Volume 4, Number 1 October 2015 - May 2016 EIGHT MONTHS LATER . . . The Franciscan Peace Connection (FPC) "communication hiatus" is now past tense. The silence was not planned, nor was it expected. It just kept lingering. To those of you who inquired or wondered about when the next newsletter would arrive: thank you! FIRST, SOME TEAM KUDOS . . . John Quinata, a program facilitator and team member, published his first book last fall. The WHAT About Faith, published by Crystal Pointe Media, Inc. in San Diego, has a foreward by Sister LaVern Olberding and a testimonial by Christine Davis, a four-year team member. The book is an easy read and comes highly recommended, especially as a morning jump-start, a birthday or special occasion gift, a stocking stuffer, etc. Thumbs up, John! Last fall Jorge Valerdi, a four-year team supporter and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, came to class and announced that he had just received a text from the Pope's private secretary. Really! Cardinal Peitro Parolin has a personal friend in a local parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe, where Jorge and his wife, Lucia, attend weekday activities. The Cardinal is well informed about Jorge's proposal for a more appropriate and economical way to accommodate the thousands of undocumented minors from Mexico and Central America being detained at the border. He is aware that a budget, property, living structures, professional personnel, etc. are all on hold, waiting for Jorge Valerdi gives a presentation at a approval. The Cardinal's text boldly stated, "Time to act! Get on the St. Martin of Tours parish Lenten supper. Pope's agenda. He can help!" Jorge's proposal didn't make it onto the Pope's agenda when he visited Mexico; however, he has since submitted it directly to Pope Francis, as well as the apostolic nuncios in Mexico and Washington, D.C. He asks everyone for "prayer for our detained minors who seek reunification with their parent(s) already living in the United States." Jorge, thanks for the heart you have, the passion you generate and the voice you raise on behalf of these detained minors. Helice "Sparky" Bridges, author, speaker, founder of Difference Makers International, and honorary FPC team member, accomplished one of her "bucket-list" wishes this spring. She and a host of Oceanside School System and city personnel spent more than two years planning a day-long training for elementary, middle, and high school students. Sparky and a team of certified volunteers taught 750 Oceanside students, representing all 23 schools, the program designed by Sparky to build healthy children, families and communities by promoting (Continued on next page) MORE TEAM KUDOS . . . (Continued) dignity and respect. How to teach others a simple, yet seldom used way to "change lives in a minute or less" was part of the program. The following week these same students honored 68,000 students, school staff, parents, siblings, peers, and neighbors with "Who I Am Makes A Difference" Blue Ribbons. Check out this multi-fantastic 2:52-minute video at http://bit.ly/1UkUuoJ. Sparky and a 13-member steering committee are focusing on Youth Success Week Oceanside 2017: Jan.29-Feb. 4 and also creating a national model for teaching students how to honor one another, maybe save lives, and, for sure, change the course of their lives. Sparky says, "I am fired up! Oceanside is making it possible for me to accomplish two of my biggest bucket-list wishes before I turn 75 next year." Sparky, you and your blue ribbons are changing the world. The 6th Annual Sister-to-Sister Accessories Party recruiters and solicitors earned huge kudos last December. There was a record response from women in transition (72); a record number of volunteer elves (about 50) who contributed to the miracles and the magical energy for which the event is known; and definitely more donations than ever before. One newcomer's observation aptly summarized the two-day event, "I am overwhelmed by what I have witnessed here. So many hearts and hands aligned for one purpose: to transform the warehouse-look of a small mountain of boxes and bags into an elegant holiday department store ambiance where shopping is about caring and connecting rather than currency and credit. What an uplifting experience." The jewelry department during set-up. The "elves" are all FPC team members. Shoppers and elves browse at the robe table, while others check out scarves, hats, and belts in the corner. Smiling elves pose for a picture, and are ready to serve. View more photos of the Sister-to-Sister event on page 6 1 REMOVING THE "I" FROM VIOLENCE The FPC program team members continually search for new ways to raise awareness about how much violence the average person contributes and tolerates day-to-day. The team believes that consciously removing the "I" from violence is a first step toward building a Culture of Peace. Following are three diverse catalytic process tools that assist individuals in identifying their Violence Quotient. A basic Alternatives to Violence workshop where attendees participate in an affirmation activity during a break. Sister LaVern Olberding is pictured second from the right. a - Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) The Alternatives to Violence Project is a grassroots, volunteer program dedicated to reducing violence in our lives, homes, schools, prisons, streets, and society. AVP provides a space for participants to transform conflict into win-win outcomes. No one loses; each opinion is valued by the group. Conflict is a segue to greater understanding and an opportunity to begin or deepen a relationship. AVP workshops are held in classrooms, community centers, detention facilities, and prisons. (Inmates and former inmates make up a large