AgapeAgape Community CommunityAgape Community 2062 Greenwich Road 2062 Greenwich2062 GreenwichWare, Road MA Road 01082-9309 PRSRTPRSRT STD STD Ware, Ware,MA 01082-9309 [email protected] 01082-9309 U. S. POSTAGEU. S. POSTAGE 413-967-9369413-967-9369www.agapecomminuty.org P A I DP A I D peace@[email protected] PALMER,WARE,WARE, MA MA MA www.agapecommunity.orgwww.agapecommunity.org PermitPermit No.Permit No. 204 4 No. 4

VolumeVolume 22Volume No. 22 2 No.28, Summer No. 2 Summer 2 – 2013 SPRING 2013 2019 TheThe Answer Answer is Blowin’is Blowin’ in inthe the Wind Wind

To Silenceby Braytonby aBrayton ShanleyDivine Shanley Voice? by Brayton Shanley wake up to a power greater than ourselves.

n December 2016, I spent some time at Crucifying the Sacred y daughter’sy daughter’s bumper bumper sticker sticker Standing Rock, in North Dakota. I felt of livingof increasedliving Chief increased onlyArvol 100% only Looking in100% 4000 Horse in years. 4000 remind years.- reads: “Well at least the war calledreads: to the “Well Lakota at least led nonviolent the war wit- Then cameThened us thosecame when bornthose he in spokeborn the in20that theAgape, century, 20th “Wecentury, use I on the environment is going nessM against on the the environment oil pipeline is going going through broughtbroughtMother on by a on Earthpopulation by a as population a resource explosion explosion instead as the ofas ‘thethe Mwell.” This fact compelled me to travel well.” sacredThis fact tribal compelled lands of theme nativeto travel people re- world burgeonedworldSource’.” burgeoned fromIn our 2 from to 6greed-driven million 2 to 6 million people privilege people to Washingtontosiding Washington there. DC inAround DC February in theFebruary sacredto attend fireto attend a trib- in just in100we just years.have 100 deformedyears. nature, sacrificed our a climateaal climate leaderchange spokechange protest of protest athat prophecy: focused that focused “Iton will on be Thishumanity meteoricThis meteoricand risemost inprofoundlyrise population in population of all, lost th oppositionoppositionthe to7 the Generation, Keystone to the Keystone XLour Pipeline.young XL Pipeline. Millennials, Tar Tar joined joinedwithour livingthe with human sensethe human passion of the passion sacred.for material for In material our pas- Sands Sandsoilwho is thewould oil latest is the save scheme latest our schemeMother for “domestic andfor “domestic her inhab- consumptionconsumptionsion to dominateand the and alladvent the other advent offorms “high of life, “high we itants from the doom of our human plun- deny their sanctity. Creation is no longer petroleum.”petroleum.” The pipeline The pipeline is to runis to from run from technology.”technology.” The frugality The frugality of the ofdawn the ofdawn of der.” This absolute trust the native elders a “thou” but an “it” to be exploited for our Alberta,Alberta, Canada Canada to the re to theneries re inneries Texas. in Texas.It It the century, 1900 to 1920, gave way to cars expressed in their young ordained them to the century,own 1900gain. to The 1920, presence gave way of the to carsGod of life is anotheris another energy energy proposal proposal disaster, disaster, creating creating direct humans away from the brink of hu- driven drivenbyappears “limitless” by increasingly“limitless” cheap oil,cheap absent skyscrapers oil, to skyscrapers us modern three timesthreeman extinctiontimesmore greenhousemore and greenhouse halt gasesthe demise gasesthan of than our and machineandworld machine technologypeople. technology Do thatwe establishedintend that established to survive conventionalconventionalplanet. petroleum petroleum to mine, to mine,refine, refine, a massiveathis massive andclimate toxic and change needtoxic Armageddonforneed energy for energy to without to ship andship burn. andTwo burn. years later, I watched a Ted Talk drive thisdriveGod’s modern this powers modern technology. of lovetechnology. and We protection became We became of all Someby climateSomeGreta climateThunberg, scientists scientists calla fourteen it acall “game it ayear “game old beholdenbeholdenlife? to the togreat the earthgreat bio-systemsearth bio-systems over” over”decisionSwedish decision forgirl, the with for environment. thepenetrating environment. Theeyes andThe a killers,killers,  rst Thecoal  rst Creationthen coal oil then and Story oil gas. andin Genesis gas. speaks earth simplyearthfierce, simply cannot but steadycannot bear this truth.bear much this She muchmore methodical more- Allto of our Allus, divine of50,000 us, origins: 50,000 strong, “Godstrong, spent saw fossilspent everything fossil carboncarbon lyspewing. beat spewing. an The urgent threshold The drum, threshold forstating: carbon/ for “Humans carbon/ fuel tofuel Godget to made geta rally to and a to rally indeedprotest to protest itthe was ruinous thevery ruinous good” have catastrophically changed the climate. (1:31). 13th century Franciscan mystic An- greenhousegreenhouse gases isgases 350 isparts 350 per parts million. per million. effectseffects of fossil of fuel.fossil We fuel. have We all have been all born been born The pipelineTheWhen pipeline thresholdI was thresholdten would years wouldputold, usI putbeganover us overhear- gela of Foligno spoke to Genesis with an ing from media reports that the planet was into a cultureintoecstatic a culture that new has that image:fatally has fatallyover-consumed “This over-consumed world is preg- 400 ppm. That is: “game over.” 400 ppm.warming That is: due “game to the over.” burning of fossil fuel. since Worldsincenant WorldwithWar II.God.” War Yes, II. Bywe Yes, thewant welate to want 1800’s defeat to defeatmystic 50,000If the50,000 people world’s people braved people braved cold temperatureskept cold temperaturesburning 100 the XLthescientist pipeline XL pipelineTeilhard and its andde “game Chardin, its “game over” elaborated over” to registertomillion register the strongestgallons the strongest ofopposition oil everyopposition to day, date. toextreme date. carboncarbon onbomb. Angela’s bomb.But we But visionneed we to neednaming protest to protest inthe the created in the We understandWeweather understand and that warming tens that of couldtens thousands ofmake thousands the plan- GandhianGandhianworld tradition as traditionthe by “Divine“becoming by “becoming Milieu.” the change theHe change wrote: country-widecountry-wideet uninhabitable are at arethe in at ready30-50 the ready foryears.” civil for Everycivil we wantwe“When to want see Jesusinto thesee diedworld.”in the and world.” rose from the dead, disobediencedisobedienceriveting should word should Obama felt true. Obama sign “If the currentsign planet’s the warming planet’s Thishe message drenchedThis message was the not entire was coming not universe.” coming from the from His theres- environmentalenvironmentalcontinues future my away.futurelife as away.Yes, an adultthe Yes, war may the on war not on be podium.urrection Offhand, was cosmic. I do not Asever we remember harm the a podium.D. Roberts Kirk Offhand, I do not ever remember a livable and certainly my children will not D. Roberts Kirk bio-systems of our sacred planet, we cru- the environmentthe environment thrives. thrives. let’s “looklet’s at “look your at own your life” own message life” message coming coming survive. And I saw no adults doing any- cify the cosmic Christ who is present in all I attendedI attended my first my protestfirst protest at the at the from the speakers at the 20 odd protests I thing to respond. It was like we were ig- from thecreation. speakers at the 20 odd protests I WashingtonWashington Monument Monument Mall inMall 1969, in 1969, noring a world war that was happening all have attendedhave attendedOur in Washingtonfrantic in Washington race over tothe over pastruin the 45 inpast this45 100,000 strong in student opposition to 100,000around strong us.” in student opposition to years. Theyears.post-modern political The political of world cials of threatensthat cials often that speaknot often only speak hu- the Vietnamthe VietnamI War,was whichcertain War, whichwe that deemed I we was deemed cruel,hearing cruel, a 7th at theseat mansoccasions these butoccasions almostalso the almost never natural remind never world’s remind those plantsthose unnecessaryunnecessaryGeneration and unwinnable. Prophecyand unwinnable. predicted It is always It isby always the el- gatheredgatheredand that animals. “them that “themis By usually… 2050 is usually… we us.” may Other us.”lose Other 30 to powerfulpowerfulders to atreturn Standing to returnto this Rock. tohallowed this hallowed No ground writer ground or ac- people’speople’s50 wrongs percent wrongs do of not all domake wild not animals.memake right. me Toright. destroy of Americanoftivist, American notpolitical even political Billdissent, McKibben, dissent,  rst made  orrst mentormade FaithFaith and and the theEnvironment Environment wantonlyNativeNative Traditions a species Traditions Embodyis to silence Embody The Divine knownknown toby many, the by Civil Wendellthe RightsCivil Berry, Rights and couldantiwar and prophesyantiwar Voice. theThe Answer languagethe Answer of our earth is the as Greta has. Why? She speaks her truth language of God. Do we recognize that protestsprotests of the of1950’s the 1950’s and 60’s. and Given 60’s. Giventhe the th th Then CrystalThen Crystal Lame Man Lame from Man the from Beaver the Beaver simply and directly with words that all who Sat. Sat.Oct. Oct.5 , 10 5 am, 10 – am 5pm – 5pm primal vibration? Do we hear our mother 40 degree40 degree temperatures, temperatures, the rally the speeches rally speeches Lake TreeLake Nation Tree Nation took the took microphone. the microphone. A A were mercifullywerehear mercifullythem short. understand short. Speakers the Speakers gravityincluded included we face. tongue? Will we protect that voice? Her anguished authority comes through native nativewomanIn woman spitefrom of Alberta, from our wantonness,Alberta, where wherethe our tar theSacred tar Bill McKibben,Bill McKibben, Michael Michael Brune, Brune, Executive Executive SpeakersSpeakers include: include: her 14 year old innocence. She and future D. Roberts Kirk sands oilsandsUniverse, production oil production and is anour already isearth, an already established our intimate established but DirectorDirector of the Sierra of the Club,Sierra Native Club, Native American American children, have no future. Roger Gottlieb—Author, Professor at Worcester daily threatdailytemporary threatto the home, tolocal the arecommunity,local part community, of theshe Divine she WomenWomen whoLike live who those in liveAlberta of in a Alberta prophet, in the midstin Greta’s the ofmidst words of chemicalRoger poisonsGottlieb—Author, of modern technology Professor tury, human at Worcestercultures may not survive.”embodiedembodiedPlan. a deep Since a and deep the abiding andfirst abiding compassionChristians compassion tried to the tar thesandsburn. tar oilsandsThey production, oilare production, aimed plus directlythe plus regular the at regular adults had caused lethal harm to our air, soil and The report’s challenge is daunting:for all lifeformake allthat lifesense feels that theout feels pain of the Jesus’s and pain violation andcoming, violation to Paul’s to host ofhost peoplewhose of people frommodern the from excessesWashington the Washington have political brought political us to water systems. SomePolytechnic claimed,Polytechnic even then, Institute reduceInstitute the carbon footprint by 40%the in earth theletter that earth tarto that sandsthe tarColossians oil sands production oil productionforetold: in icts. “He in  icts.was establishment.establishment.the brink of end times. She continues: “We that the damage was irreversible. But, it the next ten years. Then the followingAs ten she As thespoke, she first-born spoke,she referred she of referredall to creation.our tosuffering our Insuffering him all don’t needAre We any Are Right? more We climateRight? scientists. WeSr. BernadettewasSr. not Bernadette until Earth Bostwick Day, Bostwick 1990 thatand the andSr. fact Amie—Green Sr.years, Amie—Green another 30% Mountain reduction. Mountain By 2020,Mother, Mother,things the earth, were the earth,andcreated the and intoxic heaventhe effectstoxic and effects of earth of… know we are making the planet uninhab- of climate science began to penetrate our the most radical reinvention ever of how in him all things hold together…all things Most Mostspeeches speeches were werepredictable predictable miningmining and re and ning re the ning dirty the and dirty expensive and expensive itable. But the people who run the world defenses: “The planet is warming, ruinous- humans live must begin or we die slowly are reconciled through him.”(Col. 1:15-20). given giventhe crisis the crisisagenda agenda of the of protest. the protest. Monastery,Monastery, Indonesia Indonesia tar sands oil production. politically and economically… the average ly from the burning of fossil fuels, trapping along with most of the natural world. tar sandsIn oilGod, production. all things are reconciled through SeekingSeeking to inform to inform the activist the activist faithful faithful person… do nothing?” carbon dioxide in a greenhouse effect.” Climate change deniers, Trump and AnotherJesus.Another Native Our Native Americanlife on American this woman sacred woman who terrestrial who on the wrongheadedness of the pipeline, on the wrongheadedness of the pipeline, TommyTommyIn spiteCornell—Peter ofCornell—Peter this updated, Maurindire news, Maurin Catholicpetroleum Catholic corporateWorker Worker America, Farm Farm are onfollowed, the followed,globe continued is beginning continued to inspire toto appearinspire us with defeated.us these with these We the barnstormingthe barnstormingHow Did words We wordsGetof the To of speakersthe the Brink? speakers there was no political about face, no rad- political throne. A majority of Americansnoble nobletruthsfind truthsourselvesby saying: by saying:profoundly “I see “Iout seeunreconciled, in outthis in this at informedinformed us Sincehow us tar thehow sands beginning tar sandsoil production ofoil the production Industri - ical callShea for aShea lifeReister—Youth style Reister—Youth change in people. Organizer, Organizer,continue to350.org parade 350.org like lemmings offgathering the gatheringwar mywith brother ourselves my brother African, and African, our my earth. White my White will destroywillal Revolution destroy us. United us. in United onthe this 1800s on particular this our particular delicate, On February 2, 2007, the definitive finding cliff of do-nothing, patterns that willsister, in- sister,my BrownFranciscan my Brown and YellowSt. and Bonaventure Yellow brother brother and wrote and in decision,decision,breakable they beseeched they earth beseeched has us: beenreturn us: under returnhome attack.homeJoin was Joinus released. for us music, for An music, international liturgy, liturgy, consortium tours tours of strawsure of our straw humanbale baleextinction.house, house, solar solar sister. Isister. medievalalso see I also as times, Isee look as out,Ibut look mytranslates out, brother my brother airJesus airfor to continuetoThomas continue to Berrybuild to writesanbuild environmentally anthat environmentally “the entire effort of climate scientist agreed that dangerous Survival now becomes a risky andwa- skyandtoday’s and sky my and crisismother my times:mother soil and “Thesoil water.” and Incarnation water.” Her Her is global warming is a scientific fact. ger. McKibben offers only tentatively: strong strongandof the convincing andindustrial convincing movement.society movement. is to One transform of One theof energy,energy, grease grease car, compostcar, compost toilet. toilet. passionpassionthe for centerlife for reminded lifeof creation.”reminded us that us Thewe that “see”Jesus we “see”story Even if we never burned another fos- “It’s possible…an outside chance.” He the speakers,thenatural speakers, Sheldon world Sheldon intoWhitehouse, total Whitehouse, subservience; (D-RI), (D-RI), and ourwe earthknow and is itsthe creatures historical, as biblical“things.” Jesus. We sil fuel, the atmosphere would continue observes: “A writer doesn’t owe a readerour earth and its creatures as “things.” We roared roaredoutthe peoplethe out question… the find question… themselves “Are we “Are caughtright?” we right?” between Can we experience this Jesus, resurrected BringBringto yourwarm. your ownThe major ownbrown cause? brown bag Humans forbag andboth for hope—theboth lunch lunch andonly obligation anddinner dinner is after honesty.” after consume We consume her resources her resources for our for economic our economic Thea dissolving crowd af industrial rmed: “Yes.” economy He continued: and a ru- and exploding outward; filling our earth, The crowdined afnatural rmed: environment.” “Yes.” He continued: their lifestyle. Still no clarion call for owe Bill McKibben a deep debt for greedthis greedanddrenching pleasure. and pleasure.the Air, universe earth, Air, withearth,water divinely waterand and in- “Are we“Are going weBill to going McKibben win?” to Thewin?” crowdhas The recently crowdbellowed publishedbellowed revolutionary changethe from interfaiththe Washington interfaith celebration or celebrationhonesty about the growing