Post 12 - Long Way to Go - Archdiocese Webinar: New Initiatives in the Holy Land and Sabeel Conference Meeting

Hi everyone,

Two events worthy of attending in the next two weeks:
I.  Archdiocese of Santa Fe's Webinar: Initiative in the Holy Land - Catholics Confronting Global Poverty - Wed. May 18th, at 11:00 am at the Catholic Center with CRS staff Anna Huth to respond to questions about the current situation in GAZA and Israel.


To register from your own computer: (or join us at Save the Children's Western Area offices at  126 Valencia Dr NE Ste D, Albuquerque, NM 87108 call 977-8902 for more information.)

http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=3280&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS

2.  Sabeel Organizing Group Meeting: Is there interest in our community for a Sabeel Conference 2011? Wed. 25th May at the NM Peace Justice Offices - Harvard and Silver. 7:00 pm.


While we come to the end of our No-Show Pilgrimage for 2011, we still have a very long way to go. In order to educate our communities about what Mark Braverman termed today's 'Call to the Church', the saving of the Israeli Soul, we need to increase the volume. It won't be easy to insist that our nation face the fact that Palestinians and Israelis are brothers, that mankind as we know it cannot exist if Israel continues on this course of exclusion, military might and apartheid like social norms.


Israel needs to hear us from the choirs of the Catholic churches, from the pulpits of the Presbyterian churches, from the mountaintops of the Mormon tabernacles, from the elders of the Evangelical movements, from the lawyers at the legislature, from activist atheists - 'Turn away from this path.'

From the beginning of time, mankind has struggled with autonomous rights of statehood for various groups. Israel's course down this path is one of the cruelest campaigns in modern times. We need to redirect this course. Israel cannot continue to wreck havoc on the lives and livelihoods of their Palestinian citizens. They must stop the cruel treatment of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and Gaza. As human beings, we cannot turn our eyes away from the systematic destruction of the Palestinians. Look now, read up now, get involved now. Not to direct any anger or resentments, but to save the soul of Israel, save Palestine.

Raise up the call to 'Fall the Wall Now!' Help the Prince of Peace Social Justice Committee take one step together in commitment to this.  Contribute to the creation of a water purification tank at a Palestinian elementary school. Send contributions to Prince of Peace Catholic Community, 12500 Carmel Ave. NE, Alb., NM  87122.

Hope to see you on the web or at Church tomorrow. My apologies regarding the last two days of posts, my computer was down and the blogspot was not taking new posts on Thursday or Friday.

A couple of updates on the GAZA Floatilla:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2011/05/09/gaza_flotilla_scheduled_for_late_june/

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/05/14-4

In God's name, may His Blessings grow in and amplify through your hearts.

Peggy

Post 11 - Abq. Catholic Center Hosting Webinar on Wedneday, Link in From Home or Office: UPDATE FROM ISRAEL

Hi everyone, hope to see you tonight at Prince of Peace at 7pm - prayer, dialog and cake! Call me if you have any questions.

We have this note from Anne Avalone at the Catholic Center: (Save the Children off Central and San Mateo is willing to set up a telcon for us if folks are closer to that site - call David Neff at 977-8902 and let him know you can join: Wed. May 18 at 11:00 AM Abq time. As well there is a link below where you can stream direct to your desk.)

Hello All,

I want to make a special invitation all to participate in a FREE webinar about Peace Initiatives in the Holy Land sponsored by Catholics Confront Global Poverty (a collaboration between United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services).

We will meet Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 11:00-12:00 noon in the Sandia Room of the Catholic Center, 4000 St. Joseph Pl NW. Bring your own snack or lunch and join us! Those who are able can stay for some discussion until 12:30pm. If you have to leave earlier that is fine.

Just RSVP to me directly, by replying to this email, Note new email: justice@archdiosf.org,so I know how many to expect.

This free webcast concerning the Holy Land will include:

Updates on the situation in the Holy Land, its effects on Israelis and Palestinians and current advocacy efforts to address this longstanding conflict;

A dialog with Church leaders working to support our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land on the ground and through advocacy;

A discussion of USCCB and CRS’ policy recommendations for how the U.S. can make a difference based on Catholic social teaching and our experience; and

Suggestions for how Catholics in the U.S., through the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative, can support peace in the Holy Land.

