The Challenge of Peace in the 21st Century:

Stonehill College Sponsors Provocative Interfaith Series

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

There’s a lot going on south of Boston in the name of peace, social justice and communication. At Stonehill College’s Joseph W. Martin, Jr. Institute, a free, public lecture and performance series combines an ambitious and broad-ranging agenda with notable speakers and inspirational, reflective exhibitions to promote awareness of these lofty aims.

In addition to “The Challenge of Peace in the 21st Century” lecture series, Stonehill's Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee is sponsoring a March 19 lecture in the Martin Institute Auditorium by Rev. John T. Pawlikowski O.S.M., Professor of Social Ethics at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, who will speak on "Righteous Gentiles and the Rescue of European Jews During the Holocaust." The Committee is also presenting an exhibit entitled "October 1943: Rescue of Danish Jews from Annihilation", sponsored by the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Museum of Danish Resistance, which will run concurrently, from March 18-27.

Founded in 1993 by James Kenneally, currently Professor Emeritus of History, and funded in part by the Dr. and Mrs. William Winick Symposium on Catholic-Jewish Relations, “it is a very active Committee,” says Martin Institute Program Coordinator Donna L. Benoit. “Its purpose,” she says, “is to promote understanding; foster mutual appreciation and respect; disseminate proper and accurate information in teaching about each other’s faith; and encourage sensitivity toward one another's traditions and beliefs.”

“The Committee strives to promote interfaith dialogue between Catholicism and Judaism, both at Stonehill and in its surrounding communities,” says Rev. Kevin Spicer, C.S.C., Assistant Professor of History. “Membership consists of clergy and laity of both traditions. We have sponsored Holocaust memorial services, lectures by noted scholars on historical and theological issues, Poster Contests for neighboring schools to promote Holocaust education, and an ongoing luncheon lecture series for Jewish and Catholic clergy.”

Rev. Pawlikowski, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has studied at the College of Jewish Studies, “has written extensively on Catholic Jewish relations and on the Holocaust,” says Benoit. “He is a member of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Advisory Council on Catholic Jewish Relations and the Executive Committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, and is Vice-President of the International Council of Christians and Jews.”

"Our Committee is delighted that Fr. Pawlikowski will be able to share his years of experience in Jewish-Catholic relations with us,” says Fr. Spicer.

“The exhibit,” says Fr. Spicer, “will show how the Dutch made a difference by rejecting Nazi ideology and endeavoring to save the lives of their fellow Jewish citizens. It will be accompanied,” he adds, “by a book exhibition relating to the Holocaust. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Photo Archives has graciously allowed us to use public domain photos for these posters to advertise the exhibit.

“It is my hope that both the Stonehill and surrounding communities will visit this historical exhibit to learn how faith and love can conquer prejudice and hatred."

Committee members are Joseph Chadajo; Rev. Francis Cloherty; Rev. Msgr. George Coleman, V.G.; Rev. John Denning, C.S.C.; Rabbi Milton Feierstein; Rabbi Daniel L. Kaplan; Prof. James Kenneally; Rabbi Michele Lenke; Prof. Jane Nash; Sr. Jane E. O'Connell, S.C.N.; Patricia Pasternak; Prof. Annie Puciloski; Rev. Kevin Spicer, C.S.C.; and Rabbi H. David Werb.

Challenge of Peace lecture series events included Jan. 29th’s “The Power of the Media in Promoting or Inhibiting Peace,” with co-founder of The Joiner Center at UMass-Boston and Veterans for Peace activist Prof. Paul Atwood, and Feb. 5th’s “The Legacy of Ghandi and King” with Minister and Director of the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at the University of R.I. Bernard LaFayette, Jr.

Upcoming talks include Feb. 12’s “Globalization and World Economy” with Mike Prokosch, Co-editor of The Global Activists Handbook, “Children and Violence” on Feb. 19 with Regis College Sociology Dept. Chair Kathleen Kautzer, Robin Casarjian, Dir. of The Lionheart Foundation and the National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners on Feb. 26, and “Compassionate Living” with the movie “The Witness” with Mary Margaret Earle of the Boston University Divinity School on March 5.

Elise Boulding, Professor Emeritus of Dartmouth College, will show the film “Stonewalk,” on unknown civilians killed in war, on March 19. March 26 features Sayra Pinco Roca of Restorative Justice, Dr. Young Hoon Kwaak of World Citizens Organization and Shaheen Akir of the Islamic Center of Wayland; April 2, Joanne Sheehan of the War Resisters League and Pat McSweeney and Pax Christi of the American Friends Service Committee speak. On April 16, social and political humorist and commentator Jimmy Tingle hits the stage with “Peace, A Personal Journey” and finally, on April 23, the Bread and Puppet Theater will perform their brand of socially conscious theater.