sign in sign up
<<
Home , Gwen Hennessey, Kim Bobo, Salim Ghazal

Pacem in terris Peace and Freedom Award

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

DAVENPORT, IOWA 2016 Peace and Freedom Award

program

MUSICAL PRELUDE Christopher Clow Rev. Merino, OP WELCOME Father Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, OP, was born in Lima, Peru, Paul Koch, PhD in 1928. A theologian and Dominican priest, he currently serves Provost & Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs as the John Cardinal O’Hara Professor of Theology at the St. Ambrose University University of Notre Dame. He divides his time between his

parish church in Lima and the classroom at Notre Dame. OPENING PRAYER He is recognized as a prominent figure in Latin American Cantor Gail P. Karp Catholicism. His 1971 book “A Theology of Liberation” led Sister Phyllis Morris, OSF (translation) many to view him as the founder of liberation theology. This HISTORY OF AWARD form of theology seeks to deepen an understanding of the Rev. Edmond Dunn, PhD core biblical conviction of a preferential option for the poor. Professor Emeritus in Theology Fr. Gutiérrez has authored other books and articles, including St. Ambrose University “Las Casas: In Search of the Poor of Jesus Christ,” and is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and awards. LITANY HONORING PAST RECIPIENTS During his teenage years, Fr. Gutiérrez was bedridden St. Ambrose University students because of osteomyelitis, a bone infection. This experience motivated him to begin studies in medicine before discerning BIOGRAPHY OF THE RECIPIENT a call to the priesthood. Because of his outstanding work in Rev. Charles Adam, D.Min theology he was sent to Europe to do graduate work. Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry St. Ambrose University Fr. Gutiérrez then returned to Lima to work as a priest and

teacher. His studies, however, had not prepared him to AWARD PRESENTATION deal with the needs of the poor and oppressed in . Most Rev. Martin Amos, DD His work with the people inspired his understanding of Bishop poverty as rooted in systemic injustice. Diocese of Davenport

“If there is no friendship with them REMARKS [the poor] and no sharing of the life Rev. Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, OP of the poor, then there is no authentic CLOSING PRAYER Lisa Killinger commitment to liberation, because love exists only among equals.” Please join us for a public reception Rev. Gustavo Gutiérrez, OP immediately after the ceremony.

2 3 2016 Pacem in Terris Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Peace and Freedom Award Award is presented to John F. Kennedy awakened in us a hope that no problem was too great to conquer—race relations, violence or Rev. Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, OP poverty—when citizens work together. (1964, posthumous by Bishop Martin Amos on behalf of the presentation) Quad City Pacem in Terris Coalition ’s powerful book, Black Like Me, You have been instrumental in helping the showed us how we are too often judged not by the content Christian community to read and live the Gospel of our character but by the color of our skin. (1964) from the perspective of the poor. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged us to dream of You have worked tirelessly for the respect of a world transformed through nonviolent civil rights human dignity for all persons. activism. (1965) You have shown your life’s commitment to R. , first director of the Peace Corps, taught reminding the world of the importance of the us that one person can indeed make a difference. (1966) preferential option for the poor. A. Philip Randolph’s efforts to organize railway employees You continue to set before us the suffering of convinced us that the dignity of work must be rewarded the poor and challenge us to be in solidarity with a just wage. (1967) with the marginalized of this earth. Reverend awoke people to the injustice of You embody the words of Pope John XXIII in unfair housing and racial prejudice in Milwaukee. (1968) his encyclical Pacem in Terris as a “spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying leaven” to your taught people how to organize and to act sisters and brothers around the world. together in promoting justice in society. (1969) Given on this 28th day of September 2016 in founded the Catholic Worker Movement Davenport, Iowa. and reminded us to look for Christ in the faces of the poor. (1972)

