By Sister Martha Ann Kirk
A Candle Light Silent Vigil for “those suffering from
violence, the families and the countries, the victims and perpetrators,
ourselves and the others” was held Nov. 22, 2015, 5:30-6:30 pm at the
University of the Incarnate Word. About a hundred people quietly and slowly
walked around the Peace Pole.
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| Photo by Susan Ives, peaceCENTER |
As the gathering concluded, people who speak another
language were invited to share the words on the Peace Pole “May peace prevail
on earth.” As people were speaking in Spanish, Azerbaijani, French,
Nepali, German, Arabic, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Swahili, Urdu, Hindi,
Turkish, Celtic,
Assamese, American Sign Language, English, and other languages, many
felt a sense that people of other countries should not be feared, but
recognized as companions seeking peace. Dr. Lopita Nath, UIW History professor,
who extensively researches refugees and leads students helping refugees with
Catholic Charities, said “San Antonio has been a safe haven for refugees
and San Antonians have always come to support and help them adjust to life in
America. The refugees who are here and those who are coming need our support at
this difficult time. Please pray for peace and safety.”
The vigil was co-sponsored by CAIR-TX, SA (Council on
American Islamic Relations, San Antonio, TX); Catholic Church; Christ Lutheran Church of
Alamo Heights; Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation; Department
of Sociology and Criminal Justice, UIW; Episcopal Church of Reconciliation;
Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, SA; Incarnate Word Sisters International
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee; Pax Christi, SA; Raindrop
Women’s Association; SA
Coalition Against Genocide; SA Community of Congregations; SA Muslim Women’s Association; SA peaceCENTER;
SoL Center at University Presbyterian Church; Temple Beth El; UIW Honors
Program; Voice for South Asians Against Family Violence and for Healthy
Relationships- Awaaz San Antonio;
and hosted by the University of the Incarnate Word.
Father Rodolfo Caballero, who came to the vigil as a
representative of the Archdiocese, encourages all to reflect on the words of Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium as a way of fostering
peace. The section on peace begins: “Peace
in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence
resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. Nor does true
peace act as a pretext for justifying a social structure which silences or appeases
the poor, so that the more affluent can placidly support their lifestyle while
others have to make do as they can. Demands involving the distribution of
wealth, concern for the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed under the
guise of creating a consensus on paper or a transient peace for a contented
minority. The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than
the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges. When these values
are threatened, a prophetic voice must be raised. Nor is peace ‘simply the absence of warfare,
based on a precarious balance of power; it is fashioned by efforts directed day
after day towards the establishment of the ordered universe willed by God, with
a more perfect justice among men’. In the end, a peace which is not the
result of integral development will be doomed; it will always spawn new
conflicts and various forms of violence.”
(Evangelii Gaudium, 218-219.)
See news reports on the Vigil:
Many did not know the person next to them norpractice the same faith By Bill Barajas –
Reporter Posted: 10:28 PM, November 22,
2015
By MICHAEL LOCKLEAR News 4 San Antonio SAN ANTONIO
A picture of the vigil also appeared on the front page of the
San Antonio Express News, Nov. 23, 2015
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