Click the image to activate the links to the details of each of the newsletter sections.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Saturday, November 30, 2024
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
Co-create “Peace on Earth by 2030”
by Sister Martha Ann Kirk, ThD
You are invited to the next information meeting of the “Peace on Earth by 2030” movement on Wednesday, December 11 from 11 to 12:30 pm, Central time. See the information on this flier and here is the Spanish version.
This is part of our growing effort locally. See information on the Camino of Compassion and Peace https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2024/06/nobel-peace-laureate-summit-monterrey.html. Events can be found here: https://peace2030.earth/events/.
Sr. Martha Ann kirk@uiwtx.edu 210-883-5934 is happy to answer questions.
A New Liturgical Season: A Generation of Circular Justice
December 1 marks the start of the liturgical season. We are beginning the new year through our preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ in this Advent season. The King who is coming is not dressed in gold, riding in a chariot, and wearing expensive perfumes. He is gentle (Mt. 11:29), an encourager (Mt. 9:2, 14:27), a teacher (Lk 6:40-42), a reconciler (Jn 21:17-20), and a redeemer (Jn 3:16). As Christians, we bring the presence of Christ to others and we experience others in our encounters.
How would you end your year? A life of compassion or a life of hurt or anger? Should our generation have a legacy of healing and reconciliation or death and revenge? What is in your heart? An invitation to monthly prayer is here: Prayer Vigils - Catholic Mobilizing Network
An invitation to ask Mr. President Joe Biden to commute the 40 federal death row prisoners: CMN Take Action Commute Federal Death Row
An invitation to view the state-scheduled executions and advocate to stop: execution: Executions - Catholic Mobilizing Network
We open this new liturgical season with hope. As Christians, we are called to be bearers of hope, knowing that God is with us. We shall sing "O Come, o come, Emmanuel." On December 7, 9-10am, join the Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation in collaboration with Pax Christi to pray for peace. Peace is the theme of advent for the second week in Madeleine Room 2nd floor of Incarnate Word Campus Heritage Building. This peace comes in all forms, love that transcends differences in opinions, races, status in life, circumstances, beliefs, religion, gender, origins, and nationality.
A Generation of Circular Justice
There are twenty-one states where the death penalty is legal and still in place namely, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, and U.S. Gov’t U.S. Military. Six states have put a hold on execution. These are Arizona, California, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Some people know the death penalty is an archaic system while some people think that it is necessary to get back to people who did horrible things to someone. Everyone will have a legacy. There will be something that your heart will carry through your life and even until death. What would that be in today's generation? We have a choice to pursue something that will come back with good intentions and not create new wounds from division and darkness.
There are three people on death row for execution in December 2024 in the United States. These are Christopher Leroy Collings, convicted of murder with rape of a girl, Joseph Corcoran, convicted of mass murder, and Kevin Ray Underwood, convicted of murder. There is no escaping from the fact they have committed serious crimes. Some people are angry and it may be a feeling that may linger and persist for a long time even for a lifetime especially if the victim is your loved one. The people on death row interrupted the lives of people, society, and whose lives had been forever changed due to hurt and anger from the loss. Some on death row have their lives changed as well for wrongful convictions. What does society do to amend these? Have we stopped enough to listen to the other side of the story?
The question with this system is not whether they deserve to die just as many families of victims would say and the proponents of the death penalty. Bryan Stevenson of EJI said in arguing for the reason for its abolishment, that it is not the question of whether the person deserves to die or not. The question is, whether we deserve to kill a human being? Apart from not working on the root causes, the death penalty system unveils racism, injustice to the poor for the lack of funds to pay for a good lawyer, and lack of mental health services and social services given to the individuals. Does the killing of the convicted make the survivors of the victim feel justified? Are the people any safer in killing the convicted on death row?
There are several issues:
1. The absolute punishment puts people to death even the innocents.
2. The government funds and those involved in the justice system in the United States are used to kill a person. This means that there are fewer funds used for other restorative and affirmative programs.