threat of animalscli- animalsspired are merely non-injurious,are merely objects objects for nonviolent our for use, our and love?use, and If a certainahis certain cry: latest “Yes!” cry: book, “Yes!” “Falter”, which sounds like Main Street, USA. In October, 2018, the mate change since his 1989 reality checkvery oftenverywe forcan, often our we for abuse. will our return abuse. to the sacred source Whatthe got“finalWhat people gotalarm.” people to thisHis tosubtitle?rally this in rally mid-“Has in themid- hu- UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate volume, “The End of Nature.” In ofthe all InNative life, the reconcileNative Traditions, Traditions, with the all Earthlife the forms, isEarth sur is- th winter,winter, manFebruary game February 12begunth, was 12 to ,anplay was impending itself an impending out?” All Change published a “doomsday report.” McKibben is also a Christian. always As always renderseen as ourseen sacred. deadly as sacred. The ways land Theof dominationwe land trod we trod and presidentialpresidentialcorners decision, of decision,the eitherenvironmental eitherup or updown, movementor down,The urgencyTheIt stated urgency is convincing. that is convincing.at the 2015 Paris Climatewins. Butwins.Christians the But deeper the we deeper answer are people answer to this of questionto hope. this question So isnow “home,” islive. “home,” to be lovedto be lovedand nurtured, and nurtured, not not on whetheronare whether nowthe XLtalking the pipeline XL human pipeline would extinction. wouldreceive receive “So DecadeTalks,Decade after the decade, participating after decade, what is whatgovernments left unsaid, is left unsaid, setis a a moral isthe a fact.moral question Since fact. is:the Since howdawn the to of dawn hold the internal ofto thethe internal truth exploited of exploited depleted depleted and thrown and thrown away. Whereaway. Where mark: we must hold temperature increases climate change while maintaining ultimate presidentialpresidentialfar,” approval.McKibben approval. The writes, speakers The “we speakers were (humans) all were in allare these in rallyingthese rallying cries, alwayscries, always strikes strikes me. me.combustion combustion engine, engine, we have we broughthave brought on lifeon is sacred,life is sacred,If no Not place Extinction,no is place “away.” is “away.” Then In our What? highIn our high uniquely ill-prepared to cope with emerg- to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The IPCC report hope…though we know the facts. A true “We are in the early years of the Eco- well informed,well informed, committed committed and commissioned and commissioned To the Toquestion the question “Are we “Are right?” we right?” the answer the answer the planet’sthe planet’s warming warming trend. trend.Before Before coal coal technology society, divorced from earth and ing challenges. So far, we are not coping warned we might surpass this lethal 1.5 de- Christian hope does not bank on the optitechnology- zoic society,Age,” divorcedThomas fromBerry earth writes: and “The the faithful:the faithful: “We are “We in arethe inright the onright the on isthe “Yes” is “Yes”scientifically. scientifically. Oil burning Oil burning and andburning burning began beganin the 1700s,in the 1700s, all of history’s all of history’s with them.” gree mark by 2030. The tides will begin mism of good odds. The truth as it relatesland, ourland,Great sense our Work ofsense home of of ishomeEcological withering is withering away.Restoration.” away. right side of history, we must defeat thosedependency dependency on fossil on fossilfuel is fuel creating is creating an technological an technological and economic and economic progress progress right side of2020 history, marks we mustthe fiftiethdefeat those anniversary to rise several feet: lethal weather patterns to this environmental crisis relies on a faith TheseEverything TheseNative Native Americanin life American begins women, with women, with a design. with environmentalenvironmental holocaust. holocaust. Carbon Carbon spewing spewing since before Christ was incremental. John that wantthatof Earth this.”want Day. Athis.” singularly I Awas singularly a seniorcompelling incompelling college at will be more deadly and common. Hence,since beforethat confesses Christ was the incremental. carbon footprint John doomtheir dress,theirIf we theirdress, want Indian their to Indianrestoreintonation intonationand and reconcile their and their our- threatensthreatens all life. all In life. the Inlong the term long no term one no oneMaynard Maynard Keynes Keynes calculated calculated that the that standard the standard momentmomentthat in time,the inhistory and the Ihistory stillof the remember ofplanet the planetearth. the shock earth. of the 2020-30 decade becomes our last real of our materialistic society, but remains selves to this magnificentcontinuedcontinued on Earth, page on 7 wepage must 7 what I heard. Biologists and earth scientists chance. “If we do not take action,” the grounded in the hope that the God of mercy presented serious data that showed that the IPCC report states, “by the end of the cen- created us to survive. It is never too late to SILENCE ❙ page 7 Stopping Short of Emmaus by Suzanne Belote Shanley priest, responded to my query of “What Francis” preceded our book by a year, and to turn back to Jerusalem. “Hearts burn- do we call this book?” which he had just to attend a presentation by Jim Robinson, ing,” they stopped their journey mid-way Recently, I read a critique by Alexan- finished reading, with this observation: a PhD candidate in Theology at Fordham. and, returned, undefeated, having eaten dra Fuller of memoir as a literary genre: “‘Loving Life on the Margins’ is a lens on Jim, a member of Agape’s Mission Coun- with Jesus, whom they thought was dead, “Most memoir material is best saved for the history of nonviolence.” As lofty and cil, was to deliver a paper that included to Jerusalem “where they found the eleven the shrink’s couch. …In order to balance potentially self –congratulatory as John’s comments on his time at Agape in light of and the rest of the company assembled.” its innate narcissism, a memoir ought to in- reaction felt, it did begin to solidify a writings by Thomas Merton and Rosemary (Luke 24:33) struct.” I read these words at a time My setback, although excruci- when Brayton and I had recently re- ating on multiple levels, offered me viewed the first published copies of a new way of seeing. My foot was our retrospective on forty-two year literally broken, and in many ways, peacemaking history, “Loving Life so too was my spirit. I yearned for on the Margins: The Story of the a heart that would burn with prox- Agape Community.” imity to Jesus, more Easter spirit of During the writing process, we rebirth; Instead, I was feeling neither tried to stay away from shrink-couch risen with Christ nor joyful. Or so it revelations and “innate narcissism.” seemed, until Easter Vigil at Agape, At the same time, I had to acknowl- and my return that day from the hos- edge that a modicum of self-revela- pital, to drive up long and winding tion with a little narcissism thrown Agape driveway. in, are inextricably linked to any Alone in Brigid House while the writing that is even remotely autobi- Agape liturgy was proceeding with ographical. the gathered community of about for- Finding one’s own voice is the ty people, uncomfortable and in pain, touchstone of any writer’s self-un- I resigned myself to a return to Lent. derstanding though, at times that I was stuck, frozen. All I could think interior voice remains inaudible and of was months of recovery. And then unarticulated. Writing this book en- Jesus appeared, once again. I did, in tailed searching for and finding my fact, recognize him in the form of voice and articulating it as my soul’s fifteen Agape souls, who, were on a journey, an anguishing endeavor. secret evening mission, from Francis A central truth in completing House to Brigid House. this book was that as conflicted as I Some of Agape’s Easter vigil- had been throughout the writing pro- ers had decided to surprise me after cess about characterizing my inner Mass, with a candle-lit procession life, I always knew that such disclo- from Francis House, to my bed in sure was, to some degree, inevitable the living room of Brigid House. Led and mandatory. Without intimacy, Photo credit: David Legg by Alicen Roberts, a Smith College there would be no narrative, no book, no EASTER CAROLERS FROM THE LEFT: ALICEN, GRACE, DEBBIE AND KATHLEEN freshman, when she came to Agape and life, no way to integrate personal and com- currently a theology grad school student munity past and future. Relationships are at Yale, the gathered worshipers serenaded treasured expressions of the depth of hu- non-memoir description for “Loving Life Radford Ruether. The most crushing blow me in a mission that Alicen called Easter man encounter. on the Margins.” was not meeting my life-time inspiration, Caroling. Fuller says that a memorist must “write We hoped to illuminate our motivation feminist theologian, Elizabeth Johnson As these exultant beings with hand- down her experience with as much art and in writing: to bear witness to that lineage CSJ. All of these plans, over in a split sec- held candles walked in the door, I made truth as she can muster.” (NY Times Book that Mike True spoke of back in 1989. The ond. out the strains of “Christ is Risen from Review, 4/21/19). Therefore working from idea of our book as a memoir was singular- Excruciating pain during and after the Dead.” One by one, my friends took the premise of writing as a sacred trust, I ly unappealing to me, given all of the sec- hospitalization and surgery coincided with position in front of the Brigid House considered sharing the personal details of ular literary commercialization associated the urgency of what would now happen to wood-burning stove, lighting up the dark- my life with others as a holy, excruciating with this form, with sometimes shallow, the book. It seemed that our late-in-life ness, their hearts and faces aglow basked effort, a three year process. self-serving records of personal aggran- baby would be orphaned for at least three in their light. My frozen places began to In my co-authoring of this book with dizement such as of the plethora of such months…no little desolation. Instead of a melt. Self-pity, fatigue, depression, lifted. Brayton, I had set my writer’s heart on books put out by the twenty-plus demo- grad school luncheon and travel I was faced My gloomy heart was like a starter box of making public aspects of my personal his- cratic presidential candidates. hospital beds and nurses’ call buttons. kindling wood, waiting for the match. tory, no matter how painful. I learned as I Birthing a Book Consolation on the Way The Christ bearers enveloped me in an wrote that praying for and placing trust in The huge Fed-Ex truck delivered sev- Returning to Brigid House to occupy aura of healing as each of them embraced the reader was a grace given and received. eral cardboard boxes full of “Loving Life a makeshift hospital bed in the middle of and hugged me, emotion and friendship My belief in friendship with Christ on the Margins,” which arrived at the com- the living room, after ten days in the hospi- pouring over my inert leg and soul. I has always been the starting point for me, munity during Lent. With its fresh green tal and rehab, a Marist priest friend whom couldn’t help but think of the words of believing in this cosmic intimacy as it ra- cover, enhanced by an iconic photo of the we had known from our early community poet, William Blake: “And we are put on diates out to embrace others, ultimately community’s 25th anniversary, by Agape years, Fr. Paul Frechette, visited Agape. this earth a little space that we might learn pointing to the building of beloved com- member, photo-journalist, Skip Schiel, the We reveled in shared memories of thirty to bear the beams of love.” In my depleted munity. Shared friendship with Jesus, inti- book provided an anticipatory taste of Eas- years ago, our parallel history and people state, I was learning to bear the beams of macy of heart and mind, are intrinsic to the ter—time to celebrate. Nevertheless, my we knew in common, as well as stories of love. gospel and to my own personal travels on on-going self-consciousness about publi- Paul’s life as a missionary and his current Jesus could well have been speaking this planet. Luke’s depiction in Acts of the cation was significant enough that I didn’t post as the Provincial of the Marists in the to me when he said to the disciples: “What Apostles, of Jesus’s friends’ hearts beating quite feel like cracking open the cham- US. little sense you have.” After all of these for and through each other has been a mod- pagne. Instead, I was stuck in a repeated Paul offered Mass, while I sat in bed, years counting on community, I didn’t el of how I view my own tribal ties with the interior monologue: “Did you really write damaged leg held aloft in a crudely con- have the sense to know that community Jesus story. this? Now what?” structed cast. His shared homily high- was manifesting right before my eyes. So in the writing of the book, I grap- Reservations or not, sheer relief filled lighted a book he was reading, “The Pas- pled these questions: How does a book me --40 years of Brayton and my life sion at the Cross” by Ronald Rolheiser, Agape life in a wheelchair, now such as “Loving Life on the Margins” fit jammed into 300 pages—done. A handful a commentary on Luke’s gospel and the took on a new meaning: what I had been within literary definition or genre? If not of photos from thousands, at long last-- Road to Emmaus. (Luke 34:13-35) lamenting as reversal and defeat was in fact a memoir, what is it? Community history? done. The methodical work on sales and The familiar passage recounts that a return. I had returned to the place of my Narrative of nonviolent lineage? A spiri- promotion lingered like an approaching while the disciples were on the post-Resur- beginnings, my Agape home, just as the tual journey of a soul? How does one de- storm, along with the crucial question: rection road to the town of Emmaus, “sev- disciples were turned back to Jerusalem, scribe a book about gospel-based discov- How would our labor of love, the birth of en miles away from Jerusalem. …discuss- their center. Community is my center. My ery of a “new” non-biological family that our shared history, be received? ing as they went all that had happened,” friends had rolled away the stone of my de- is autobiographical, but also relates to early Unexpected Reversal the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. At feat. These faces, these lives, became the expressions of Christian Community? All of these ruminations came to long last, with the breaking of bread, “their truth, afterglow and fruition of writing the At Agape’s opening in 1989, Mike a shocking halt when, in one of those eyes were opened and they recognized book “Loving Life on the Margins.” True, recently departed friend, author split-second life reversals, I tripped on the him.” (Luke 25) I was reading and turning the pages of and nonviolent historian, observed in last step at Brigid House’s stairwell and Paul referred to Rolheiser’s comment my own book sitting there with a cast on his remarks that Agape shared a lineage fractured my right foot in three places. that the disciples were miserable, dwelling my leg, and the characters in the book, my with gospel-based, activist communities Before the blinding pain, I can remember in “frozen places,” emotionally and settling friends, were standing right in front of me. through the centuries and put Agape on a thinking. “Oh no! This is bad!” for a “life without enthusiasm. … with joy When, as the book’s title suggests, we continuum that included a Hopedale, Mas- That cry emanated not only for the frozen.” live and love on the margins, we do not sachusetts community begun by a Unitari- shattered bones, but also from the distress I related. My “frozen place,” confined walk alone. Jesus walks with us, although an minister, Adin Ballou, who, in 1831 lost of knowing that this would be the end of to a wheelchair when I was supposed to at at times, we are “restrained from recogniz- his preaching license because he had be- a much-anticipated trip to Fordham Uni- Fordham University, led me to dwell dis- ing him” (Luke 24:16) by our own obtuse- come a prominent American proponent of versity scheduled for the next day and for consolately on my predicament; that is, un- ness. I couldn’t walk, but I could see be- pacifism, socialism and abolitionism. Ac- which I was preparing. til Jesus appeared in the form of nurses and fore me, I wasn’t alone. With shimmering cording to Mike True, Agape was on this Brayton and I had planned to meet with aides responding to my every need around truth and light, I felt the words my family continuum. graduate students, a Jesuit priest friend, Fr. the clock. sang as my own: “Christ is Risen! Don’t A fellow traveler with Agape for over Tom Massaro, whose recent book, “Mercy Eventually, Jesus tells the disciples to be afraid. You are not alone.” 30 years, Fr. John Sullivan, a Lasalette in Action: The Social Teachings of Pope abandon their plans to get to Emmaus and

