Voices

Comments by Iona College students: Class on Sustainability and Community, after a weekend at Agape with Professor Meryl Nadel “I thought the trip removed the classroom atmosphere to the real world.”  “The location was really beautiful and helped relieve some stress.” “A close knit community within a short amount of time–in one house, relating to one goal, the same work around the grounds.  Mutuality, a key for a strong community.” “The untouchable power that we hold. …Millennials are more fearless and able to create change.  I agree.” “A walk to the reservoir in complete silence and staring at the water.  One of the leaders began to sing: ‘water heals my body; water heals my soul.’  I will never have such a unique experience again in my life.” “The untouchable power that we hold. … millennials are more fearless and able to create change.  I agree. “A walk to the reservoir in complete silence, stopping and staring at the water.  One of the leaders began to sing ‘water heals my body, water heals my soul.’   I will never have such a unique experience again in my life.”
Michael True, Professor Emeritus, Assumption College, author of countless books on nonviolence, a faithful and devoted friend to Agape over the years (keynote speaker and facilitator at Agape’s opening in 1989) is coping in his 80s with serious health issues.  Still, Mike manages to pen letters of support: “Congratulations on the 20 year goal of completing solar energy for Brigid and Francis houses. I think of you often and say prayers for you every day.” Please join your prayers with ours for Mike.
Pat Ferrone, among Mass Peace Action arrests at Hanscom Air Force Base, Memorial Day Weekend writes in excerpt from a letter to the editor published in the Dedham Times:  “After A four mile walk from Lexington Center to Hanscom led by monks from the New England Peace Pagoda, alongside Veterans for Peace, six activists crossed a line of trespass, resulting in dismissal.  Hanscom has a 1.2 billion dollar nuclear enterprise budget.”
Daniel Marshall, long-time Catholic Worker, peace activist and graduate of The College of the Holy Cross (’62) writes to its current president,  Fr. Philip Boroughs SJ and to The Board of Trustees regarding their decision that Holy Cross will continue to be known as the Crusaders that he is “ashamed of Holy Cross.”  An excerpt from open letter: “The name ‘Crusader’ is offensive.  If Holy Cross were committed to ‘respect for different perspectives ‘, it would, I believe, choose a term more universally comfortable to members of the Holy Cross community.   The medieval soldiers who pillaged the Near East in recovering Jerusalem were ‘Holy Cross Crusaders’; that is the point; and it is a point generally known.”
Update from Kate Carew, Agape Mission Council Member on her extended outreach to Syria: “We held a yard sale for Samah’s  tuition raising almost one thousand dollars!  Many people helped in whatever ways that they could. We are about $350 short of what we need for her whole next year’s tuition.  Besher, an incoming Syrian Salve Regina student was assisted with a scholarship from Americans for Refugees, Cambridge, who also sponsored a second Syrian student, Bayan.  (Thank-you Kate for all of your behind-the-scenes efforts).”