Gene Stoltzfus, founding director of Christian Peacemaker Teams, died March 10 at age 70. Stoltzfus was a friend of Bridgefolk and attended our conference at Saint John’s Abbey in 2008. To read more, visit http://www.cpt.org/speakers/gene_stoltzfus.
Category: News
Pope’s theme for Lent: “Justice founded in love”
Pontiff Encourages Work With the Poor
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is affirming that Jesus satisfies man’s “thirst for justice,” through his Divine love rather than political revolution.
The Pope stated this today in a public address before he prayed the midday Angelus with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
He reflected on today’s liturgy and the Gospel reading of the Beatitudes.
“The beatitudes are based on the existence of a divine justice,” the Pontiff affirmed, “which raises up those who have been wrongly humiliated and casts down those who have been exalted.” Continue reading “Pope’s theme for Lent: “Justice founded in love””
Bridgefolk Board member returns to Rutba, Iraq
Weldon Nisly, pastor of Seattle Mennonite Church and Bridgefolk Board member, returned to Rutba, Iraq in January as part of a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). As part of a CPT delegation that visited Iraq in 2003 during the US invasion, Nisly was injured in an automobile accident and treated at a clinic in Rutba. He and other members of the delegation returned this year in order to express their gratitude to their Iraqi hosts and medical personnel. For CPT news releases on the recent trip, click here.
Italian Catholic bishops call for nonviolence
War Is Irrational, Italian Bishop Affirms
Conference Considers Priority of Disarmament
ROME, FEB. 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- War is irrational and inhuman, and non-violence needs to become a language, reconciliation a style of life.
These were some of the conclusions at the Italian episcopal conference’s convention last month on “For a World of Peace: the Dream of Isaiah and the Proclamation of Christ.”
Caritas-Italy and Pax Christi co-sponsored the event.
An official from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Tommaso Di Ruzza, told the conference participants that disarmament is an ethical question that involves everyone, not just governments. Continue reading “Italian Catholic bishops call for nonviolence”
Mennonite Church Canada represented at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
WINNIPEG, Manitoba —Mennonite Church Canada leaders gathered with those from other denominations on January 24/2010 for the opening service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Among the other denominations represented were Anglican, Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, United Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Salvation Army, Presbyterian and Ukrainian Orthodox. Continue reading “Mennonite Church Canada represented at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”
Bridgefolk Conference 2010 information
Information related to the Bridgefolk 2010 Conference at St. John’s Abbey is now posted on the conference tab of the Bridgefolk website. You may access the information at the conference tab above or click here for the main conference page.
Mennonite pastor is featured speaker at Franciscan-sponsored conference
The Rev. Dr. Fernando Enns, a German Mennonite pastor, will be a featured guest at the Paul Wattson Seminar and Reception. This annual seminar is hosted by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and the University of San Francisco. The topic of the address will be: A Decade to Overcome Violence 2000 – 2010: An Ecumenical Journey Towards a Common Understanding of Just Peace.
To download a flier on the event, click here.
Sermon for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
A friend of Bridgefolk recommends a sermon preached at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on January 18 on the occasion of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Click here to read.
Excerpt:
The insight of our ecumenical pioneers in Edinburgh Missionary Conference in 1910 is that witness to the things of Christ’s resurrection will only be effective if Christians are united with one another, be it the churches Acting Together in Haiti this week and in the coming years, the churches responding to human division and unjust structures, the churches responding to the environmental crises, the churches responding to war and violence, the churches responding to cynicism and despair with the good news of the Gospel. In all these things, we bear witness to the Risen Christ, together.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity coincides with response to Haiti
“This week we join Christians of all denominations and traditions in celebrating the Week of Christian Unity,” wrote Joetta Schlabach, Bridgefolk participant and pastor of Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis, to her congregation this week. “Certainly the tragedy in Haiti is drawing people of all faiths—and many who do not profess faith—to join in a unified response of compassion and aid. Let us pray that some of the hostilities and misunderstandings between faith communities will diminish as people join hands in service.”
For more on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010, including links to a joint statement by World Council of Churches and Vatican bodies reflecting on the occasion, visit http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3193.
Meanwhile, as many people wonder how to respond to the tragedy of earthquake-ravaged Haiti, and how to insure that aid reaches Haitians through reliable channels, Mennonites and Catholics can turn to their churches’ well-respected relief and development agencies. Here are links to the most prominent examples:
Mennonite Central Committee: http://mcc.org
Catholic Relief Services: http://crs.org