Page 2 ◆ The Servant Song SPRING 2019 Book Review Loving Life on the Margins: the Story of the Agape Community by Suzanne Belote Shanley the Agape community relates how two city- and Brayton Shanley bred neophytes managed (somehow) to carve out their current community from a forest, Reviewed by Thomas Lee, PhD, beginning with Brayton’s first intrepid march retired professor, St. Anselm College into those wooded acres, equipped only with an unfamiliar chain saw. The succeeding Suzanne and Brayton Shanley’s compel- years have been a litany of labor, immensely ling book, Loving Life on the Margins: the challenging, and always directed by the real- story of the Agape community goes far be- ization that whatever the Shanleys and their yond a chronological record of the labor-in- generous friends and volunteers fashioned tensive founding and nurture of Agape, their would always be a material expression of unique home and community. their ideals. It begins with the moving story of the As a “seamless garment”, Agape grew struggles of a young idealistic couple, caught into a tangible statement to all who visit there up in the turbulent social upheaval surround- that one’s daily life ought to be a reverence ing the Vietnam War and disillusioned by the for and a cooperation with God’s physical inadequate responses of their hierarchical Creation. Pope Francis, in his 2015 encycli- Catholic Church to this government-sanc- cal Laudato si, maintained that “the core of tioned horrific violence - and their dramatic what it means to be a Christian” is “to care for answer to these crises. nature.” That is a message seldom heard from The 1970s were a tumultuous time of so- Photo credit: Claudia McNeil preachers’ pulpits, but it is lived at Agape- off cial upheaval. In addition to the ongoing war, the grid and sustainable, all the while charged that for them, this ideal of agape - transfor- bond with other peace people. Co-founding marginalized peoples - women, Native and and sustained by a daily rhythm of prayer and mative, unconditional, self-giving love, as Ailanthus: A Nonviolent Witness for Peace African Americans, and sexual minorities - meditation. expressed by the life and teachings of Jesus in Boston with an interfaith group of friends, demanded their equal rights, while political My wife and I have known Brayton and - would require far more than they could they shared their social activism with Quak- conservatism emerged as a new force on the Suzanne Shanley and their daughter Tere- express in a “standard” life of ordinary af- ers, Pax Christi, the Buddhist Peace Pagoda, political right. sa for many years, and have been enriched fluence. Convinced that the nonviolence of the Catholic Worker community and others, The Shanleys, both raised in a tradition- by their loving hospitality, always rooted Jesus was expressed in Gandhi’s principle of portending what would be a lifelong integra- al Catholic faith, were challenged to chart a in “love, compassion and mercy.” In their Ahimsa - nonviolence in thought, word, and tion of their lives with those of other faith course for their lives together that would an- book’s final chapter, they ask “How do we deed - they began to envision a peace com- traditions. swer their deepest convictions. How to fol- at Agape set our sights on the next twenty munity centered around a new kind of Cath- Moving on to Brockton, MA they joined low Jesus towards a right relationship with years? Who among the younger generations olic faith. the growing household of the family of the created world? In the light of their cre- will step up to lead communities like ours The practice of this faith, rather than Charles McCarthy, a Melkite priest and rad- ation by God, who were they and how should into the unknowns of future consciousness?” the traditional hierarchical, male dominat- ical pacifist. There, the Shanleys expressed they live? Their answer would evolve, after We ask this same question, along with them. ed Roman Catholic tradition, would have to their convictions by reaching out to young years of effort, into a life of joyful sacrifice Will they be among the readers of this com- be vivified with a new energy - the realiza- people, from junior high to university stu- and determination, nurtured by prayerful ac- pendium of love for each other and for the tion that to follow the example of Jesus they dents, honing the message of Gospel-based tion, and would lead to Agape - an idea, an world - an extraordinarily clear, forceful, and would have to dedicate their lives in a giving nonviolence that they would carry unflinch- ideal, and ultimately a peaceful community thought-provoking work that should be read love of others and of Creation itself. How to ingly throughout the succeeding years. in the quiet woods of western Massachusetts and pondered by all? - a haven based on a “non-acquisitive...oth- do that? The answer would ultimately be the Suzanne and Brayton first met in 1974. founding of Agape, their home in the quiet er-centered faith in the Nonviolent God of Their next thirteen years together were filled Thomas F. Lee, Ph.D. taught in the Bi- woods of Hardwick, Massachusetts, now cel- Love.” with activism marked by steadfast resistance ology Department at Saint Anselm College ebrating more than three decades of loving, The narrative skillfully and engagingly to the prevailing institutions of violence, for 35 years. His books include Battlebabble: peace-centered hospitality - a sacred space of moves the reader along by the authors’ alter- leading at times to arrest and even jail. Their Selling War in America, a “dictionary of de- respite and a retreat that would inspire thou- nating contributions to the text, as they each actions were grounded in, as Brayton has ception” about the language used to hide the sands over the years to reconsider the role add their unique perspectives regarding the expressed it, the foundational principle that grim realities of militarism, and his recent of violence in our lives in the light of Jesus’ growth of their dedication to a life of loving “Love is the law of being.” Now they were novel, In The End, a murder mystery centered example. sacrifice. ready for the next step, a daunting move “back around the current controversies in the Cath- Their lively narrative relates the story of By the 1980s, Suzanne and Brayton, to the land” that would co-create Agape, that olic Church. having dived headlong together into the how, in the early years of this progression to- place of “mystical stillness.” world of social activism, came to understand wards Agape, Suzanne and Brayton began to Loving Life on the Margins: the story of ORDER SOON!!! Discount Now Available: $24.95 On Website www.agapecommunity.org

