Seeking and Working for Social Justice and Peace as Guided by Nine Themes of Catholic Social Teaching: An Easter Novena and Conference at Anna Maria College.
50 Sunset Lane, Paxton, Massachusetts
April 10-21, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007: The Dignity of Every Person and Human Rights
- 12:15 PM: Opening Mass for the Honoring of Human Dignity with Father John O’Brien CP, celebrant and Anna Maria College chaplain in the Madore Chapel (Music by the Mercy Centre Children’s Choir)
- 1:40 PM Opening Remarks: President Gerry Garrity, Dean Paul Erickson and Sister Yvette Bellerose, SSA, co-provincial of the Sisters of Saint Anne in the Zecco Performing Arts Center
- Opening Music by “Karma†and friends
- 1:50 PM- Lecture: “Catholic Social Teaching: Yesterday and Today†with Dr. David J. O’Brien, Professor of History and Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Zecco with responders Fr. John J. O’Brien, CP, Sister Yvette Bellerose, SSA and Drs. Jan Evans and Michael Boover
- 3:45 PM- Film: “The Heart Has Its Reasons,†a documentary about Jean Vanier and the movement he started in France for nurturing and building healing communities with the disabled at their heart followed by talk and open discussion with core members and assistants of L’Arche Irenicon, a community inspired by Jean Vanier located in Bradford, Massachusetts. Location: “The Hub,†lower level of Bishop Flanagan Center (Snack Bar area)
- 5:00-5:15 PM Simple Prayer for Human Dignity in the Madore Chapel
- 5:30 PM – Supper (Good and full meals may be purchased at our cafeteria in the Bishop Flanagan Center during the conference at regular meal hours)
- 7 PM: Opening Concert with members of the Mercy Centre Choir and members of the Anna Maria Music Therapy Club (Payer Concert Hall- Miriam Hall)
- 7:30 PM: Evening panel on “Honoring Human Dignity†with members of L’Arche Irenicon, Bradford; Deacon Walter and Kathy Doyle of The Refugee Apostolate, Diocese of Worcester; Josephine Massarelli and Marc Tumeinski of the Social Role Valorization Implementation Project (SRVIP); Charlie and Donna Hamaleinen of the Saint John’s Parish Ex-Prisoner Support Group; Peggy Buzzell, Patty Waterhouse and Lisa Kynvi of Mercy Centre, Worcester; Location: Payer Concert Hall/Miriam Hall
Wednesday, April 11: Solidarity, Common Good and Participation
- 1:00 PM in the Zecco Performing Arts Center- Music with James Danna- “Rainy Night in Georgia,†followed by “Briars in the Cotton Patch,†a documentary film about the interracial Christian community, Konini, founded by Clarence Jordan in Americus, Georgia which served to bolster the American civil rights movement and was the inspiration for Harry Chapin’s musical, “Cotton Patch Gospel,†which will be performed on Thursday and Friday evenings in the Zecco Performing Arts Center. Discussion to follow the film at 2 PM led by Dr. Michael D. True, Professor Emeritus of English, Assumption College and AMC student and faculty facilitators.
- 4:45 PM in the Madore Chapel: “Silent Meditation: the Activists Refuge and Renewal†-brief talk by Will Raymond and 20 minute sitting in silent prayer
- 7:00 PM in “The Hub,†Snack Bar area in lower Flanagan: Evening panel with David Ebony Barkley of the Black Indian Inn (Dorchester), Linda Giymah, member of Anna Maria College ALANA (African, Latin American, Asian, Native American) Group; Brenna Cussen, national staff of the Catholic Peace Fellowship, South Bend, Indiana; Marie Fusaro-Davis, chair of the Worcester Diocesan Commission for Women; Professors Joyce McNickles and Michael Boover on issues of race, class and gender.
Thursday, April 12: Family Life
- 12:15 PM, Madore Chapel: Mass for Families with Fr. John J. O’Brien, CP. Music by Sarah Winant.