NOTE: If you want to listen on your own at a home or work computer, you can RSVP directly to Catholics Confront Global Poverty….go to: (if the link doesn't work, cut and paste into your browser)

attachment.http://donate.crs.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=22801.0&dlv_id=33301

Peace,

Anne

Anne Avellone, M.Div, LMSW

Director, Office of Social Justice and Respect Life

Archdiocese of Santa Fe

4000 St. Joseph's Pl NW

Albuquerque, NM 87120

505-831-8167

Note new email: justice@archdiosf.org

Please don't print this unless you really need to!

And this link from our Sabeel Friends: A call to Prayer on Thursdays at noon!  I'll be listening for you all.....

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=cgeyz8n6&v=001rUMZSB4OvtFhANFzxfqAmRilyFHLhWkQm9XSBTSUxs-tB2FGkR8dokqYY8FzDG2bFX1crMtrmiPd-Kti2df3dw6ZFSH_qNB871ktLs6m0r8CrV5gw-GETQizcBr7n5q_I6G1j8bHE0SfXB8dz6WIAA%3D%3D

See you later,

Peggy

Post 10 - Nakba Law

Hi everyone,

Please join us at Prince of Peace on Thursday, May 12, 7 pm. We'll have a chance to sit and chat with Father Mike about the situation in Israel. Hope to see you, I'll bring cake and coffee. May God guide the discussion and may the Holy Spirit refresh within us.

Here is something I had not heard about before: Nakba Law. On May 15th, some folks in Israel had gotten into the custom of marking the day that the Palestinians were pushed out of their homes: Nakba, which means Catastrophe. This past month, in a vote 37 - 25 of the Committee for Legislation, this tradition became an illegal act.

If caught mentioning, holding any sort gathering, teaching, or even listening to the history of the creation of Israel from the Palestinian's eyes and hearts, you are in for big trouble with the State. 

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/23/3086536/knesset-passes-nakba-law

Palestine Monitor
The Nakba law is yet another piece of racist and discriminatory legislation which will directly target the Palestinian minority in Israel. In essence, the law stifles freedom of expression and will punish this sector of society for commemorating the most traumatic event in their recent collective history, the Nakba...

Well, the 15th of May happens to be the end of our No-Show Pilgrimage. Amazing. How would one ever be able to translate this into international law?

Check out the United States Catholic Council of Bishops' letter of April 14, 2011 to President Obama, kind of weak, but at least written: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-076.shtml
or, for the full text:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/PresidentObamaLetwEndorsersApril2011.pdf

Something else: did you know that listed in the major achievements in the Life and Ministry of Pope John Paul: February 15, 2000 - Basic Agreement is signed between the Holy See and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Very interesting.

Hope to see you here or at Prince of Peace,

Peggy

Post 9 - Support Programs in GAZA and the Territories through CRS!

Hi everyone,

This post gives you another way to invest in Israel - through Catholic Relief Services! 

First, I need to know if you can make it on Thursday to a small gathering at Prince of Peace, May 12th, 7pm. We'll get to hear indepth from Father Mike about his call to support the Palestinians. Please give me a call at 977-8903, send a post, send an email or even send a text! Hope to see you all come out and share your ideas.

This next bit is from Anne Avellone, M.Div LMSW, Director of the Office of Social Justice and Respect Life, Archdiocese of Santa Fe. She has a contact from CRS in GAZA, we'll see if we can invite her for a talk, k. Anne gives us good direction for our long term committments to the Middle East and how to encourage others to commit to helping move the change along. CRS is well respected world wide and I for one am very glad to be reminded of their good work in the Middle East.

Forward by clicking the 'M' at the end of the blog. Forward widely!

Peace out, Peggy

....

You might also note that our own Catholic Relief Services does relief and peace building work in the Holy Land. Since CRS is the international aid arm of US Catholics, that might be a good place to start in terms of donations. I went to Africa (Tanzania and Ethiopia) last September with a CRS delegation…they are doing wonderful work with international development, relief and peace building. Please share this with your blog audience, so they know the good work US Catholics are doing for countries abroad! 