Comments on “Loving Life on the Margins: the Story of the Agape Community” Arun Gandhi, Founder-President, Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, Thomas Massaro, S.J., Professor of Mary Evelyn Tucker, Co-Director Gandhi Worldwide Education Insti- internationally acclaimed teacher of Moral Theology at Fordham University of the Yale Forum on Religion and tute, Rochester NY Christian Nonviolence This stunning volume recounts four Ecology “I was reminded of my grandfather, “Loving Love on the Margins is a decades of a fascinating life journey, rel- Suzanne and Brayton called out the Gandhi’s, My Experiments with Truth, work of love about two lives of love, a evant and instructive to so many hearts destructive effects of the nuclear arms the story of how he transformed his life. work that in reality took over forty years yearning for a fearless pursuit of reli- industry and have woven together en- This book is a testament to the fact that of days and nights, of minutes and sec- gious conscience and ethical ideals. It is vironmental and social justice concerns what Gandhi did in India can be repli- onds, for Suzanne and Brayton to com- about the loving embrace of faith-filled even before the Papal Encyclical Lau- cated around the world. “ pose. It is a wonderful encapsulation companionship, radical nonviolence, dato Si called this an integral ecolo- of a resolute witness to nonviolence, environmental sustainability, simplici- gy. They held to nonviolence in their mercy and love of enemies as a Way of ty of lifestyle, generous solidarity with activism, not an easy task in the face of Nancy James, a co-founder of Agape, life, as a Way of being, and not just as those who are involuntarily poor, artistic such widespread abuses of power and along with her husband Steve, have nice idealistic thoughts or as mere polit- beauty, and prayerful community life. privilege. spent 35 years in Haiti as medical ical tactics. It deserves to have avenues missionaries of circulation in the Church and in the “For those who are struggling to secular society that will permit it to be William Neal Moore, Pentecostal Frida Berrigan, author of “It Runs find deep meaning in life, this book is read by more that “the usual nonviolent Minister, spent 17 years on Death In The Family: On Being Raised By fresh water to a dry, parched spirit.” suspect.” Row in Georgia Radicals and Growing Into Rebel- “Loving Life on the Margins: The lious Motherhood” Agape Community Story follows the “Feeling hopeless? Isolated? Over- Daniel Marshall, Catholic Worker Carolyn West, a senior instructor at The command of Jesus to take the gospel to whelmed? This book is the antidote, an historian. Center for Mindfulness, Worcester, MA. the entire world. This book will show honest, inviting and inspiring portrait of “Brilliant, far-reaching, rooted … a “Everything and everyone is in- you, the reader, how the gospel is lived A CENTERED life at the margins!!” treasure. A handbook.” cluded here…room for it all…a Bud- in this day and time.” dhist teaching that brings me comfort and ease.” If you are interested in hosting a book signing and thematic talk, this summer or fall, please contact Agape: [email protected] • 413-967-9369

