.  We raise awareness about resiliency amidst the uncertainty of the coming year. 

Next year is the 10th anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si.  We look forward to our collaboration together for creation, making space for the future generation.

More Information:

International Season of Creation 2024
2025: A year of adventure - Laudato Si' Movement
Laudato Si' Movement
On the synodal road to 2025 - Laudato Si' Movement
Animators - Laudato Si Animators