- 1:40 PM in Zecco Performing Arts Center: Afternoon Panel on Family with Diane and Michael Boover of Annunciation House, Worcester; Jennifer and Coach David Gentleman of Rutland; Sister Anna Marie Kane, SSJ of Family Lifeline Volunteers, Worcester, Dorchester and Harlem, NY; Anna Maria College students
- 5:00 PM in the Madore Chapel: Evening Prayer led by members of the AMC Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministry
- 7:00 PM Student Musical: “Cotton Patch Gospel†Opening Night- Zecco Performing Arts Center * Tickets are $ 8 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and students. Conference goers may be eligible for a special arrangement. See Professor Boover or Harry Duchesne for information.
Friday, April 13: Subsidiarity and the Proper Role of Government
- 1-2:30 PM in Zecco Performing Arts Center: Frank Kartheiser, Worcester Interfaith; Sister Michelle Jacques, SSA, director of the Marie Anne Center, Worcester; Dan Osterman, community organizer, activist and artist from Boston; Stephen Rockwell of The Institute for Progressive Christianity and organizer for “CrossLeft,†Boston
- 3 PM at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester: Registration for conference honoring David J. O’Brien in the Moran Lounge in Smith Hall
- 7 PM at Anna Maria: Student musical, “Cotton Patch Gospel†in the Zecco Performing Arts Center ($8 for adults, $5 for children, seniors and students). Conference goers may be eligible for a special arrangement. See Professor Boover or Harry Duchesne for details.)
- 7:30 PM Mass at the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker, 93 Piedmont Street, Worcester; Reverend Bernard E. Gilgun, celebrant
Saturday, April 14: Conference at Holy Cross
- Saturday Option: Holy Cross Conference or Volunteer Service Option available at the Refugee Apostolate, 27 Chandler Street, Worcester* Call 831-7455 to volunteer
Sunday, April 15: Anna Maria Sunday Evening Mass in the Madore Chapel at 7 PM with celebrant John J. O’Brien, CP
Monday, April 16: Property Ownership in Modern Society: Rights and Responsibilities
- Prayer for the Earth at 12:15 PM in the Madore Chapel
- 1 PM-3PM in the Zecco Performing Arts Center: Afternoon Program on Sustainability: Brayton Shanley of the Agape Community, Ware, MA; Daniel E. Dick, past president of the Tatnuck Brook Watershed Association and creator of the Energy Studies curriculum at Worcester State College
- 4:45 PM in the Madore Chapel: “Silent Meditation: Contemplative Prayer Amidst the Struggles of the World†-brief talk by Will Raymond and 20 minute sitting in silent prayer
- 7 PM: Evening Panel in Zecco Performing Arts Center with Fred Enman, SJ, Dean, Boston College Law School and founder of “Matthew 25,†on the urban housing rehabilitation nonprofit and Catholic social teaching; a representative of the Holy Name Central Catholic High School Wind Turbine Project, Worcester; Dr. Peter Weiskel, Ph.D., hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey, on water issues; Daniel E, Dick, creator of the Energy Studies curriculum, Worcester State College on water and land care issues
Tuesday, April 17: The Dignity of Work, Rights of Workers, and Support for Labor Unions
- 12:15 PM Mass for Workers (Honoring all Working Staff at Anna Maria College) in the Madore Chapel
- 1:40 PM in Zecco Performing Arts Center: Personal Testimonials/Remembrances: “My Union Father†by Deacon Walter Doyle and “My Philosopher/Janitor Uncle Joe of Saint Anselm’s College in Manchester, New Hampshire†by Brayton Shanley of the Agape Community, Ware
- 3:30 PM: Film- “Marketplace Prophets,†followed by discussion led by Catholic Social Teaching students in COR 304 classes in Zecco Performing Arts Center
- 7 PM in Zecco Performing Arts Center: Evening Panel On Labor: Fr. John O’Brien, CP, author, teacher, consultant; Professor Bruce Cohen, labor historian at Worcester State College; Vanessa Williamson, Teamsters Union employee; Deacon Joseph M. Baniukiewicz, chaplain to the labor movement for the Diocese of Worcester and acting director, Diocesan Office of Justice and Peace; Brayton Shanley, farmer, Agape Community, Ware
Wednesday, April 18: Colonialism and Economic Development
- 1 PM and 2 PM in the Zecco Performing Arts Center- Afternoon Panel: Dr. Pierre Mathe Sylvialeghana, Director, Ipsaci Corporation, a caregiver non-profit organization that now focuses on the care of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders and AIDS cases specifically in African post-war zones., Boston, advocate for victims of rape and war in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Marikler Giron and Pj Perkins of the Heifer Project, Rutland- Marikler on Guatemala and Pj on Catholic volunteer involvement in Heifer; Martha Morris, adjunct professor in the “Seeking Community†section of the core curriculum, Anna Maria College; Pam Reidy of Notre Dame Health Care, Inc. and an advocate for Haiti, the elderly and women in ministry and Sr. Jeanette Pierre-Louis, SND, a Haitian Sister of Notre Dame living and working at Notre Dame du Lac.