SPRING 2019 The Servant Song ◆ Page 3 Sowing Seeds Restoration Begins with Rest by Hannah Baker, itself. It’s definitely safe to say that that echoed in my mind throughout College of the Holy Cross I was very caught up in the specific the duration of my stay at Agape. details -- the where and the when I focused on really leaving behind estoration begins with a simple -- and that I had lost focus of the the things that had been weighing word, made up of four letters: rest. reason for having a retreat in gen- me down. RWe see it in the spelling of the word, eral -- the why. It was not just enough that and we hear it in the pronunciation, but so The reason that our communi- I had left my homework on cam- often we completely overlook its presence ty sought to hold a retreat -- and the pus and turned off my cell phone in the larger word. More importantly, we reason that I later understood was at the beginning of the car ride to miss what it can tell us about the act of re- why we had selected the theme Agape. In order to be present in storing something. In order to experience “Restore,” -- was that taking time the many beautiful moments that I restoration, we need to start with the sim- to slow down, reflect, and provide experienced at Agape and gain as ple concept of rest. rest for the soul, is incredibly im- much from the retreat as possible, I was recently fortunate enough to portant to spiritual health. I needed to really be intentional spend a night at the Agape community with In a world that encourag- about freeing my mind of these other members of the College of the Holy es nonstop busyness, it is easy to stressors. Doing so allowed me the Cross’s interdenominational community. work ourselves to exhaustion and headspace to direct my attention The theme that we had chosen for our re- say ‘yes’ to unending lists of re- back to God, something that I had treat was “Restore,”a singular word select- sponsibilities. Many view taking not been very good about for too ed as a topic to be considered and thought time for stillness as unnecessary long a period of time. about more deeply throughout the week- and a waste of time. I am frequent- Restoration begins with a sim- end. What I had not expected though, was ly guilty of falling into the trap of ple word, made up of four letters: that it would be something that I actually believing that time to myself is a rest. In some cases, physical rest experienced on a spiritual level during the luxury rather than a necessity that -- like getting enough sleep -- is 24 hour retreat. nourishes the well-being of my enough to restore different aspects As a praise and worship leader in Holy spirit. of our being. It is important that we Cross’s interdenominational community, I Upon arriving at the Agape do not limit our rest to the kind that was part of the planning team for our an- community, I was amazed by how we experience physically, though. nual retreat. Initially, I was disappointed quickly I felt completely at peace. What I found at Agape was a Hannah at the Quabbin Reservoir to find out that Holy Cross’s retreat cen- Within five minutes of our arrival, I kind of rest that came from being ter had been completely booked for the instantly felt relieved of the many stressors reminded of where I need to make sure academic year, and that our community I had been dealing with back at school. craving. This feeling that an enormous my priorities lie, and then taking the step would not be going there. I felt as if we Agape team members met us right weight had been lifted from my shoulders to actually let go of things that had been would not be able to have a good retreat if away with friendly smiles and welcoming was one that I experienced only on occa- keeping me from looking to what is really we could not go to the retreat center that hugs. I knew instantly that this retreat was sions that were few and far between. important in life. was owned and operated by Holy Cross, going to be exactly what my spirit had been “Simplify, simplify, simplify,” as quot- ed by Henry David Thoreau, was a phrase

For Future Agape Interns: 3 Things to Remember

by Natalia Luna often I’ve been neglectful by hastily brushing them off to get my point across or letting my mind wander rom March to May 2019, I lived and worked while others spoke. Use this retreat from a fast-paced alongside Dixon, Brayton, and Suzanne as world to practice the art of slowing down and really Fan intern at the Agape Community. Partially listening those around you. In addition to slowing out of necessity and partially on a whim, I left my down to hear people, I encourage you to open your life as a student at the College of the Holy Cross in ears the natural world. Part of the wonder of Agape Worcester and began a journey far removed from is its positioning near the Quabbin Reservoir. Listen anything I’ve experienced before. to the chorus of songbirds, listen to the babble of the For anyone who is curious about living a life of stream—and when the earth is cold and barren—lis- Christian nonviolence, interested in environmental ten to the stark, glorious silence. There is beauty all sustainability, or simply unsure of what they want around you, absorb as much of it as you can and but feel drawn to Agape, I cannot recommend this treasure it in your heart. It will bring you peace like internship enough. It’s a tremendous learning expe- none other. rience that I don’t think I could have achieved any- where else. 3. Trust in the Process With that being said, this isn’t a normal in- “Are you a neophobe or a neophile?” This is ternship by any means. You enter a partnership at a a question Dixon has asked me a couple times in structured community that has been established for reference to his delicious (often adventurous) cook- over 30 years. No matter your experience, there are ing but it’s a question that anyone set on coming to bound to be some learning curves. These challeng- Agape should ask themselves. Agape is truly a place es encouraged me to deeply reflect on my hardened unlike any other. With its daily work structure, the habits and how I was used to interacting with others. geographical and technological remoteness, even in Ultimately, I noticed how small changes to be more its founding on the principles of a nonviolent, uncon- considerate in community living improved even my ditionally loving Jesus—it’s radical to say the least. relationships outside of Agape. It was a lot to process at first. I came to Agape at a Here are three practices learned over the dura- time of great uncertainty. I was anxious and griev- tion of my stay that I recommend to new interns in ing, but I had a sense that I could make things work, order to embrace Agape to the fullest and make the so I put my trust in a community I knew little about. most of their time at this truly unique and spiritual That trust allowed me to overcome a rocky adjust- place: ment period and ultimately find the consolation I didn’t know I needed. After years of being “stuck” 1. Be Humble Dixon and Natalia with his pizza in my spiritual life, I found my heart opening up to Ego has so many names and faces. For God again. Your consolation may look completely me, ego manifested in fierce and hasty independence. this existence. What makes Agape a loving sanctu- different than mine, it most likely will. But to reach I would act first and ask questions later, often creat- ary is our willingness to sacrifice this harmful piece that point you must stick with it. ing sticky situations and mixed emotions that could’ve of ego in order to live in harmony with one another. been avoided just by pausing to ask. Life became so Natalia came to Agape as an angel, hovering over much easier once I began to surrender my will, lis- 2. Slow Down and Listen the community with brooms and mops, assisting with all ten to what others needed, and most of all, ask for Much of community living is quieting yourself tasks, never complaining, always present to need. She has forgiveness. It gradually became more and more and intentionally listening. I didn’t realize how easy returned to Chicago, but we will see her again on Francis clear that my need to act alone was unnecessary. De- it is to be inconsiderate with the words of others. Too Day! spite what I had internalized, we are never alone in