Here is the web link to the CRS web site, then people can see what they are doing in the middle east! http://crs.org/

Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza

Catholic Relief Services has worked with local partners in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for nearly half a century. Our projects aim to support peace with justice for all people in this troubled region, while responding to the humanitarian and sustainable development needs of Palestinians.

The current crisis in the West Bank and Gaza is one of the worst humanitarian situations in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It threatens not only the well-being of Palestinian civilians and the very poor, but also endangers prospects for a sustainable peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Four decades of occupation, expanding settlements, military operations, the Separation Wall, restrictions on the movement of people and goods, and general insecurity have devastated Palestinian society. Poverty rates are nearly 65 percent and food insecurity has risen 13 percent since 2006.

CRS programs address the severe unemployment, lack of quality education, rising food insecurity and lack of opportunities for Palestinians.

Anne

 

505-831-8167

Note new email: justice@archdiosf.org

and....

 http://crs.org/jerusalem/omar-shaban/

and...

CRS Partners in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza

The work of Catholic Relief Services is accomplished in partnership with an extensive network of church and local organizations led by the people we serve. By working with partners, we can bring about real changes to systems that contribute to poverty, hunger, injustice and conflict.

World Food Program

The World Food Program, a United Nations humanitarian agency, fights hunger by supplying food to the most vulnerable. CRS is one of the implementing partners of World Food Program's Food for Work and Food for Training programs, which feed thousands of Palestinians each month.

Ibdaa Cultural Center

The Ibdaa ("to create something out of nothing") Cultural Center, located in the Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, was founded to provide an environment for Palestinian children and young people to develop their creativity and leadership skills through social, cultural and educational activities. Ibdaa promotes exchanges between the camp's youth and the international community through visits abroad and participation in international conferences, and by receiving visiting groups that come to Dheisheh.

Community Training Center and Crisis Management

CRS partners with Community Training Center and Crisis Management to respond to the psychological and social needs of Gazans, especially children traumatized by violence. The center provides parents with information about trauma's effects on their children and how to deal with those effects. Through entertainment and educational programs at kindergartens and schools, the center supports the healthy psychological and behavioral development of children.

National Association of Democracy and Law

The National Association of Democracy and Law was established in Rafah, Gaza, in 2003 with the assistance of Palestinian youth and the community. The association aims to protect and create awareness of human rights, reinforce democratic principles, support Palestinian efforts at self-determination, and improve the role of women in Palestinian society.

Life and Hope Association

The Life and Hope Association in Gaza focuses on social equality and justice. It works to increase cultural and sporting activities for Palestinian youth, increase awareness of the problem of drugs and ways to prevent drug use, encourage solidarity, and provide aid to needy families.

B'Tselem

B'Tselem ("in [His] image") is an Israeli human rights organization that aims to ensure that Israel's government protects the human rights of residents in the Palestinian Territories and complies with its obligations under international law. In its efforts to change Israeli policy in the Palestinian Territories, B'Tselem regularly provides Knesset (Israeli parliament) members and the media with video footage of human rights violations in the territories, and injustices caused by Israeli authorities.

Post 8: Middle Eastern Children's Alliance and the MAIA project

Hi everyone,

We had quite a swell of support from the Prince of Peace community this week! Welcome to everyone who signed up. Please let me know if you do not wish to receive these blogs. We are on our No-Show Pilgrimage for another week. On Sunday, we'll be collecting contributions to help build a water purification system at a primary school in GAZA. If you would like to be part of this you can contribute by sending to Prince of Peace - MAIA Project: 12500 Carmel Ave. NE, Abq, NM  87122.

There was a question sent to our email asking about other projects that we can support. The Maia Project, the water systems for schools in Palestine, is part of the Middle East Children's Alliance. They have several outreach programs: support for women's organizations; work with traumatized children; scholarships; the Rachel Corrie Center in Rafah (the border town between Gaza and Egypt) and others. We'll start with water and work our way up!  Very interesting activity at the Rachel Corrie Center is a simple pen pal program for children - We'll post the instructions during the week if anyone knows of a class or group of children who would like to be involved.

