Recent Events

FrancisFest 2009: Pathways to Peace – A Review

The Lexington-based Franciscan Peace Center, in conjunction with Clinton Franciscans (Iowa), CKCPJ "Voices for Peace and Justice", One World Films, UK Newman Foundation, and The Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass, celebrated its 5th annual FrancisFest with a 5-event Pathways to Peace series that embodied a variety of genres: live theatre, documentary film, dance, live presentations and discussions.

On October 1 a production of Still Point Theatre Collective in Chicago , Illinois was held at the Newman Center in Lexington . Strong Women is a dramatization of the experiences of women who have been incarcerated in Cook County Illinois Jail. The perspectives presented are the creative and poetic expression of these women...how they felt about being in jail, missing their children, and expectations of what would happen upon their release.

October 2 featured a film documentary at the Lexington Public Library Theatre entitled Pray the Devil Back to Hell. While conflict and disagreement among people of different faiths often dominate world headlines, this 60 min. film documentary details the success of an unlikely interfaith alliance between Muslim and Christian women in resolving the Liberian conflict via nonviolent and peaceful protest. Their work led to the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Africa 's first elected female head of state.

(NOTE: this documentary film is available for checkout at the Lexington Public Library).

At the Unitarian Universalist Church on October 3, people gathered for an afternoon of Dances of Universal Peace facilitated by Fran Belvin and accompanied by guitarist Nathan Wilson and drummer Jerry Moody. Building on the work begun by Samuel L. Lewis in the 1960s, the Dances promote peace and integration within individuals and understanding and connection within groups worldwide. The Dances are simple, joyous, multi-cultural circle dances for all ages. Samuel Lewis believed that when people "eat, dance and pray together", the world finds peace.

In the evening of October 3 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, a film was shown on the life of Francis of Assisi entitled Reluctant Saint. Here is a Francis who transcends the cherished image of the peaceful lover of nature, the legend of a man who lived in a world much like our own, filled with violence and upheaval. Filmed entirely on location in Italy , this 60 min. production offers new insights into a life that has engaged the hearts and minds of millions over the centuries.

The culminating event held on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, began with a PBS documentary entitled Beyond Our Differences. The film shows how people of different faiths can work together to solve critical global problems.

(NOTE: this documentary film is available for checkout at the Lexington Public Library).

Creating Spiritual Paths to Peace, a presentation by Rev. Bob Silvanik, followed the film and explored ideas and plans for peace-action via Interfaith Spiritual Communities. The core premise of his presentation is that peace is far too important an undertaking to be left to worldly institutions.

Finally, the Charter for Compassion, a project by Karen Armstrong, was introduced and a follow-up gathering for its unveiling scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2:00 PM at the Lexington Public Library, Conference Room A.

Dances of Universal Peace

"Revolution of the Heart:

The Spiritual Journey of Dorothy Day"

Catholic Action Center :

A Lexington House of Hospitality

Thursday, September 10, 2009 , 7:00 pm .

UK Newman Center , 320 Rose Lane , Lexington

The Lexington-based Franciscan Peace Center and UK Newman Center Student Ministry are offering an opportunity to learn more about Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, and our local Catholic Action Center , based on the Catholic Worker movement, on September 10 at the UK Newman Center.

"Revolution of the Heart: The Spiritual Journey of Dorothy Day" is a monologue performed by Mary Alice Pratt, Coordinator of Social Justice Ministry at Newman Center . It traces the spiritual journey of Day by means of Day's own writings.

As a Donovan scholar, Mary Alice Pratt attended Lexington Theological Seminary, graduating in 2004. She had always been interested in drama and, looking for lighter study after several years of intense study of theology, she began Donovan classes as an acting student. A long time admirer of Dorothy Day, she began developing a monologue telling the story of Dorothy's journey to the Catholic Worker. She first performed the monologue at Lexington Theological Seminary and later at several churches. The monologue, Mary Alice says, is always a work in progress.

Ginny Ramsey, Co-Director of the Catholic Action Center (CAC), a service organization based on the Catholic Worker movement, will present the plethora of service-related opportunities that abound at CAC -- from feeding the hungry to growing God's Garden and tending to God’s worms!