3. Some people will have to be hired to execute death row inmates, whether or not they are conscious of that outcome. Imagine your job is to kill someone. You will be part of the death team that will bring the person to his death from a dose or doses of lethal injection, electric execution, firing squad, or gas chamber. We are all part of this death team, the only difference is that there are people who are directly involved in the execution of the death row inmate so that the victim or family of the victims will have to receive what the current system calls justice. There are moral implications to their psychological being having taken direct involvement in the killing of a person on death row.
4. The Death Penalty can be a cause of injustice in sentencing. People of color and people without money or underprivileged have higher chances of being convicted compared to someone rich and guilty as Bryan Stevenson of EJI also claimed. With money and power, people who can hire competent lawyers can escape any convictions or further trials.
People are put under absolute penalty whether there are mistakes. According to studies, 4% of people on death row are innocent. When we put our funds into the trials, it means that the taxes or the money of the government and people go to these litigations instead of investing the money on rehabilitation, mental health, family, and social support services.
This generation shows advanced technological improvements, astonishing scientific discoveries, and a world working to end poverty and address climate change. It is a time for society to favor integrity, dignity, equality, compassion, human rights for all, and protection of the innocents? Where do you stand? Would you rather be an absolute executioner not to miss punishments of the guilty, spend money, and put someone to death for the crimes they committed with the thought that some may be innocent? Or would you rather be the merciful judge to put both the convicted and misjudged individuals into life imprisonment without parole allowing the misjudged to be retried and to be released for the crimes they have not committed?
As Catholics, we have Pope Francis whose theme of his papacy from the beginning has been about mercy. Fratelli Tutti of Pope Francis has clearly stated that "the death penalty is inadmissible (FT, 263)" He affirms the inalienable dignity of all human beings including the worst of criminals (FT 269). He is calling for its abolition worldwide (FT 263).
How you can be a bearer of hope for this issue? Go back to the invitation at the top of this article to pray, reflect, and take action.
Read More:
Fratelli Tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis
Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’ | America Magazine
Does the death penalty bring closure to a victim’s family? | PBS News
Bryan Stevenson Talks to Oprah About Why We Need to Abolish the Death Penalty
Coping & Dealing With a Murdered Family Member
Innocence Project
Death Penalty | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Capital Punishment, Prison, Felony, & Life in Prison | Britannica
Do Rich People Get Off Easier When They Break the Law? - The New York
Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our Doom? - Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty
Ministry of Reconciliation
Biden Contemplates Federal Commutation Requests | Death Penalty Information Center
Inside The Haunting Life Of A Death Row Executioner
Fool's Gold: How the Federal Death Penalty Has Perpetuated Racially Discriminatory
Practices Throughout History | Death Penalty Information Center
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Remembering the Pearl Harbor and Prayer for Peace on December 7 @9am
December 7, 1941, the infamous date, when the Japanese attacked the "Pearl Harbor" to weaken the defense in the Pacific with Japan's intent to expand its empire. The history of Pearl Harbor reminds us of the lessons learned that human beings are capable of something terrible, which we can see from the wars happening in the world. If we look at the dreams of leaders or individuals in isolation and do not see the collective impact of one's action or group's actions, we will succumb to destructive power. If we analyze the root cause of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we may understand why pride, oil, and power are a dangerous combination. Japan wanted power, resources, and control. Pearl Harbor was a strategic position, located in Oahu, Hawaii. Thereby, the hope of the Japanese troops was to create an offensive attack after being sanctioned economically by the United States due to its violent occupation of China. Then, it would loosen the western base in the Pacific to make the occupation in the region easier.
Any war creates losses. On the other hand, we know that with Christ, we are reminded that we can live beyond ourselves. We can be winners when we let go of control, ego, and pride for the sake of another fellow with his right to live and a space to exist peacefully. On December 7 from 9 am-10 am, Pax Christi, in collaboration with Incarnate Word Sisters San Antonio JPIC, will host the morning prayer for peace and light refreshments. Consequently, December 8 is this year's second week of Advent with a theme of Peace.
Let us not stay silent for the voiceless and powerless. The world war II did not start overnight. A series of actions led to it and the sequence of events allowed one door after another for such to occur. Every human being has a dignity. Every life is unique and important.