Also, we received the following link:   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion to a very interesting article about the escalating possibility of war throughout the region.

Living water, that's what we are asking. Share your living water: learn the truth about Palestine and Israel and breathe it into life for the next week. Let our Lord Jesus direct you in your giving to help us build a commitment to Palestine at Prince of Peace through this water project. We'll need $11,500 to finish one site. If we need to, we'll reach out to other churches and groups in Albuquerque. Let us know if we can speak at your parish or to your community.

Here are two other links that may shed more light for you:

1. A site about Rachel Corrie an American Student living in Palestine who was killed by Israeli soldiers when she was protesting the destruction of a home.
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/

2. Boycott of Israel/War defined a little more clearly:
http://www.boycottisraeltoday.com/caterpillar

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

Take Care Dear Ones,

Peggy

Post 7: Marc Braverman Responses and Introduction to the Maia Project

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the notes from folks sending to Prince of Peace Social Justice Ministry's email, please if anyone has responses, blog or send to socialjusticeministrypop@yahoo.com:

Thoughts on Marc Braverman in Aluquerque, May, 2011

by Iris Keltz

I heard Marc Braverman speak twice– in Nahalaat Shalom, a Jewish community in the north valley and a the Church of the Risen Saviour in the NE Heights. In the years he has been traveling around the world educating people about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, this was his first time speaking in a synagogue. Ilan Pappe, an Israeli historian who wrote a book called The Ethnic cleansing of Palestine, said the same. I am proud to be associated with this unique Jewish community in Albuquerque who supports social justice and open dialogue.

Most synagogues and churches have closed their doors to this message, which is basically one of compassion and love. Braverman referred to himself as Jewish blue blood. The grandson of five generations of rabbis born in Jerusalem, his family lineage can be traced to the Baal Shem Tov, a mystic rabbi from eastern Europe, the inspiration for Hassidic Judaism. Although my family traces no such lineage, l have long appreciated the wisdom of this wonder rabbi. Braverman’s family lived in Palestine before the state of Israel, before British Mandate Palestine, back to the Ottoman Empire, where Christians, Jews and Moslems mingled freely. The current Israeli occupation has created a society that effectively separates people through a Separation Wall, separate roads, neighborhoods, schools and any conceivable way that prevents people from getting to know “the other” as a human being. Braverman’s extended family even included radical right wing settlers.

Several times, he reminded the audience that Jesus was a Jewish Palestinian Rabbi living under a brutal Roman occupation. As an activist rabbi, Jesus encouraged followers to non violent resistance, or to, “turn the other cheek”. Braverman hopes the churches will remember their commitment to social justice and become a seedbed for a world wide movement based on social justice. History shows that the civil rights movement in the US and the anti-apartheid movement in south Africa, were both born in churches. 

Many Jews frame the Palestinian/israeli conflict as continuation of European anti- semitism. And many Christians who feel guilty about the deaths of five million Jews are reluctant to speak out against the policies of the government of Israel, which begs the issue. The ethnic cleansing and land grab in Palestine is old fashioned racism and colonialism. It has nothing to do with Judaism.

Christian Zionists claim unconditional love and support for Israel. Braverman counters that Israel needs “tough love”, the kind of love a mother gives her wayward teenager when she takes away the keys so her son/daughter will not be at risk for driving drunk and getting killed or killing someone else. In the same way, those who really love Israel, must speak out against the apartheid policies of a government in danger of becoming a pariah state around the world and an oppressive military state at home. The lesson of the Nazi Holocaust must be– never again will we allow a Holocaust to happen to any people on earth– including Palestinians.

Jesus preached compassion and love. So did Marc Braverman. His vision for Israel is a country based on equality for who live there, a vision I share.

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Water Desalination!!! Why not have a call to action: 50% of US Aid to Israel (that would be $1.5 billion this year) to go towards water desalination projects instead of building bombs. Next step: make part of this line item, the rebuilding of the Aquafilter in GAZA that the military blew up last year! Check it out:
http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.waterworld.world-regions.middle-east.2010.05.Largest-sea-water-desalination-plant-in-the-world-opens-in-Israel.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

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Albuquerque.

