Rev. John Dear, S.J. in Tulsa

	Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, John Dear, SJ, has been arrested more than 75 times. He has spent more than a year of his life in jail. He has been mocked by armed U.S. soldiers standing outside the doors to his New Mexico parish. All this because he so fervently believes in peace. John visited Tulsa on Oct. 23 as part of his National Book Tour for his new autobiography, A Persistent Peace, at Hardesty Regional Library in Tulsa. John read from his book, gave an impassioned talk on the need for nonviolence in our world, took questions from the audience and then signed books. A reception hosted by Pax Christi of Eastern Oklahoma, the Catholic Peace Movement followed. On Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Hardesty Library will showed the film "The Narrow Path," a excellent 2007 documentary about John's life, as well as John's comments from this year's Hiroshima Day activities which I filmed while in Los Alamos.
Download a poster about John Dear's visit John Dear’s unflappable persistence in speaking and acting on behalf of peace stems from his life-changing decision in college to leave behind his frat-boy, party-all-night lifestyle and instead become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. In turn, that decision has, over many years, led him to live out the Beatitudes of the nonviolent Jesus in every dimension of his life rather than simply quote them when convenient from time to time. From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, Dear’s incredible story will touch anyone who believes in the power of peace. A Persistent Peace, John Dear’s autobiography, invites readers to follow the decades-long journey and spiritual growth of this nationally known peace activist, and to witness his bold, decisive, often unpopular actions before government officials, military higher-ups, and even hostile representatives of the Church. With heroes such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, it should come as no surprise that John’s activism has taken him to many places—including war zones—all over the world. Dear’s incredible story will touch anyone who believes in the power of peace. Perhaps most important of all, readers will come to understand through John that the most important disarmament of all is the one that happens inside each heart—when we finally let go of our own self-righteousness, resentment, and anger. To learn more about John Dear, visit his website, www.fatherjohndear.org To learn more about A Persistent Peace, including a video trailer, visit the special web site set up by Loyola Press, www.persistentpeace.org For more information on Fr. John's visit to Tulsa, contact John Kennington at 918-809-6325.   Fr. John Dear with Sharon & John Kennington in Abiquiu, New Mexico, August 2008

Jan Hoeberichts' Books Have Arrived!

If you prepaid for a book, please contact John Kennington (809-6325) to arrange for pickup.
If you would like to order a copy, you may do so below. They will be available through July 31.
(Please note that if also ordering a DVD, they need to be done as separate transactions)

	Francis and Islam. $15.00				Paradise Restored: The Social Ethics of Francis of Assisi: A Commentary on His "Salutation of the Virtues" $25.00

Cosponsored by
Pax Christi of Eastern Oklahoma
(the Catholic Peace Movement)
and
The Islamic Society of Tulsa

Dr. Jan Hoeberichts

lives in the Netherlands and will be presenting the keynote address at the 8th National Franciscan Forum is Colorado. His only other stop on his visit to the United States will be here in Tulsa. Dr. Hoeberichts studied philosophy and theology at Franciscan schools in the Netherlands and Italy, was a Lecturer in Moral Theology at the National Seminary in Pakistan from 1958-1986, and since has been a research scholar and author on Francis of Assisi and Islam. He has written two books Francis and Islam, published in 1994; and Paradise Restored: The Social Ethics of Francis of Assisi, published in 2004.

Copies of Dr. Hoeberichts’ book Francis and Islam will be available for purchase that evening.

For more information, call
918-809-6325
 

A Medieval 9/11 and
St. Francis' Reaction To It

Original flyer for this event

A lecture by Jan Hoeberichts, international scholar on St. Francis and author of the book Francis and Islam,” discussing Francis’ visit to the Muslim Sultan during the Crusades and its implications for the present dialogue between Muslims and Christians.

Saturday, June 14, 6:30 p.m.
Tulsa Islamic Center,
4630 S. Irvington, Tulsa
Click here for directions

A potluck dinner and optional tour of the mosque will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Lecture is free, though donations will be accepted

The Francis-and-Islam Connection
by Mary O’Shaughnessy of the Episcopal Diocese of New York

What is the connection between St. Francis of Assisi and Islam? In 1219, St. Francis traveled to what is now northern Egypt and paid a visit to the Muslim Sultan al-Malek al-Kamil. This was at the beginning of the Fifth Crusade, but Francis and his brothers did not make this trip as part of the battle to regain the Holy Land. Rather, they went in opposition to the mainstream theological and political orthodoxies of the time, to meet the Muslim people, and to live among them as “lesser brothers.”