Page 4 ◆ The Servant Song SPRING 2019 Sacred Earth New Beginnings … or … Spring Has Sprung Background: Nicole Braithewaite- Water is our planet’s bloodline and we Hunt, who was a major contributor, to the all need water to survive. It is our duty as past two Francis Days, with her sisters stewards of this planet to protect the water. and brothers in the Worcester Inter-Trib- We also learned two other water ceremo- al Indian Center, is of Blackfoot and Tus- nies. We also dug a little deeper to check in carora Native American lineage. Nicole with ourselves and I have accepted the fact contacted Suzanne to see if Agape would that I am an older … not yet an elder. host a women’s retreat weekend, Wom- Indigenous people all over the world en Gather. Suzanne, her daughter Teresa, have teaching and foundations on all these Agape member, Kathleen Legg and Agape principles. I am going to focus on my heal- intern, Natalia Luna, all participated in the ing, focus on fine-tuning my superpower, weekend, full of solidarity and learning for which is coming from a place of love. I all. What follows are the observations and will truly become that INSTRUMENT OF prayer of one of the women who gathered, PEACE!!! Parlee Jones.

by Parlee Jones Parlee’s Prayer was blessed to be invited to the first Women’s Gathering at the Agape Cen- Great Creator: Iter in Hardwick, MA in March, a gath- ering to learn about and to celebrate First Thank you for allowing me en- Nation culture with a Full Moon Ceremo- lightenment and love this past week- ny and other teachings with Grandmother end, and for meeting new sisters. Nancy and Sister Nicole. Native Women Gather at Agape with Parlee Jones, far left Thank you for assisting us in Grandmother Nancy is a Sundancer acknowledging men and their im- and a Sacred Pipe carrier, acknowledged portance in our lives and for the guide our youth and help them see that they Gather. We learned the Algonquin Water as an elder and a grandmother in her com- journey of our Ancestors. are loved and needed. We also remembered Song, and I learned that there are many munities in Canada, where she was given We must protect and love Our our elders and made sure they are loved women’s water songs from different cul- instruction to bring out and share certain Planet, Mother Earth and all the and are needed to share their knowledge tures, and all have a deep meaning. teachings. Grandmother Nancy is a well- four-legged and two-legged crea- before it is lost. Grandmother Nancy met with elders known storyteller, sharing legends from tures, and those that fly and swim. We started with a sage smudge to in Canada and they were unified in agree- many different Nations. It is our duty to protect the wa- cleanse ourselves of negative energies and ment that a video of the song should be Grandmother Nancy assisted us as we ter, and all living beings. We must to start the weekend with a clear mind and made to hasten the teaching and widen the remembered that native women tradition- lead with a grateful heart. heart. circle of women singing it because of the ally wore skirts, and we spoke on why tra- Parlee is a community activist in We broke bread together, for there is increasingly grave dangers our waters are dition is so important. It is up to us to help Worcester who enjoys writing. always plenty of good food when Women facing. (www.singthewatersong.com).

Jail, an Unusually Noisy Monastery by Mark Colville families bear a terrible burden, some driv- en from poverty into destitution. The racial member of the Kings Bay Plow- bias could hardly be more obvious. Yet it all shares 7, Mark turned himself back seems to function beyond significant public Ainto the Glynn County Jail when on notice, and has nothing to do with questions December 11th, 2019, after surgery in his of morality, necessity, or service to the pub- home state of CT. Judge Cheesbro accepted lic good. a motion to return the bail money that was Of late, I’ve grown convinced that it posted on Mark’s behalf. What follows is an couldn’t be more fitting for the Kings Bay excerpted account of that experience. Plowshares to have been swept up and It has never been my custom to allow tossed into a human dumpster such as this. the federal government to indulge the fanta- sy that supervising me is a legitimate use of Mark Colville is a founding member of their time or resources. Magistrate judges the Amistad Catholic Worker Community Baker and Cheesbro have clearly seen fit to and house of hospitality in New Haven, CT use bail, house arrest, curfews, and ankle where he lives with his wife, Luz Catarineau monitors as preemptive punishment for the and a circle of friends who are dedicated to accused. the daily practice of the works of mercy, I opted to accept these bail conditions prayer nonviolence, environmental justice on an emergency basis, when it became and promoting human rights and dignity for clear that the Glynn County Jail was not all. They have raised six children together terribly interested in allowing me access to at Amistad House and are grateful for finan- adequate medical care after a diagnosis of cial assistance. (amistadcw.wordpress.com skin cancer. After two successful surgeries, Global leaders, activists and scholars, I’ve been given a clean bill of health. any incarceration as penance for those sins. undetermined length of time. Luz, my wife, including Nobel Peace Prize-winning South It’s obvious that this governmental- But the jail has also been for me a place of and I agreed to do this mindfully. We are African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Daniel ly-imposed obedience-training program ministry, personal faith-development, and reaching hands of solidarity toward our ex- Ellsberg and Noam Chomsky, released a amounts to nothing but another form of formation of conscience. It provides the tended global family members who are now petition addressed to U.S. Attorney General imprisonment, one for which the accused incredible daily privilege of walking with at this country’s border facing atrocities and William Barr demanding all charges against does not receive any credit toward an actual Jesus in the person of the prisoner, and of uncertainties far beyond whatever hardships the Kings Bay 7 be dropped immediately post-conviction sentence. This has become seeing the world the way He did: from the we might be obliged to bear. http://www.twitter.com/kingsbayplow7 a scandalously common abuse of the Bail perspective of the bottom. From the inside, I find the real horror Reform Act in courtrooms all across the It’s a lot like being in an unusually of all this in its utter normalcy. Sometimes Trial update, excerpted from Catho- country. noisy monastery where all the monks have it takes a rigorous act of the will to maintain lic News Service, April 29, 2019: Personally, the daily practice of volun- tattoos and share a fondness for the F-word! a personal relationship with reality. I’m liv- Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheesbro tarily cooperating in my own captivity has Of course, Christmas can be a very lonely ing in a place where hundreds of people ac- of the Southern District of Georgia ruled on also imposed a strange sort of existence, one and desolate time for people in jail, espe- cused of low-level and/or nonviolent crimes April 26, 2019, that the defendants failed in which I find it difficult to fully engage cially those who don’t enjoy the constant are being held indefinitely, under maximum to show that the government violated their in life and relationships in the ways I’m support of family and friends on the outside security conditions, having neither been rights under the Religious Freedom Resto- accustomed to doing so. It’s an unhealthy as I do. So returning to jail before the hol- granted due process, nor convicted nor sen- ration Act and that the activists could have dynamic that has only become worse since idays seems like a useful and appropriate tenced. pursued other means to carry out their pro- the reason for my decision to take bail no sacrifice to make. With this in mind, there The presumption of innocence is, quite test rather than illegally entering the Naval longer exists, and the court’s lack of integri- are no misgivings or mixed feelings about literally, a punchline. The totalitarian cul- Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. ty imposes the responsibility on me to make going back to Glynn County Detention ture of coercion that dictates every aspect Bill Quigley, a law professor at Loyola that dynamic change. Center, but rather a sense of rejoicing that, of life in a maximum security jail has essen- University New Orleans who is pro bono From the beginning, my participation as Dan Berrigan liked to say, one has the tially chewed up and swallowed the “jus- legal representative for the seven has filed in the Kings Bay Plowshares action was an freedom to go to jail. tice system” here, such that it is not hon- an appeal. act of contrition for complicity in the sins This Tuesday I will show up at the estly possible to even use that term without of nuclearism and empire. I’ve regarded Glynn County Detention Center for another the disclaimer of quotation marks. Broken

