FAITH AND  RESISTANCE RETREAT

AUGUST 5-9, 1998

 

Not to Us, O God, not us but  to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?"
Our God is in is heaven; she does what pleases her. 
But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but  they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;  they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Their makers will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. (Ps.115:1- 8)   

 

 

 From mutant fogs, contaminated oceans, rivers and lakes, 40 % reduction of forests, to radical birth defects, epidemics of AIDS and Cancer, the weight of the evidence of disfigurement is a pit of chaos garroting our souls
- cities out of air and we cannot breathe
- concrete deserts out of earth and we cannot grow
- passions of flesh out of fire and we cannot love
- thirsty rivers out of water and we cannot drink

 

As they prepared to act at the Air Show and Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, May 17, 1998, the Gods of Metal Plowshares were overwhelmed by the literal idolatry of weapons of  mass destruction that Psalm 115 describes: "Their makers shall be like them . . . mouths that can not speak; eyes that do not see; ears that do not hear; hands that do not feel . . ."  The disease that afflicts those who make and worship the idols .

 

But the disease also afflicts those whom the idols threaten. It was eight years age, August 6, that the UN Security Council imposed sanctions against the people of Iraq, sanctions that, to this day, continue to take the lives of 5,000 children every month. Eight years ago it seemed a horror to us; today we know it for the horror that it is .                                                

 

As we prepare to commemorate the 53rd anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we are reflecting on the Transfiguration of Jesus, a harbinger and invitation (or more) to our own transfiguration, to our own growth into the image of the human for which we are created.  We are inspired by Bishop Maurice Dingman's questions:       What dose Tabor (the mountain of the transfiguration) say to Hiroshima?"  "How can we achieve transfiguration rather than disfiguration?

 

It is the road to transfiguration that we seek to explore more deeply in prayer, reflection, community building, and raising a public voice in direct action against the cycle of violence drawing all, like a black hole, into its spiraling darkness.    

 

Join us if you can, for these days of reflection-action-reflection and let us make our voices heard.  We gather August 5 at Holy Name School and join the candle float at the reflecting pool.  We'll be together through the afternoon of August 9.  We will be present in those days at the Pentagon, the Department of Energy, the White House, and we'll be sharing with people who are seeking transfiguration in their own lives.

 

For more information, contact
 Jonah House-1301 Moreland Ave, Baltimore MD 21216 -410-233-6238
 Dorothy Day Catholic Worker - 503 Rock Creek Church Rd NW, Washington DC 20010
 202-882-9649

 

 

PROPOSED SCHEDULE F0R FAlTH AND RESISTANCE               RETREAT  AUGUST 5 ‑ 9, 1998

 

                 

 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST  5

 

up to 5:00 p.m.   Arrive at Holy Name School and get a quick bit of supper
6:45 p.m.    Depart for the Reflecting Pool
7:00 ‑ 9:00 p.m.   Candle Float Ceremony at the Reflect­ing Pool
9:30 p.m . at Holy Name,   Introductions and Logistics, Review of Schedule, Night Prayer

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

 

7:00-8:00 a.m.   Breakfast and Clean‑up
8:30   For Morning Prayer ‑ the video "Hiroshima/Nagasaki" Presentation of Theme of Retreat ‑ Mary Grace
9:30‑10   Break
10-12    Planning Session for Pentagon Witness ‑ Ardeth Platte, Carol Gilbert, and Kathy Shields (Weapons' Inspection Teams at entrances)
12:00 noon    Lunch and Clean-up   Some may need small group work before and/or af­ter lunch
3:00 p.m.    Depart for Pentagon
3:30 ‑ 5:00 p.m.   Pentagon Witness
6:30 p.m.     Supper and Clean-up
8:00 ‑ 9:30 p.m.   Presentation by Eric Gustavson
9:30 ‑ 9:45 p.m.   Short Break
9:45 ‑ 10:00 p.m.  Brief Overview of plans for the DOE for Friday by Reba and Scott Mathern-Jacobson
10:00 p.m.     Night Prayer

FRIDAY, AUGUST  7

 

7:00 ‑ 8:00 a.m.    Breakfast and Clean-up
8:30     Morning Prayer-- Planning Session for DOE presence ‑ Reba and Scott (Weapons Inspection Teams at entrances)
10:30 ‑ 11:30        Pack bag lunches ‑ Break
noon    Meet at DOE for presence until 1:00
I ‑ 6:00 p.m.   Free Time
6:00 p.m.   Supper (with Hibakusha) and Clean up

7:30 ‑ 9:00 p.m.    Hibakusha presentation
9:00 ‑ 9:15 p.m.    Short Break
9:15 ‑ 9:30 p.m.    Brief Overview of plans for the White House with Art Laffin, Jerry Berrigan and Ben McMullan

9:30 p.m.      Prayer ‑ Cosmic Walk

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

 

7:00 ‑ 8:00 a.m.    Breakfast and Clean ‑ up

8:30     Morning  Prayer,   Planning Session for White House Presence ‑ Art Laffin, Jerry Berrigan, and Ben McMullan
10:30    Pack bag lunches ‑ Break
11:30    Depart for White House
noon ‑ I    White House Presence
I:00 ‑ 4:30     Free Time
5:00 ‑ 6:00 p.m.    Planning for Presence at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception ‑ Liz McAlister and Coretta Warren
6:00 p.m.    Supper and Clean up
8:00 ‑ 9:30 p.m.   Presentation by Jen Kipka, Kristin Betts, and Molly Mechtenberg
10:00 p.m.    Night Prayer

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

 

7:30 ‑ 8:00 a.m.    Breakfast and Clean ‑ up
8:00 ‑ 9:30 a.m.   Overall Clean up and Pack up ‑ pack lunches if they are needed for travel etc .
10:00 a.m.    Review scenario for the presence at the Shrine  -- Overall evaluation of retreat -- Depart for the Shrine
12:15 p.m.    Closing circle on the grounds of Catholic University
Evaluate the action ‑ Eucharist ‑ Sending Forth