Francis and his brothers went to be present among this people who were being portrayed as evil enemies of Christ, and, in his evangelism of presence, Francis found the spirit of God to be alive and at work within the Muslim people, then called “the Saracens”. Francis admired their public, repeated acknowledgment of God and call to prayer, and he appreciated the deep reverence they showed to their holy book, the Qur’an.

While the main trend of the time was for Christian preachers to deliver strident, inflammatory sermons against Islam, Francis forbade his brothers to take part in these exercises. He demanded that his brothers be present first and foremost, living with and among the Saracens. They were to preach only if they felt that it would “please the Lord.”

Francis worked to prevent the brotherhood from becoming embroiled in the grasp for civil and ecclesiastical offices and power, and kept the community’s focus on serving their neighbors for the glory of God only.

Based on Francis and Islam by J. Hoeberichts (Franciscan Press, 1997)

Additional Resources

Francis’ understanding of mission: Jan Hoeberichts

Christianity and Islam in Historical Perspective: A Christian’s View

To go among the Saracens: a Franciscan composer's journey into the House of Islam

The Eighth National Franciscan Forum
 

About Us

We are a community of Pax Christi USA members and other friends who meet on a regular basis to pray, study and act for peace with justice. We embrace the Pax Christi USA statement of purpose and priorities.

Our Diocesan Pax Christi community meets from noon to 1:00 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Church of the Madalene. We are currently studying Bishop Slattery's Pastoral Letter on Immigration.

Please contact John Kennington, 809-6325 or Fr. Richard Bradley, 272-3080 for more information.

We also sponsor other events, such as the Hidden Costs of War photo exhibit and an ongoing poster exhibit commemorating the 60th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This exhibit reminds us about of the events of 60 years ago in the hope they are never again repeated, and we can live in a world at peace, free from the fear of all such weapons and violence. These posters show the cataclysmic damage caused by a nuclear weapon.

In 2004 we presented a workshop, "The Challenge of Faithful Citizenship...The Body of Christ at Work," presenting the Bishops' vision for how Catholics can participate in the political process, along with follow-up workshops at several parishes.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Poster Exhibit

Click here for more information about the poster exhibit we have organized to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki 60 Years Later: Catholic Voices

 Click here to view the bulletin insert distributed in the Diocese of Tulsa the weekend of August 6/7, the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima

About Pax Christi USA

Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation.

Pax Christi USA commits itself to peace education and, with the help of its bishop members, promotes the gospel imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the Catholic Church in the United States. Through the efforts of all its members and in cooperation with other groups, Pax Christi USA works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Pax Christi is a section of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace movement.

Pax Christi USA Priority Areas

Spirituality of Nonviolence and Peacemaking:
Pax Christi USA promotes Christian nonviolence on the personal, communal, national and international levels. Believing in the gospel call to conversion as found in the Beatitudes, Pax Christi USA denounces and resists the evils of violence while striving to reflect the Peace of Christ.

Disarmament, Demilitarization and Reconciliation with Justice:
Pax Christi USA members promote nuclear, conventional and domestic disarmament, an end to the international arms trade, economic conversion to a non-military economy, conscientious objection, and nonviolent alternatives to war. Pax Christi USA promotes the just reconciliation of enemies through the United Nations and other channels.

Economic and Interracial Justice in the United States:
Pax Christi USA joins the struggle against economic injustice, militarism, and environmental destruction which are particularly harmful to those who are poor, minorities, children, and women. Pax Christi USA works toward eliminating racist structures in the Catholic Church and the country, working toward equality of all people.

Human Rights and Global Restoration:
Pax Christi USA promotes universal human rights, both at home and abroad, through solidarity with oppressed and marginalized people struggling for dignity. Pax Christi USA rejects every form of political and economic domination over others and fosters a reverence for all creation.