Let us create a space of prayer for peace in different countries who are at war and those countries who are supporting war in all means that the leaders of all nations and their constituents can put an end to war and violence. Advocate for non-violence. We need nature to teach us peace. Nature shows us that plants grow in diversity and allow time to grow together.
Poem by Contemplation by Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh about the Palestinian's life and death situation in Gaza and Israel's violent conflict.
thoughts of life and death
past, present, and yet to be
somehow, somewhere, sometime
yearning to understand
the eternal questions
looking to touch the mind of God
so distant
so powerful
so amazing
but hidden within each of us
perhaps all the secrets of life
are there to see
in a child's eye
in a single cell
or in a kiss
Read More:
Pearl Harbor: Attack, Deaths & Facts | HISTORY
Japanese Attack on the Philippines: The “Other” Pearl Harbor - Warfare History Network
Death of a Gaza Doctor
Israel's dahiya doctrine: destruction as ethnic cleansing now extending to Lebanon
Mazyouna's face ripped off when rocket hit her home
(5) Updates LIVE: Israel kills 11 in Gaza, 2 in Syria amid hopes of a Hezbollah truce
Russia advances in Ukraine at fastest monthly pace since start of war, analysts say | Reuters
Ukraine war latest: Russia advancing in Ukraine 'at fastest pace since early months of war' | World News | Sky News
International Day for Tolerance: 16 November | United Nations
Friday, November 22, 2024
Upcoming December Events (Justice and Peace)
Sunday, November 17, 2024
A Growing Ministry with Sustainability in Action
The Sister's Closet has a variety of collections of dresses, blouses, shirts, pants, and shoes. All of these have been set up in a store-like setting so that their patrons could walk into the room to pick their choice of clothing to upgrade their wardrobe, better clothes for an interview, or simply for daily use. The store has occasional promotions or deals where people can get more than one piece of clothing. The store also has volunteer students from Texas A&M. The service hours to this non-profit make a good collaboration for community experience.
On March 16, 2024, Sister Elizabeth was honored during the gala for her work with the underprivileged people of Kingsville, building community towards a common good. Sisters Carmen, Christi, and Marylou represented the Incarnate Word Sisters, San Antonio to rejoice with her on that momentous day. The people enjoyed the food, silent auction, dancing, conversations, and beautiful messages from supporters of Sister Elizabeth. It was certainly an evening to be grateful for the many benefactors who have supported the mission of the Weavers of Love.
The facility was closed in September and October for renovations. The soup kitchen has updated its structures and some remodeling done for a better experience for its patrons. Since November 12, the soup kitchen has been back to serve nutritious meals. The patrons have been welcomed by its new Executive Director Andy Patrick, replacing the retired CEO of the Weavers of Love Jose Johnson. We are very grateful to the previous leadership of Mr. Johnson for his years of dedication to the Weavers of Love.
The Weavers of Love also received a grant from the Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) to support the center's sustainability effort to grow fresh fruits from its garden to its soup kitchen for its patrons. It is the fall season and a perfect time to plant trees and have their roots well established. Belinda, an associate of the Weavers, drove to Rio Grande Valley to buy trees from Texas A&M Citrus Center. She found out about the trees raised by the center under the leadership of research scientist Dr. Skaria. The center aims to have high-quality citrus with less space or land per fruit yield. Belinda and the other associates planted lemon, lime, navel oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit trees. All of these citrus trees from the center have been micro-grafted to adapt to the climate of Texas, with minimum watering. The associates plan to buy two more trees, one of which would be avocado trees. She will get an organic fertilizer later to keep the trees healthy and growing.Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Sustainability, Biodiversity, Inclusivity, the Green Patriarch and Socio-ecological Justice in Peace Day
On October 31, we had a Peace Day event at the University of Incarnate Word. Part of this event is to talk about Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Inclusivity in one segment. Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh (see qumsiyeh.org) shared with us information about human and biological diversity in the Holy Land (Palestine). He is the founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University (see palestinenature.org). We learned about how colonization affected the environment in many countries but the focus was on damage done in Palestine (e.g. diversion and destruction of the Jordan River system, draining wetlands, uprooting millions of trees, the impact of war on nature). This he explained is a typical colonial system that declares war on human and biological diversity. Palestine was a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual society that was to be changed to become a monolithic Jewish state. This had consequences for both people and nature. Qumsiyeh also addressed non-violent resistance (which he and other Palestinians call popular resistance). He explained its long history in Palestine and its successes. He explained how Gandhi opposed the British occupation. He spoke of Desmond Tutu and of Martin Luther King Jr. He drew parallels between Palestine today under Israeli colonization that left 8.5 million Palestinian Christians and Muslims as refugees/displaced people and Palestine of 2000 years ago under Roman rule. Jesus had taught Palestinian Christians like Mazin the necessity of helping the needy and challenging unjust systems. Having just completed the olive harvest in the botanic garden of the institute, Qumsiyeh explained the value of olive trees (first domesticated in our region) but also explained the harassment of farmers destruction of trees, and land confiscation by the Israeli colonial occupiers. He argued that this conflict in Palestine must be ended as it is an aberration that harms people and nature (citing examples of genocide and ecocide happening in Palestine). Dr. Qumsiyeh also talked about the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability which has a vision of sustainable human and natural communities. To arrive at this vision, the institute engages in research, education, conservation (of both cultural and natural heritage), and community service. The facilities act as an oasis of peace and hope for both humans and plants and animals. He explained how people can volunteer (palestinenature.org/volunteer) or support in other ways (you can email him at mazin@qumsiyeh.org or info@palestinenature.org) for more information.
Another speaker in this segment is Vladimir Narsia who talked about the ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarch earned the title particularly because of his strong advocacy on Care for Creation even before the Laudato Si was launched. Patriarch Bartholomew had several initiatives through gatherings, prayers, and letters asking people to work on charity for the environment and to subdue the greediness that is degrading the world into climate change, a decline of biodiversity, among many obvious effects of the imbalance in the eco-system. In 1989, the Green Patriarch proclaimed September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for Creation with his first encyclical on the environment. Subsequently, other Christian churches followed the initiatives of the Green Orthodox initiatives. It was in 2015 that the Roman Catholic Church through Pope Francis Laudato Si' that the Western church joined the Orthodox in the concrete advocacy and work to Care for Creation, facing the reality of Climate Change and its effects. The two Christian leaders now with their voices are working to ask the people of all nations to pray, reflect, and take every opportunity that all nonprofit organizations, business institutions, and individuals can do for the environment to give the dignity that it deserves affecting the most vulnerable.
Following the talk on the love of Creation as initiated by the advocacies and initiatives of the Green Orthodox Church, is the hope that we all have and can share with our neighbors and the rest of the world. We have our own share of responsibility toward "Socio-ecological Justice". Since the 19th century, there have been several green organizations that care for the rights and dignity of the environment. Laudato Si' Movement is one among the many of these. It is a movement that aims to spread the Gospel in a new way. We are all connected. Globally, we are affecting the ecological balance causing climate change, decline of biodiversity, and extreme natural disasters. We are invited to pray, reflect, and take action on our ailing planet. Laudato Si' means "Praised be to You [my God]". We are all connected and we praise God by our witness. We are not living in isolation. We can contribute to solving the climate crisis by advocacies, a low-carbon footprint lifestyle through eco-conscious living, reducing single-use plastics, and turning to reusable and ecologically friendly products that do not harm the environment. We can ask ourselves before we patronize any products, will it cause harm to another person, creature, or creation? There is no such thing as small and insignificant in this global project. Other ways that the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word contributes to this cause is through the Headwater's native program, solar-powered water source for wildlife, soil research, and growing native prairie. Scientists are concerned about this greenhouse gas coming from methane and carbon dioxide. The greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere instead of being released into beyond. It is important to note that Texas, in particular, has the largest methane emitter in the world due to the Permian Basin. In addition to the Permian Basin, other shale sites in Texas similarly impact the environment directly. We have our humble individual actions and yet all are significant as reminded by Pope Francis. We are all called to be responsible within the limits of the ecological system. Through individual and systemic actions, we can become more hopeful with awareness combined with actions to have a climate-ready future.