SPRING 2019 The Servant Song ◆ Page 5 Michael True, a Tribute

by David O’Brien Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders. Later when his Catholic church Michael True, Worcester peacemaker, backed away from ecumenism Mike lent poet, historian, interfaith organizer, teacher support to local Catholic Workers and drew of English and model Worcester citizen is on his close relationship with the Ameri- gone. He passed away on April 28 in Min- can Friends Service Committee. Along the neapolis where he and his wife, Mary Pat way he began to attend services at the local moved just a few weeks ago to join three Friends Meeting. He helped lead an inter- of their six children who have settled there. faith dialogue in Worcester schools, and Mike and Mary Pat were among the later he co-founded The Center for Non- very first persons my wife Joanne and I met violent Solutions which offered training when we arrived in Worcester fifty years in conflict resolution skills to students and ago this fall. Almost before we unpacked faculty of local high schools. Mike had updated us on local peace actions Mike loved to break open the long ig- and drawn us into the ecumenical “floating nored history of Worcester revolutionaries, parish”. We learned that this open-ended abolitionists, labor radicals, peacemakers community had succeeded the legendary and poets and writers. He wrote several “Phoenix” storefront as home to local so- books about local and national peacemak- cial activists--and lots of children. ers and justice seekers and his comprehen- From that period of crisis around the sive An Energy Field More Intense than Vietnam War through the Plowshares and War is a classic study of literature and non- nuclear freeze movements to the 21st cen- Photo by David Legg violence. It is safe to say that Worcester’s Mike True in middle tury resistance to unwise wars in Afghan- many superb colleges never had a profes- istan and Iraq, Mike was consistent and sor who more fully embodied the idea that courageous, the heart and soul of Worces- scholars and teachers have important pub- ter’s peace movement. Michael True, friend of Agape lic responsibilities. Sometimes he stood with a few Cath- by Suzanne Shanley portive as always from our early years Mike True loved Worcester. Alone olic Workers in lonely witness at Lincoln together. He sent letters and books with a picket sign or alerting us in a news- Square or outside a weapons research Mike True gave an inspiring from India, and we were drawn even paper column, he seemed like a prophet, building in the suburbs. At other moments keynote talk for the opening of the closer by my friendship with Denise but in this case a prophet who was also a he was joined by larger crowds who agreed Agape Community in Hardwick, MA Levertov, whom Michael also cher- good neighbor and an excellent friend. He that one or another war was wrong even if in 1989, before a gathered crowd of ished. The line from Denise’s poem, deserves after a lifetime of service to now they did not yet share Mike’s conviction about 400 people including Catholic “Making Peace”, became the title of rest in peace. The rest of us might wonder that nonviolence was the surest way to a Worker Tom Cornell, and then Bishop one of his most loved books, An Ener- about how we can honor his legacy. Per- just peace. Timothy Harrington of the Diocese of gy Field More Intense than War. haps by raising a few Mike True-like ques- In later years as leader of the Nonvi- Worcester, founder of the George- Right until the last correspon- tions about spending a trillion dollars mod- olence sector or the International Peace town Peace Center, Fr. Richard Mc- dence and conversation with Michael, ernizing our nuclear weapons, or about Sorley SJ and Fr.Emmanuel Charles he and I constantly referred to De- Research Association he traveled the globe our inability to find a few dollars here in McCarthy, Agape co-founder. nise’s poetry. At a Catholic Work- working for peace, teaching in China, lec- Mike placed Agape and many er anniversary gathering last year, a Worcester to support conflict resolution turing on many trips to India, even once Catholic Worker communities, in young man stood up to say that the training in our schools. Mike took it for speaking on nonviolence in North Korea. the lineage of Adin Ballou and the best book he ever read on peace was, granted that most of us want to do better Mike’s peacemaking work was far Hopedale Community, and gave us indeed, An Energy Field More Intense than that. That confidence in the rest of us from his only contribution to our commu- the momentum we all needed that than War. was and remains a gift for which we who nities. He was always engaged with reli- day, to feel part of a living, historic Presente Mike. Thank you for knew him are forever grateful. gion, across many denominational bound- reality. your steadfast courage and sacrifice David is a devoted friend of many aries. He enthusiastically assisted the draft After that, Mike came to every in the name of nonviolent love. peace communities and also Professor counselling work organized by the city’s Francis Day that he could attend, sup- Emeritus, College of the Holy Cross.

Eduardo rallying a group of college students about DACA

The Case of Eduardo Samaniego: country’s educational system. From becoming Deported by ICE from South Carolina valedictorian of his high school to serving as a Eduardo had been scheduled to speak at trustee at his college, the hard work he has invest- Agape’s Francis Day, October 6, 2018 ed into the United States’ educational system is not something to be taken lightly. Background: He has many professional ties to organiza- When Gabriella della Croce, the lead organiz- tions large and small, from directing ministries er at Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northamp- at the Five Colleges in Western Massachusetts to ton, MA, had arranged for Eduardo Samaniego to working on policy for Washington. As a student of speak about his undocumented status in the US, constitutional law, he knows well that cooperation he had already been a vocal and brave witness for with any and all upcoming legal proceedings will voiceless college-age undocumented or DACA ( reinforce what hundreds of people who know him Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students have testified: that he is a person of good moral in the country and in Western MA. We invited character as evidenced by his dedication to work- Eduardo to dinner at Agape along with an immi- ing for the most oppressed inhabitants of his ad- gration attorney from Worcester, Alex Mooradian, opted homeland. who also spoke at Francis Day. Several days be- Some in his position might reject the United fore Eduardo was to speak, Gabriella informed us States’ cruel treatment, but Eduardo’s strong Chris- that Eduardo had been apprehended by ICE, and tian faith has kept him turning the other cheek time asked if we would join the campaign for his re- and again. When this nation’s law nearly forces lease. Since that time, Eduardo went from 100 him out of his home, he continues to speak calmly days in a detention center in South Carolina, 30 in support of his and other immigrants’ rights. of which were in solitary confinement, to deporta- Postscript: During dinner at Agape, Eduardo tion to Mexico, after a minor infraction which has shared that he had been burned in a tragic acci- since been dropped, despite intense efforts nation- dent while in the US and was hospitalized for an ally to delay this action. extended time with scars over 35% of his body. Aria Killough-Miller, an Agape intern during Eduardo rallying a group of college students about DACA We shared the plight of our sixteen year old friend, this period, met Eduardo at an Agape dinner in prepara- Omar Mahmood, who had sustained burns over 65% of his tion for Francis Day when Eduardo was to speak. Aria the nurturing care of his mother and grandmother to come body after an American attack on his family car. Eduardo sent this letter on Eduardo’s behalf while he was in de- to the United States. From the moment he walked through expressed his willingness to meet with Omar, a meeting tention. the door, Eduardo struck me with his politeness and elo- which never happened: “I am humbled by your trust and I I had the awe-inspiring opportunity to meet Eduardo quence. Although I was among the people hosting him, it thank you for sharing about Omar. I would be very happy at a dinner in late September at the Agape Community and was he who offered to pour me water. to meet with Omar. … What he’s been through touches to hear his story about his experiences in the immigration Though living in a trailer park, facing rejection at my heart in too many more ways than I could possibly system which began, when, at age sixteen, Eduardo left the University of Georgia, and scraping by as a fast food describe. Eduardo.” employee, Eduardo has persisted in his dedication to this

Page 6 ◆ The Servant Song SPRING 2019 Voices

A response to “Words, Wordlessness and Servant Song Daily Trials in Haiti the Meaning of Despair” in the last issue and Abortion by Nancy James of Servant Song We wish to bring up a question that always arises Haiti is once again in disruption through street Thanks for putting into words what so many of us when we read Servant Song. You justly decry wide-spread gangs and road blocks, shutting the country down all are feeling, making our suffering less inscrutable, over- apathy toward children in jeopardy when you write: “We last week. Steve and I drove alone from Port au Prince, powering, and easier to take measure of. The grace of struggle to give language to misery and innocent suffer- after picking up our truck at the Nissan dealer/mechan- suffering give us something profound to share with oth- ing.” Yet you never raise your voice in defense of innocent ic, spending $4,000 for repairs. We stalled twice on our ers as givers and receivers bringing us closer to them, human life in the womb. trip back needing to be pushed from behind to pop the strengthening our sense of mutual respect and identity. Three thousand unborn children are killed by elected clutch to get it going again. It was completely dark as Can anguish and pain be gifts? The souls in Yemen abortion daily, 43 million in the United States since 1973. we got over and down the mountain, driving on fumes have no joy to share. They do have agony and you Not only are the innocent killed, but women are harmed until right before Limbe. We found another friend who have been touched by it, not a blessing anyone might emotionally and physically. Can you raise your voices in sold and stored gallons of fuel at his house! choose, but profound. Does Jesus share His agony with defense of the most innocent and vulnerable? Could we us this way? have a civil discourse on this issue? Nancy and Steve James are Agape co-founders Kathryn and Robert and missionaries in Haiti for over 36 years Bruce Jordan Swegart, Rome ME

Agape’s response: We at Agape don’t write consis- I never throw away copies of “Servant Song” I tently on abortion in Servant Song, yet we oppose abortion ponder over articles, i.e., summer/fall 2018, especially I learned about sustainable living and the beauty of on the grounds of ahimsa, non-injury in thought, word and the Vision statement of the Elder-Spirit group. At 81 a simple life, eating a delicious vegetarian meal in the deed. We are grateful for the challenge. years old, I am working to “keep the fire burning”. peaceful candlelit living room. It was refreshing not to We have a chapter on abortion and pro-life feminism I empathized with your discerning Agape’s future, have the distractions of technology during the memora- in Loving Life on the Margins. As nonviolent Christians, a prophetic and needed witness to our world. I take a ble and genuine conversations that night. Standing un- we embrace reverence for life at all of its stages, including sabbatical in spring in the Arizona desert for solitude der the night sky, I learned the value of silence. Getting opposition to abortion, the death penalty, and war. A con- and to unencumber my soul. Changes are all about my hands dirty while working in the garden made me sistent life ethic includes violence inflicted on the environ- us. We find our peace in the enduring love of our God. feel alive. The silent walk through the woods reminded ment and all living creatures. With fond memories and grateful prayers. me of how sacred the earth is and how important it is to We invite our readers to engage in inter-community Sister Antonelle Chunka, take care of it. dialogue on abortion. Please send comments to Agape. an old friend of Brayton and Suzanne, a Felician Matthew Pape, Springfield College retreatant sister, has been ministering to immigrants and prisoners for over 40 years in New Jersey

When Great Trees Fall

Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us. Our souls, dependent upon their nurture, now shrink, wizened. Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance, fall away. We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves. And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed. – Maya Angelou Excerpted and dedicated to Great Soul Friends of Agape who have died.