As I was listening to Dr. Braverman on Tuesday evening, I was thinking on how rare it is to meet a person who has the heart of a Christ. I felt that Dr. Braverman was such a person.

 My thoughts and feelings led me to query, “How do we get there ourselves?”

It is a place we cannot prompt in others, we can encourage, but not prompt or promote. It is a place that is arrived at through a process of distillation and removal from our system, from our person, the invasive toxicity from our political, religious, social and economic environment.

Once there, we can explore the depth of our heart and soul and read the “Law of Love” inscribed on our hearts, with the pristine eyes of a newly born person.

Then and only then can we reach out to others, and most importantly for Peacemakers, to reach out with respect and in love to our adversaries.

Peace,

Joe Newman

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Jesus warns his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Crossing the bridge from deciding to doing is not always easy. Go now and help save Palestine.

This next week we'll be asking everyone to help suport the construction of a water purification tank at a primary school in GAZA. Here is a link to the project: http://www.mecaforpeace.org/project/maia-project 
We had representatives from this group visiting with Prince of Peace Social Justice Ministry last year and we are committed. Can you join us? Please, whatever you would spend on going to visit the holy land, whatever you would spend in visiting a resort for a vacation day, whatever extra you might have for a journey you have been wanting to take - share it with us and journey into a committment to saving the children of Palestine.

Send contributions directly to MECA's Mia project or bring them to Prince of Peace on Sunday and drop it in the basket!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

In God's name, we can make a difference. Saving the Soul of Israel, as Marc Braverman called for? Maybe. Keeping a community from another attack? Maybe. Doing the Will of God? Only you can answer for the Kingdom of God Lives in You! We have to start somewhere.

Let His Light shine through you back onto the darkened land of Palestine. As you make a commitment, so the light widens and brightens!! So your light too widens and brightens!!
Grace and Hope,
Peggy

Post 6: News Stories, A Caritas Prayer

Hi Everyone,
We had a couple of folks leave the pilgrimage yesterday. I think talking about reducing support for the military may make some folks uncomfortable. On the other hand we had one person say they were going to include their church's social justice committee on the pilgrimage. Life is just like that I guess. As Father Mike says, we may be preaching to the choir, but we are learning how to sing! Do pass this blog along if you have a chance.

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragements. I would love for anyone to help with the blogging. Feel free this weekend! We'll be at Prince of Peace masses with more literature and happy to show you how to get into the blog site itself.

I'd like to focus on the wall next, so anyone who has links can forward them or blog them thanks. Today, just a few links to enlighten your day....

Situation dire for Children in Palestine, May 3, 2011 article:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38255&Cr=Palestin&Cr1=

US Stand is that there are many other ways to get needed goods to Gaza, but floatila continues to sail with Pro-Palestinians aboard (when did support for Palestine become a bad word?):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110426/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_gaza_flotilla

Insights to share:
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

So, today, try to tell one person about your care and concern for Palestine.

Lord God of All,

We come to you as Caritas sisters and brothers from the four corners of the world, refugees and relatives. We come as people who know suffering and struggle, as families and communities with hope. We come with respect, compassion and informed solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers. We ask you hear our prayer. We ask you hear their prayer for peace, justice, equal rights and human dignity.

Turn their brokenness into renewing wholeness and courage.

Turn their displacement into safe secure sheltering homes.

Turn their long hungers into nurturing fields, foods for life so families can flourish.

May stinging betrayals of unjust law and disorder finally end so healing, forgiveness and reconciliation can begin for all peoples in the Holy Land, in this ancient/modern region.

May rhetoric and history stop repeating itself as if our Palestinian friends were not real.

May all “stakeholders” see these very human beings, flesh and precious blood alive.

May their children today never relinquish their steadfast enduring belief for a better tomorrow.

Lord, God of All, heal all who journey through desert and darkness – heal us too that we may be peacemakers.

May our simplest honest prayers unite, uplift, strengthen, respect and build up our solidarity.

May no day pass without a faithful pause which gathers us in as one human family.

One people of God from Palestine through the region and everywhere beyond every border.

Together may we be a certain path to peace that is possible, that is all we need today.

Amen.

Credit: Joseph Donnelly/Caritas

Blessings,

Peggy