Founded in June, 2000, CAC is a house of hospitality that welcomes all who are in need. It is a faith based outreach of volunteers who strive to provide all guests a welcoming place to receive their basic needs with dignity. Three meals a day, shower and restroom facilities, mail receipt, a telephone, clean clothing and a place to gather are all a part of the hospitality offered. Daily prayer services are held for those who hunger spiritually.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Catholic Action Center . If you would like to get involved in any way, Ginny will gladly take your name on September 10.

Here is an opportunity to put your faith into action by helping our brothers and sisters in need.

A Giant Thank You!

Flaget Nally and the Giant Steps Team wish to thank all who participated, donated or helped in any way to make the Lexington fundraiser GIANT STEPS for African Girls a huge success!

On April 26th, 2009 over 160 walkers/runners completed the 3K course around the UK football stadium and Greg Page apartments on a sunny 80 degree day! Strollers and four-legged pets of all sizes mixed with the group of people making it a community affair!

Total amount raised: $15,003.39

Our total amount raised now nears $100,000
of our $800,000 goal!

Phase 1 (of an 8 phase project) to build a girls' boarding school in Bukoba, Tanzania EAST AFRICA is well on its way to being completed! This includes the purchase of 7 acres of land and a facility that will act as home for the 1st nursery school.

If you or someone you know wishes to make a tax-deductible contribution to this project, please visit the website at www.EducateAfricanGirls.org and click on the "support" link.

THANK YOU!

Most women of this generation in Tanzania have not learned to read or write:

With your help, this generation of girls will read, write, and much more!

Flaget S. Nally
U.S.A. Liaison
Giant Steps for African Girls
www.educateafricangirls.org
P.O. Box 21813
Lexington , KY 40522-1813
502-510-6440

Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words. Francis of Assisi

FrancisFest 2008: making peace, mending seams

The Lexington, Kentucky-based Franciscan Peace Center , in conjunction with Open Ground and other activist groups, hosted its fourth annual October event on Sunday, October 5, 2008 . FrancisFest 2008: making peace, mending seams was held in the Performance Hall of ArtsPlace and was free and open to all.

FrancisFest, an active, peace education event for all ages, demonstrated that even when things are broken, it is possible to create something new from the broken pieces. Components of the day included:

1) Storytelling: on being aware of the mending seam between people, communities, towns, countries. S. Hilary Mullany (a.k.a. Hilary Clinton – as she was introduced by Pat Griffin) made the trip from Clinton , Iowa to Lexington to share her adaptation of Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio story. A drummer was on hand to set the mood, and two volunteer actors mimed Lady Jacobi and Francis. The “stage” was surrounded by artificial trees representing the woods surrounding the town of Gubio .

Don Boklage of Open Ground shared a Native American learning story called “Who Speaks for Wolf” that tells of Wolf as being sacred and a great teacher of truth in action. The ancestors of Oneida once chose a new place to live that housed a great community of Wolf but the people did not wish to leave. So they devised a way of limiting their impact: in all of their decisions, they would ask, “Who speaks for Wolf?” and the interests of the non-human world would be considered.

2) "Making peace thru piece-building art": an exhibition of 51 pieces from K-12 youth made entirely from broken pieces, framed the spacious Performance Hall.

3) Cooperative games for all ages: on learning how to have fun working and cooperating with one another in order to succeed was facilitated by Don Boklage of Open Ground and apprentices. One participant (and our face-painter), a mother with her three children, was delighted to play the games from her native country in South America, where people aren’t afraid to touch one another and work together for the good of all.

This day of cooperative games, storytelling and visual arts was born within a growing network of people consciously working for peace in their own lives, those of their families, and the world as a whole. Its impact planted seeds of meaningful relationships, conflict resolution, peacemaking and the joy of Francis!

The Franciscan Peace Center is a nonprofit Kentucky corporation established in 2005 by its “Keepers of the Flame” and members of the Clinton Franciscan Family: Jeanette Watkins, Mary Anne Enoch, Pat Fogle, Eileen Golby, Pat Griffin.