SILENCE ❙ from page 1 ity and other renewables. miracles and miraculous powers to stand Give up all meat consumption; lose excess Pope Francis writes in Laudato Si, fast in spite of the odds. Our fears have weight and feel reborn as you assimilate pay the price. Starting today, we must put “Where profits alone count there can be said their prayers; now we must act in faith. the life force of plant foods. 60 billion an- the well-being of our eco-system before no thinking of the rhythms of nature… cli- American rugged individualism and imals are killed in the US every year; 55 our technology and mimic nature’s design. mate is a common good.” Millions of us isolated self-contained nuclear families billion for our food alone. Stop trapping Nothing can be hurried; nothing hoarded. Americans must resist fossil fuel industries will not survive well by the twenty year these defenseless beings in slaughter house How do we achieve this natural world by withdrawing all economic support. Stop deadline. We must begin (by 2020 at the pens and force feeding them. Instead, be a design in the short ten to twenty year buying their product gets the quickest re- latest), to escape the loneliness and isola- friend to all animals. They are our compan- “change or die” time-frame? How to be- sults. Gradually work through surrendering tion of mainstream American culture into ions in endangerment. gin this Great Work, nothing less than the the fear and pain of giving up oil, gas and more collective thinking, inhabiting shared Educate, educate, educate—yourself greatest challenge humans could ever have coal. 100 fossil fuel companies account for living space. Start nonviolent ecological, and others. Read seminal books and learn imagined facing? 70% of all greenhouse gases. Resist fossil intentional peace communities and move- from the authorities the current ecological fuel companies by changing yourself. ments. wisdom. Memorize the facts and live the Consider this: Beginning to feel overwhelmed? Turn Soon we will see our loner lifestyle solutions. We cannot know how to change As Americans let’s begin by putting to prayer; pray for supernatural courage; is too carbon- spewing and expensive. As without the accurate data of climate science ourselves on a ten to twenty year plan. By pray to the forces of good that are great- extreme weather continues, being isolat- and the current condition of the planet. the end of twenty years, can each of us er than you. Ask the force of Divine love ed will be too dangerous. We must use pledge to have eliminated our use of fossil to fill you with supernatural, God-en- solar energy to power our living spaces. As we begin together this historic fuel? Our summons to survival is known: abled steadfastness to face the extinctions Research indicates that 69 percent of our campaign of human/earth survival, re- In 20 years we must phase out all gas driv- which we have helped to create. Do not power could be solar, 18 percent wind by member that it is a daily spiritual practice. en cars and trucks which totals 20% of our be tempted to rely on your own will alone 2050. Begin now to find a way to afford Settle into feeling the awe of our own di- carbon footprint. Think of the internal to survive. Simply, put we will not make solar. Painful sacrifices will wake us up. vine nature; learn to love all animal and combustion engine as the worst ecological it. Humans are at our best, not in denial or Remember the ten to twenty year window. plant life as we love ourselves. Experience mistake we ever made next to using oil at complacency, but in reality and extremity. It’s non-negotiable. landscape as space which is beloved and all. By 2030, can we take trains instead of We need to surrender our own will and let 22% of all greenhouse gases are allow the raw sustainable rhythm of earth airplanes? We now have the capacity to God work within. Keep praying. Pray for caused by animal farming and meat-eating. to evoke her true Divine Rhapsody. run trains, trucks and cars on solar electric-

SPRING 2019 The Servant Song ◆ Page 7 8 News Notes News Notes

In Memorian: John Firman Our community lost a good friend, John Firmin, whose partner, Di- nah Starr, has been a dear friend for over 40 years. An excerpt from Save John’s obituary website: “John believed in importance of public service, his legal career focused in the areas of civil rights, consumer law and dis- ability law. A vibrant presence, with a sense of adventure, and a love of life, John’s humor was ineffable, inimitable, ranging from the outrageous the Date!!! to the transcendent.” Memorial service for Cambridge Friends Quaker Meeting, Sat. July 27 at 2 pm. Agape’s

Celebrating37th Anniversary 30 Years of Francis Day Witness—Cambridge City Hall, Hiroshima Day Agape Interns Katie and Colleen, Canadian guests Alex and Andre, Julian from France, Ali from Iraq and Beth from Hampshire College Saturday, Oct. 5th—10 am

Book signing and reading from: AGAPE“Loving Life CALENDAR on the Margins” Artwork by Beth Cane, summer volunteer by Brayton Shanley and Suzanne Belote Shanley

Solar Energy and electric car demonstrations: Springfield College Students haul in wood during a May retreat on sustainable living Steve and Janice Kurkoski; Talks on Climate Change; Tours of Straw Bale House, garden, Hermitage.

Music by Fran Reagan and Harry Duchesne and Agape Drummers Allah Mathematics Allah third from left in Everythingis Real Barbershop Panel: Young activists: What is the future of Sustainable, Nonviolent Community? Beth Cane

Bring brown bag lunch. Rain or shine. Sept. 24-25th—BrandeisCo-sponsors University Pax Student Christi, Rural Immersion Nehemiah Community; Just Faith; Sept. 26th—7 pm Book presentation and talk/Haydenville Olivia Coates, Brayton and Suzanne’s granddaughter (right) with Aza, as they make friends Congregational Church,Traprock Haydenville, Peace MACenter. with newts after a rainfall on the Springfield College retreat: Sat. Oct. 5th—St. Francis Day....See Announcement on Front Page…MUSIC AFTER INTERFAITH SERVICE—BRING BROWN BAG LUNCH AND DINNER…

Oct. 9th—St. Joseph’s College—Pachogue Long Island, Book Isaac, Donny and Brendan—Summer buddies at Agape Tour Presentations SUPPORT SERVANT SONG Oct. 14-17—Holy Cross College—Rural Immersion for students at Agape—work/prayer/discussion Yes, I want to receive Servant Song twice yearly. Calendar Enclosed is $10 Other donation $______June 8: 9 am – 5 pm—Annual Agape Workday: “Come Back to the Land” ! Help us to Oct.get the 22-30—Book wood hauled, split Tour: and stacked. Toronto, We need Buffalo; to get the Rochester, garden in to feedNY and nourish ______all who come to Agape. Bring your lunch and pot-luck offering. th I can’t subscribe, but please keep me on your mailing list. Nov. 6-7 —IonaRain date:College, Saturday, NY—Presentation June 15th…call Agape on for Nonviolence details and the Environment at Thomas Berry Center and in classrooms ______June 10th: 7 pm. Book signing and Agape 40 year retrospective: Loving Life on the Enclosed is a donation of for the work of Agape. Nov.Margins: 15-18 Theth –Bethlehem, Story of the Agape Philadelphia—Book Community at Mustard SeedTour Catholic Presentations Worker 93 Piedmont St. Worcester, MA $100 $50 $25 Other $______Dec. 7th—5:30 pm Advent Mass with Fr. John Sullivan, followed ______July 27th: Memorial service for John Firmin, partner of Dinah Starr, by Pot-Luck Cambridge Friends Meeting, 2 pm Please take me off your mailing list. (We urge you to please remove your name if you do not read Servant Song or other Agape mailings.) August 2-5th: Book signing and talks by Suzanne and Brayton at LaSalette Shrine, Enfield, NH, 410 NH Route 4A Enfield, MA. Name ______PleaseContact check Fr. John Agape’s Sullivan websiteat the LaSalette for other Community Book for Tour details: dates 603-632-4301. and Address ______presentationsOct. 5th: 10 am in – 5your pm: 37tharea. Anniversary Please ofcall Agape/30th or email Annual Agape St. Francis to order Day. a City ______State ______Zip ______book or to schedule a talk/presentation. November 9th: Pax Christi Fall Assembly, Northeast, St. John’s High School, Danvers, MA. Focus is on Environmental Sustainability and Laudato Si. Contact Charles Telephone ______Email ______Gobron for further details: 774-270-2442. Book signing of Loving Life on the Margins.

Page 8 ◆ The Servant Song SPRING 2019