The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award brought the message of the Gospel to the was created in 1964 by the Davenport Catholic Interracial cause of equal education, civil rights and opposition to Council. Since 1978, the award has been presented by capital punishment. (1974) the Quad City Pacem in Terris Coalition. The award Dom Hélder Câmara, gentle shepherd of the poor of honors Pope John xxiii and commemorates his 1963 northwestern Brazil, embraced the impoverished and gave encyclical letter, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), which sharp prophecy to the wealthy. (1975) called on all people to secure peace among all nations. Saint Teresa of Calcutta gave hope to the desperate and THE 2016 PACEM IN TERRIS offered light to those living in abject poverty. (1976) PLANNING COMMITTEE AND CONTRIBUTORS Diocese of Davenport Bishop challenged church leadership to St. Ambrose University embrace nonviolence instead of the just war theory. (1979) Augustana College organized labor in the South and Churches United of the Quad City Area reminded us that equal work demands equal pay. (1980) Islamic Center of Quad Cities The Catholic Messenger Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler advocated for the rights of Quad Cities Interfaith workers and helped to buoy the labor movement among Muslim Community of the Quad Cities the poor in Appalachia. (1980) Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities George Kennan, statesman and diplomat, realized that Congregation of the Humility of Mary the only hope for solving the world’s problems lies in Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, abandoning violence. (1982) Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa

4 5 Helen M. Caldicott, Australian physician and peace Lech Walesa, defender of the rights of workers in the face advocate, spoke on behalf of the world’s children in the of Communist repression in Poland, has become a global face of possible nuclear holocaust. (1983) leader for freedom and democracy. (2001)

Cardinal through his notion of the Dorothy Marie and , OSF, sibling sisters “consistent ethic of life” and the “seamless garment” and Dubuque , have devoted their lives and taught us that all life is God-given and therefore ministry to local activism on global issues of peace and precious. (1985) justice. (2002) Bishop Maurice Dingman through his love for the land , founder of Bread for the World, has shown worked for peace and justice and reminded all of us of our how one person can make a difference alleviating world roots in the soil. (1986) hunger. (2004) Archbishop has helped free South Africa Don Mosley of Jubilee Partners has served others by offering from the yoke of apartheid, teaching the entire world that hospitality to refugees, housing for the homeless and racial injustice is sacrilege. (1987) mediation to situations of war. (2005) through her work with Pax Christi and Catholic Bishop has worked with Muslims and Christians Relief Services addressed the world’s problems through to promote reconciliation, peace and hope for young people missionary zeal and creative nonviolence. (1989) and others displaced by Lebanon’s civil war. (2007) Mairead Corrigan Maguire, peace advocate in Ireland, has Monsignor has devoted his life to walking become a global force against violence in the name of the two feet of social action: direct service and social religion. (1990) justice. (2008) María Julia Hernández directed the Human Rights Hildegard Goss-Mayr is one of the world’s leading experts Committee and spoke for the victims of the long civil war on nonviolence, a teacher, visionary and pioneer who in El Salvador. (1991) helped forge a new path toward peace on earth for all humanity. (2009) Cesar Chávez led the United Farm Workers to become a passionate voice for workers who have long been Reverend , SJ, a Jesuit priest, has delivered the disenfranchised. (1992) message of the nonviolent Jesus in word and deed in confronting nuclear arms manufacturing and use. (2010) , SJ, American poet, peace activist and Catholic priest, has offered powerful witness on behalf of Bishop Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini has drawn the world’s peace and justice. (1993) attention to the exploitation of natural resources by multinational companies adversely affecting the poor and , founder of the Sojourners Christian Community, indigenous people of Guatemala. (2011) has brought people of faith to espouse radical social engagement. (1995) , Executive Director and founder of Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), has educated a nation about Bishop has lent great courage to his fight the prevalence of wage theft and injustice that against violence and injustice inflicted against the poor disproportionately affects the poor amongst us. (2012) and oppressed of Chiapas, Mexico. (1996) , religious and moral leader, philosopher and Jim and Shelley Douglass—the only married couple to writer, is best known as the founder of L’Arche and strives receive the award—have been steadfast in their efforts to to build caring relationships which foster the inclusion of build a world of peace based on justice. (1997) people with intellectual disabilities so they have a sense of Helen Prejean, CSJ, through her loving presence on death belonging in the world. (2013) row has fostered reconciliation and spiritual healing. , SSS, raised awareness about social (1998) and economic transformation through the advocacy of Adolfo Pérez Esquivel has inspired the world with his NETWORK, a social justice lobby. (2014) Gospel-rooted work on behalf of Argentina’s “disappeared ´ ones.” (1999) Venerable Thích Nhât Ha.nh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Master, teacher, author and peace activist, honored for his Monsignor George Higgins wove together communities lifelong commitment to peace and for his inspired, dedicated of faith and organized labor to support economic work to bridge Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. (2016) justice. (2000) 6 7