The session ended with JPIC awards to the attendees of the event where they received the Gospel of Peace book by Father John Dear, the compost bin to promote eco-friendly practice in daily living, sponsored by JPIC, and the Innocent Project sweater provided by one of the Incarnate Word Sisters.
https://laudatosianimators.org
https://sierraclub.org
https://environmentamerica.org
Env. Defense Fund https://edf.org
https://paxchristi.org
https://alamo.edu/nvc/experience-nvc/community/peace-center
https://paceebene.org/
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Grant for Brainpower Schools' Sustainability Projects
University of Incarnate Word Brainpower Connection invites its schools to participate in Sustainability projects. These schools include Incarnate Word High-School, Saint Anthony High-School, Saint Mary Magdalen, Saint Anthony Catholic School, and Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. The grant can range from $200 - $1000 depending on the project that the students will submit for implementation. The committee will decide the recipient or recipients of the funds so that the students and teachers can work together for the project for a class, a club, or special project. Proposals must be submitted by December 4, 2024.
For more information, contact UIW Brainpower Connection Director Ms. Patricia Ramirez plramire@uiwtx.edu or UIW Brainpower Connection Assistant Ms. Karen Gonzalez kkgonza1@uiwtx.edu
Thursday, October 24, 2024
UIW Fall Events: Peace Day Oct 30th and Nov 9th Listening Workshop
There are two major events sponsored by University of Incarnate Word hosted by Sr. Martha Ann
1. Annual Peace Day
What: Annual Peace Day @ Univesity of Incarnate Word
When: Invitation to UIW 2024 Peace Day Oct. 30th 9:00am - 7:30pm
Where: University of Incarnate Word Student Engagement Center Rooms 2040-2041 and online
Join the meeting (Teams Meeting ID: 265 991 206 995)
Who: All are invited
Need help?
Those who would like to receive service credit, please register https://uiw.givepulse.com/event/512966-Peace-Day-Oct.-30-2024-Co-Creating-a-Camino-of-Compassion-and-Peace
When: November 9th 9 a.m. - Noon,
Location: University of the Incarnate Word Benack Music Building
How: Registration
October 30, 2024, Student Engagement Center (SEC), Rooms 2040-2041 and Online
Join the meeting (Teams Meeting ID: 265 991 206 995) Need help?
9 a.m. - 11 a.m., Building a Camino of Compassion and Peace: Young Leaders Shine
Learn about the Charter for Compassion and the growing alliance with Peace on Earth by 2030. Learn about Artistic Bridges Artistic Bridges (charterforcompassion.org), a global education project for 18 to 4-year-olds to build understanding and empathy. Hear from the students about their personal Caminos with peace work. Then move into a conversation about current efforts to create a systematic corridor.
Speakers include: Anun Mulla, Global Youth Strategist for the Charter for Compassion speaking from New Delhi, India; San Antonians who participated in the Nobel Summit, Estrella Needham of UIW and Chase Taylor of UTSA, Migdalia Garcia, Director of the Peace Center at Northwest Vista College, and Dr. Eric Castillo, Alamo Colleges Associate Vice Chancellor of Arts, Culture, and Community Impact. Invited speakers from the countries participating in Artistic Bridges: Darlene Jasso and Edwin Mendoza, Guatemala, Dana Osaily, Palestinian Authority Intern speaking from Ramallah, Palestine.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Peace on Earth by 2030
Join Peace on Earth by 2030 led by internationally acclaimed David Gershon. Be with about 70 peacebuilders from various countries including Afghanistan in the fifth session of the “Peace Games” series. The topic is Abundance, what is needed to build peace on earth is abundant. As the weekly participants go into team discussion groups, be with local people Sister Martha Ann Kirk of UIW, Paul Dubay, a graduate of the IW MA Program in Peace and Justice, and Jacky Zavala Aguila, of the UIW Office of Research and Graduate Studies, to learn how you might be a part of this significant growing movement. In conjunction with this, consider the Positive Peace Index.
1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., Biodiversity, Sustainability, and the Sacredness of God’s Creation
Join us for a Palestinian lunch with recipes from NORAH: From My Grandmother’s Kitchen: Palestinian Recipes and Memories by Dr. Rolla Alaydi, holding a Ph.D. in Education from UIW. We are grateful to Dr. Ana Carla Cepeda Lopez and her Nutrition students have prepared the lunch.
