Written on: June 28, 2013
Sisters Rose Mary Cauley and Pat Kelly participated in the Pax Christ USA (PC/USA) conference in Atlanta, Georgia from June 14-16, 2013. At this 40th anniversary celebration of PC/USA, plenary sessions, prayer services and workshops concentrated on the four priority areas embraced by the members:
Spirituality of Nonviolence and Peacemaking
Disarmament, Demilitarization and Reconciliation with Justice
Interracial Justice in the United States
Human Rights and Global Restoration
The Plenary Sessions were led by Bishop Tom Gumbleton, founder of PC/USA and Father Bryan Massingale, former president of the Catholic Theological Society and Professor at Marquette University.
Both speakers addressed the purposes of the conference:
REMEMBER THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE
LIVE THE PRESENT WITH ENTHUSIASM AND
EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE AND HOPE.
The workshops gave the opportunity for participants to learn, share and question the issues being confronted by Pax Christi members from various groups throughout the USA. Our GNSH representatives participated in workshops on Immigration, Human Trafficking, Environment, and Drones and were able to hear the struggles, clarify the issues and gather information on commitments for change.
The final plenary session by Father Massingale contained six trends which challenged all who work for Peace. These are summarized below:
For those wishing to hear the talks by Bishop Gumbleton or Father Massingale visit www.paxchristiusa.org or write to the Pax Christi USA; National Catholic Peace Movement, 1223 Otis Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20017.