The 2010 Season of Peace

Schedule of Events

"The Courage to Talk Rather than to Fight,"
Oct. 4, 3:00 p.m. UIW Library Auditorium

Starting in 1096 thousands of western Christian Crusaders and Muslims killed each other. August 19, 1219, the Christian Francis of Assisi, courageously walked through the battlefields strewn with corpses to the camp of the Egyptian Sultan al-Kamil who did not kill this western intruder. They had several days of dialogue about their religions. They seemed to have come to respect each other, allowed differences, and parted on good terms with the Sultan giving Francis a gift. Fighting continued, but eventually Christians did get their goal to inhabit Jerusalem in 1229. This was not won through a military victory, but through Francis' dialogue partner the Sultan al-Kamil entering into an agreement.

See a video and join in a Muslim-Christian Dialogue on our campus with Rolla Alaydi, MA, and Jessica Motawea, who is organizing the Muslim Students Association, and the students of the UIW "Prayer and Spirituality" class.

“Prayer for the Protection of Creation on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a Blessing of the Animals”
5:30 p.m. at the Grotto

Bring your animals, live and stuffed, to UIW’s Blessing of the Animals. Information on the Headwaters Project, the UIW nature sanctuary will be available. www.headwaters-iw.org. The blessing of the Animals is hosted by the Arts for Christian Worship Class and Campus Ministry.

“Partnerships Making a Difference: A New Business Ethic.”
Oct. 7 , 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room
Join Women's Global Connection and hear Phil Smith, author of A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking and the Business Solution for Ending Poverty and join in a Skype conversation with WGC partners in Tanzania.

“The Poor in Matthew's Gospel”
Oct. 11 , 1:30 p.m., Marian Hall Ballroom
Presenter: Dr. Tim Milinovich
In the Gospel of Matthew, the on-going call to discipleship revolves around recognizing Jesus as Christ and the Son of God, as well as living according to Christ’s commands. How then are disciples called to live in a world with poverty in injustice? This talk will focus on the importance of justice and the poor in Matthew’s Gospel and the responsibility of believing disciples both then and now.

Peace Season Movie Night
6 – 8 p.m., Special Collections Room at the UIW Library
Presenter: Dr. Noah Kasraie

“Peace: Research & Education”
Oct. 19 , 6-7 p.m., Library Auditorium
Presenters: Dr. Noah Kasraie, Osman Ozturgut, Dr. Mary Ruth Moore, Dr. Shishu Zhang

2010 PLAY DAY FOR PEACE
Oct. 20, 9 – 10:45 a.m.
The lawn by Dubuis Hall (in case of rain the Wellness Center) Children from several San Antonio Schools will participate at UIW in activities that promote peaceful play. Play Day for Peace is hosted by students of the UIW Dreeben School of Education under the direction of Dr. Mary Ruth Moore, an international leader in the value of play in children’s education.

“Play is the purest, most spiritual activity of the child at this stage…It gives joy, freedom, and peace with the world.” -Friedrich Froebel, 1826, Education of Man

“Our God-Drenched Universe: Science and Sacrament in a Changing World”
3 p.m. UIW Library Auditorium, Sister Linda Gibler Ph.D.
Drawing from the 14 billion-year history of the natural objects used in Catholic sacraments, Dr. Gibler will discuss some of the most pressing concerns about science and religion and demonstrate how they enhance each other in a changing world. Overwhelmed by the first Hubble Deep Field picture, Linda, a Dominican Sister of Houston, became enchanted with the magnificence of the Universe and intrigued by the image’s significance for a Catholic understanding of God.   Her new book, From the Beginning to Baptism: Scientific and Sacred Stories of Water, Oil, and Fire was released this Spring by Liturgical Press.

“Systems of Belief” Research
Oct. 21, 6-7 p.m. Special Collections Room at the UIW Library
Presenters: Dr. Noah Kasraie; Dr. Osman Ozturugut; Tere Sresner-Salinas and Ada Gonzales of Women's Global Connection; Father Alejandro De Jesus, Honors Program Students who participated in the Social Justice and Service Trip to El Paso.

“The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity, An Illustrated 10th Century Iraqi Ecological Fable Relevant Today"
Oct 25 , 12 p.m. Marian Hall Ballroom. Bring your lunch, drinks provided.
Members of the Tri-faith Dialogue Group, Barbara Caroline Slavin, an attorney, Narjis Pierre, Leader of the San Antonio Muslim Women’s Association, and Sylvia Maddox, a UIW teacher of Prayer and Spirituality will lead a discussion of The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity. This is a Sufi work of 10th century Iraq. It was later translated into Hebrew by Rabbi Kalonymus, and then rendered into Latin for a Christian king. It is now translated from the popular Hebrew version of the Jews into English. Edited by a Christian and illustrated exquisitely by a Muslim woman from India under the patronage of a Saudi princess, this is a true interfaith and multi-cultural title!

“Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing”
Oct. 26, 9 a.m. Library Auditorium
The Journey of Hope is an anti-death penalty group made up of murder victims’ family members and the family members of those on death row. There are people who know firsthand the pain of violence. They will “tell” their stories and urge us to consider alternatives to the death penalty. Hosted by Dr. Roger Barnes

"Understanding and Coping with Severe Stress"
10:30 a.m. Library Auditorium
by Jean Souza, MS, LPC, LMFT, counselor and internationally respected consultant and team builder.
Souza works extensively with first-responders, police, fire fighters, and military who have gone through traumatic experiences (such as shootings, rescues, disaster recoveries, war). Not only those who have undergone severe stress, but also family and friends need to understand some of the dynamic in order to move forward.
http://www.jeansouzacounseling.com/ Sponsored by the Student Veteran’s Association

“Water, Justice and the Environment”
12 p.m. Library Special Collections Room
Speaker: Bill Powers, Library Auditorium
Author of three books (Recent "12 by 12”) and many articles, Mr. Powers brings his experience of CRS in Bolivia, Liberia and in many NGO's to discuss the timely problems of water and the environment and its relation to justice.

“CRS Involvement in the Sudan”
1:30 p.m. Library Special Collections Room
Presenter: Carla Aguilar
After nearly four decades of violent civil war, the Sudanese have all but lost their traditions on how to settle disagreements peacefully. If they can revive their customary ways of settling disputes over land, resources and access to water—or we can help them pursue innovative, nonviolent methods of resolving conflict—we can work together to bring peace to Sudan. At CRS, we have been working feverishly to inform and educate, and to remove obstacles to peace. In areas where people are fighting over water, CRS builds a well. Where tribal groups disagree about land boundaries, CRS brings the sides together to talk it over civilly and come to an agreement. When false yet inflammatory information has the potential to spark violence, CRS empowers a radio station to get the facts out, even promoting radio dramas that demonstrate how people can resolve conflicts.

These activities are what we call peacebuilding. Although the solutions come in many forms, we are committed to working as fast as we can to reach as many Sudanese as possible.

“Tai chi standing movement and meditation”
6:00 pm. – 7:15 p.m. Ballet Studio HIT Building 3rd Floor. Presenter: Mary Martha McNeel
Provides deep sense of inner peace. Come experience focusing the mind while doing slow meditative movements.

Peace Day 2010: Collaboration and Solidarity in Union with Peace
Oct. 27 , 8 a.m. Starting Ceremony Marian Hall Ballroom
Opening Ceremonies for Peace Day, a prayer service designed and put together by the UIW University Mission and Ministry Peer Ministers based on the theme, "Collaboration and Solidarity in Union with Peace." What binds us together is stronger than the differences that keep us apart. Come and join us as we celebrate in praise the ties that bind us and in prayer for all the initiatives of Peace that will be taking place here at UIW and across the world.

9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Jordan Plaza (Marian Hall if rain) EXHIBITS – Non-profit and Community Service Groups and Agencies building peace through justice and service. Opportunities to sign up for community service.

“Dialogue + Listening = Understanding”
9:00 – 10:15 am: Library Auditorium
Simone A. Brown, who teaches World Religions at UIW, will lead a discussion with guest speakers from Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. They will give examples of how understanding and listening can lead to a richer personal life and good dialogue when attempted. This presentation covers the importance of understanding major faiths in dialogue.

“Beat Aids”
10:30 -11:45 a.m. Marian Hall Ballroom
BEAT AIDS is one of several agencies in San Antonio that works in the community to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and services. HIV/AIDS continues to be an area in our society that is still taboo. This presentation will cover promoting change through education, change in peoples’ attitudes, change when there are attitudes of judgment and hate, change in emotional and social attitude of those infected with HIV feel they having to keep it a big secret, and promote sharing of stores with family living with HIV/AIDS. Hosted by Rev. Trevor Alexander.

“Oxfam: Economic Justice”
12 pm: Marian Hall Ballroom
Presenter: Michael Hernandez
FREE LUNCH. The Student Dietetics Association is generously preparing food. (If you are bringing a whole class, please give the number coming to kirk@uiwtx.edu or 829-3854 so that enough food can be prepared.)

Oxfam: Economic Justice Oxfam was founded by Oxford University students when they were concerned about famine in the world. This organization is one of the most significant assisting and education throughout the world. UIW student Michael Hernandez participated in their national organization training this summer.

