Healing the wounds of violence through faith
Healing the wounds of violence through faith, the overall theme of this year's Lenten supper/discussion series, Peace Soup, will be the topic of discussion when the March 19th session convenes at 6:00 p.m. in St. Boniface Hall, Clinton, The series, sponsored by Prince of Peace Parish Pax Christi and the Clinton Franciscan Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking, is free and open to the public.
Clinton Franciscan Sister Eileen Golby will lead the discussion which will feature a presentation by Todd & Shelley Seifert of DeWitt.
Sister Eileen, a newly elected member of the Sisters of St. Francis General Leadership Team, served for 16 years as a pastoral associate at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lexington, Ky., before moving to Clinton this summer following her election to leadership. A new member to the Pax Christi planning committee, Sister Eileen is not new to healing the wounds of violence through faith, having worked with victims of violence for many years.
She will be joined by the Seifert's who will share their personal story of how they have helped heal the wounds of violence through faith. Their own struggles have led them to a deeper trust in God and the gift of forgiveness as they .have overcome the effects of violence in their own lives. They will offer examples of how people of faith can respond to violence and how faith communities can be sanctuaries of trust, safety and guidance. They will address the use of prayer to foster hope and to support victims as well as suggesting ways to cultivate a culture of peace throughout one's community.
Peace Soup, now in its seventh year, includes a free soup and bread supper, which begins at 6 pm and is followed by the open discussion. "We welcome all our neighbors to join us," said Gabriela Egging, coordinator of the series. There is no registration required.
This year's series will conclude on Tuesday, March 26, with a presentation by former Iowa State Senator Maggie Tinsman, Davenport, on Human Trafficking, the largest and fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. As State Senator, Tinsman introduced what became Iowa's anti-human trafficking law, one of the first in the nation. Originally scheduled for last month, her presentation had to be postponed due to a snowstorm.
Details on the 2013 Peace Soup series are available at www.jcpop.org and at www.clintonfranciscans.com or by calling Prince of Peace Parish at 563-242-3311 or Sisters of St. Francis, 563-242-7611.
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