Dr. Mazin Qumsiyah, scientist and author, founder and director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability and the Palestine Museum of Natural History at Bethlehem University shares virtually their work. Dr. Qumsiyah is president of the Rotary Club in Bethlehem and connects with us through the Rotary Peace on Earth by 2030 organizing team.
He will be joined by two presenters from the recent International Creation Care Conference at UIW. Visiting Scholar Vladimer Narsia from the perspective of the Eastern Christian tradition and Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew’s teachings on sustainability shares. Sister Mary Lou Rodriguez, U.S. leader of the Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation Committee of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, shares on Socio-Ecological Justice and Laudato Si. Issues raised by each presenter led to a conversation with session participants on the importance and urgency of preserving life.
3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Social Justice and the Teaching of World Literature
Highlights from the Inaugural International Symposium hosted by the UIW English Department in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, moderated by Dr. Manzur Alam joined by Dr. Jim Baker, Taniajit Kaur, Dr. Paul Lewis, and others. Participate in conversation with presenters and consider ways of creating a more peaceful world. “If you want peace, work for justice,” by Pope Paul VI.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Día de los Muertos Ofrenda for Peace & Justice
Note: This session will be held where the alter is displayed in the Mabee Library’s entrance lobby until November 8. The session will not be online.
Rooted in the ancient rituals of both our Indigenous and European ancestors, we pause to honor our loved ones who have died. We will also honor the lives of so many brothers and sisters who were victims of hate crimes. Join us for an educational presentation in the auditorium and a short prayer service of commitment to work for peace and justice in their names. You can also request a special presentation for your class while the altar is on exhibit.
6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Building a Camino of Compassion and Peace, Peace and Prayers Are Not Enough, a new book
Adelina Geraghty, Dr. Patrick Muehlberger, Rev. Julie Rowe, Teofilo Reyes, and Jacky Zavala Aguila, who participated in the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and are working on the alliance of the Charter for Compassion and Peace on Earth by 2030 will share. What is a City of Compassion and how can those be multiplied? How does one create a “Peace on Earth Zone”? How might we grow all along the way to Monterrey?
San Antonio Street Medicine helping the unhoused is an example of compassion and Dr. Patrick Muehlberger and Adelina Geraghty will share their work.
Finally, we consider a new book, Peace and Prayers Are Not Enough by Rev. Julie Rowe. She has lived and worked in Jerusalem for four years and repeatedly returned. She describes what she has seen and invites all to deeper questions about authentic ways to build peace through justice.
Continuing the commitment to building compassion, justice and peace, join us on these speaker series@UIW Student Engagement Center room 2040-2041.
Do We Love Enough to Listen?
Saturday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m. - Noon, University of the Incarnate Word Benack Music Building
A workshop with award-winning actor Jesse Borrego and an introduction to oral histories shared by the San Antonio African American Community Archives and Museum. An opportunity for certified teachers to get 3 CPE hours for participation.
The descendant of an Apache great-grandmother, Jesse Borrego, and the descendant of a settler, Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D., who was given their land, are developing a drama, “Land Taken, Land Given” to invite dialogue in the classroom and society. Do we love enough to listen to different sides of a story? Do we love enough to create futures for all to flourish?For those interested in stories, cultures, history, performing arts, creative teaching methods and reconciliation between peoples. The drama is enriched by Papa Bear (Issac Cardenas), Evan Santos and Catherine Cuasay. The American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions invite you to join the University of the Incarnate Word conversation to remember.
UIW Education Professor Dr. Ann David shares the relevant theoretical frameworks from education that support the integration of storytelling and diverse histories into classroom teaching.
In 1869, the Ursuline Sisters’ leader, who welcomed the first three Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word when the convent for them had burned down, was from Espada Mission, from the families of the descendants of the indigenous peoples there. What are ways that the histories of Catholic Sisters are interwoven with Native American history and Black history?
Questions: kirk@uiwtx.edu or (210) 883-5934