Can you define poverty? A presentation about poor women and men wanting a choice in the way the world manages land, water and climate change, so that they can grow or buy enough food to eat—now and in the future.

Peace Poster Competition Award Ceremony
1 – 1:15 p.m. Marian Hall Ballroom

Freedom Challenge 2010
1:15 pm Marian Hall Ballroom UIW administrators, paired with student leaders led by Student Government President Stephen Lucke, will tour campus in wheelchairs, departing from and returning to the Marjorie Jordan Carillon Plaza. Sponsored by Walk, Roll & Read student organization as part of Disabilities Awareness Month

“Peace Building in Iraq”
1:30-2:45 pm: Marian Hall Ballroom Presenter: Sister Martha Ann Kirk
Stories from a research trip last summer focused on how schools and hospitals started by Muslims inspired by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish religious leader have contributed to increasing stability and peace.

“2010 WGC: Immersion Trip: Experiences and Reflections from Bukoba, Tanzania”
Presenters: Michael Guiry, Tere Dresner-Salinas

Dr. Michael Guiry, Associate Professor of Marketing and Tere Dresner-Salinas, Executive Director of Women’s Global Connection and UIW PhD Candidate in Organizational Leadership will provide an overview of Women’s Global Connection (WGC) and the purpose of WGC Immersion trips. The presentation will focus on the volunteer work done by Dr. Michael Guiry and Tere Dresner Salinas, during this summer’s Immersion Trip to Bukoba, Tanzania, to help foster women's leadership and community development.

4:30 Peace Walk
Oct. 27, 4:30 pm. Beginning in Marian Hall Ballroom.
Walk and talk with international faculty, students and friends, including Dr. Noah Kasraie, Dr. Osman Ozturgut, Ala Al-Ahmed, Kuan Chen, and Tahseen who bring wisdom to our campus. UIW may be the only place in the world that has plants from the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam together with citations. Visit the small Holy Land Garden and consider how the Creator invites all of us to work together to protect the earth. Reflect at the UIW Peace Pole monument, which is part of the movement started in Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped. In 200 countries, over 200,000 Poles with "May Peace Prevail on Earth" are centers for people to reflect how they can "Be the peace, you want to see," as Mahatma Gandhi said.

Taizé Prayer for Peace
6 p.m. - 7p.m., Our Lady’s Chapel
During World War II in an effort to build reconciliation, a group offered hospitality and peaceful music and prayer in a small village Taizé, France. Today thousands of young people from all over the world camp out there and build bonds of unity. The Taizé movement and chants have spread around the world both helping people find the inner peace which leads to building peace in the world and helping the disadvantaged. Led by Campus Ministry and the "Arts for Christian Worship" class.

“Yoga”
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. HIT building ballet studio (3rd floor)
Come experience inner peace thru gentle-wellness yoga. Slow meditative movement and combined with breath provides a deep sense of inner peace.

Peace and Justice Poster Contest with prizes.

"If I Had a Trillion Dollars" Video Contest
Persons between 13 and 23 are invited to submit 1 to 3 minutes videos exploring the ways they would spend $1 trillion for their families, their schools or their communities. After the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan reached $1 trillion, The American Friends Service Committee and National Priorities Project initiated this contest. Information to enter at https://afsc.org/action/if-i-had-trillion-dollars-youth-video-contest

Any entries from students of UIW, IWHS, or SACHS will be shown in a film festival at UIW sometime after the contest closes Nov. 30. For information, contact kirk@uiwtx.edu.

For information, please call Campus Ministry at the University of the Incarnate Word, 829-3128. All events are free and open to the public.

We are grateful to the organizers of the 2010 Season of Justice and Peace including:

• Blanca E. Morales, Program Coordinator
• Zachary Murray, UIW Mission and Ministry
• Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Ala Al-Ahmed, Rolla and Randa Alaydi, Anna-Alizette Ruiz, Trevor Alexander, Roger Barnes, Simone Brown, Leonie Bruner, Kuan Chen, Miguel Cortinas, Rachel Cywinski, Father Alejandro De Jesus, Ashley Festa, Lena Gokelman, Michael Guiry, Glenn James, Troy Knickerbocker, Jean Loden, Stephen Lucke, Sister Walter Maher, Mary Ruth Moore, Michael Hernandez, Noah Kasraie, Sylvia Maddox, Mary Martha McNeel, Timothy Milinovich, Osman Ozturgut, Stephen Reyna, Tere Dresner-Salinas, Sophia Suarez, Kathy Vargas, Jose L. Vasquez, Beth Villarreal, Shishu Zhang