- 5PM: Evening Program in the Madore Chapel: Meditative presentation on the spiritual life as a path of humility and as inherently non-colonialist followed by 20 minutes of silent prayer
- 7 PM: A Shared Lecture and Discussion: “Faith and Globalization,†by Reverend Frank Breen, MM, a Maryknoll priest who worked in Kenya for 29 years and is planning to return and the Reverend Bob McCahill, MM an expert in Christian-Muslim and interfaith dialogue. Location: the Zecco Performing Arts Center
Not part of the conference, but on a related note: at 7pm, at 52 Mason St, the SS. Francis & Therese Catholic Worker community and Real Solutions are co-sponsoring a roundtable discussion–“How Is
Worcester Treating the Poor?”
Thursday, April 19: Peace and Disarmament
- 12:15 in the Madore Chapel: Mass for Peace
- 1:40 PM in the Zecco Performing Arts Center: Eric Wasileski, President, Wally Nelson Chapter (95) Veterans for Peace, on the experience of a Gulf War veteran converted to the work of peace.
- 4:45 PM in the Madore Chapel: Thursday the 19th at 4:45 or 5:00 PM in the Madore Chapel “Silent Meditation: Total Surrender to God†– brief talk and 20 minute sitting in silence
- 7 PM: Evening Panel in the Madore Chapel: Suzanne and Brayton Belote-Shanley of the Agape Community, Ware; Scott and Claire Schaeffer-Duffy of the SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker Community, Worcester; Eric Wasileski, Gulf War Veteran for Peace, Divinity student at Andover Newton Theological School; Tom Lewis, member of the Catonsville Nine, artist and activist, Emma House, Worcester and art instructor at AMC
Friday, April 20: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- 1 PM in the Zecco Performing Arts Center- Afternoon Panel: Patty Engdahl, The Molly Bish Center for the Protection of Children and the Elderly, Paxton; Professor Denise Hildreth, Anna Maria College- Social Work Department; Ken Michaud, director of Youville House Family Shelter, Catholic Charities, Worcester; Sister Patricia Venegas, SSA of Chile and currently parish worker in Clinton, Massachusetts and graduate student at Anna Maria; Patsy Lewis, former and long-time director of Worcester Community Action Council (CAC) which provides assistance and advocacy for Worcester county’s poor and Sister Marie-Judith Dupuy, SSA, director of the Haitian Apostolate, Diocese of Worcester.
- 7:30 PM, Mustard Seed Catholic Worker House, 93 Piedmont Street, Worcester, MA: Mass for and with the Poor and Vulnerable, Reverend Bernard E. Gilgun, celebrant and homilist.
Saturday, April 21: 60th Anniversary Mass of Anna Maria College
- Celebrated by the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, in the Madore Chapel at 6:30 PM. Seating is limited; Registration required by calling (508) 849-3341 or cfirneno@annamaria.edu
For further information, contact Dr. Michael Boover at (508) 849-3431 or e-mail mboover@annamaria.edu or call Harry Duchesne, campus minister, at (508) 849-3205 or e-mail hduchesne@annamaria.edu .