percentage of certified AVP facilitators. Numerous former inmates were serving life sentences without parole before they began to participate in AVP workshops.) Carroll Boone, an FPC team member and program facilitator, is a certified AVP facilitator who co-coordinates the San Diego area Community AVP workshops and serves on Inside-Prison AVP teams. Sister LaVern Olberding will be two thirds of the way toward AVP certification by mid-June. Several other team members plan to begin the process during the summer. The first FPC event in 2016 was a New Beginnings Retreat. Carroll and Sister LaVern co-facilitated the day using the AVP format. Participants were amazed at how much personal work they accomplished in one six-hour process. A common evaluation statement read "When's the next one of these? Count me in!" b - Restorative Justice/Restorative Practices (RJ/RP) California leaders offer strong endorsements for the effectiveness of RJ/RP. Financial and behavioral success statistics strongly favor the restorative process over detention, incarceration, and the court system. Bullying, general crime, violent outbursts, injuries, and deaths all decrease remarkably where these practices are implemented. San Diego is nationally renowned as a model for collaborative RJ/ RP among its civic, educational, judicial, legal, law enforcement, probation, and parole departments. FPC team members attended the RJ/RP Summit last fall and have taken diocesan and/or civic trainings to be certified to work in schools and the community. They see the value of restorative justice principles and adapt them in their homes and neighborhoods. They use dialogue circles (everyone sits in a circle and has the opportunity to comment and share thoughts, affirming that everyone is valued and important) in their classrooms and elsewhere. And, the most articulate advocates for RJ/RP are the youth and young adults who now enjoy emancipation from active addiction, criminal behaviors, drug trafficking, gang lifestyle, ghetto mentality, etc. specifically because of their involvement in RJ/RP. Catch some personal testimonies: www.cacatholic.org/ restorejustice/ (Continued on next page) c - A Course In Miracles (ACIM) The core group members who participate in the afternoon and evening ACIM sessions don't change. Others attend when they can. The regulars find the course to be their most effective tool for recognizing personal violence and acquiring new "thought-tools" for dealing with or eliminating it. Each session reveals new light and raises the bar just a tad. It's common to hear something like, "Look how much we've already learned and changed . . . and we aren't even a quarter of the way through the book." Newcomers and returnees are always welcome and invited to slip 2 INCREASING THE "I's" IN INTERFAITH in whenever their schedules allow. The format is such that one reaps new insights with or without preparation. The evening group decided to make a statement during this slanderous election year by disseminating some of its wisdom in a bumper sticker (left). Do you want to help spread the wisdom? Bumper stickers are available in small and large quantities. Donations are appreciated. Contact Sister LaVern at [email protected]. The second leg of the FPC Programming Tripod is the interfaith component. The Bi-monthly Interfaith Dialogue and Dessert (BIDD) gatherings have grown. Attendees now include Baha'is, Buddhists, Catholics, Jews, Methodists, Mormans and Muslims. The June gathering will focus on how faith San Diego, California's oldest Buddhist Temple was the site of traditions understand fear. Other ecumenical and the BIDD April meeting interfaith events are also increasing the "I's" View another photo of a BIDD and expanding the FPC calendar of events. gathering on page 6 All Faiths Labyrinth Walks - One of the FPC's newest connections has been a growing relationship with the All Faiths Center in Poway. Steve and Sister LaVern and Abigail Albert walk the Abigail Albert, labyrinth, while Western Region Associate Ellen Flores and friend Lucia Valerdi follow. retired New Thought ministers, are tireless in their seed-planting efforts in myriad arenas. Western Associate Ellen Flores, Lucia Valerdi, and Sister LaVern participated in the World Labyrinth Day Walk As One At One event held at the Alberts' home, (where a back yard labyrinth is available to the public around-the-clock.) The Alberts sponsored a May 28 Interfaith Prayers For Peace Walk and they are having a Summer Solstice-Medicine Wheel Observance from 2-5 on June 25. RSVP: [email protected] (Bring a drum if you have one.) POway INterfaith Team-POINT offers a very diversified calendar of interfaith events sponsored by a smorgasboard of faith traditions in North San Diego. These educational, religious, social and spiritual opportunities give FPC members multiple venues for road trip/carpool considerations. (Yes! The Alberts are founding members of POINT.) North American Interfaith Network-NAIN is holding its 27th Conference in Guadalajara in August. Since next year's site is San Diego, FPC members are getting involved in the grassroots planning for this major undertaking. The Planning Team is richly diverse in expertise, religious beliefs, and snack specialties. The second snack-luck lunch meeting was be held June 4. Consider joining this potpourri of delightful people and help give life to the 28th North American Interfaith Conference, which will be held at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Price Center Aug. 610, 2017. Continued San Diego Regional Interfaith Collaborative-SDRIC is an action-oriented group of interfaith visionaries who see the importance of "doing good together." It is about building bridges and forming a communication network that empowers collaborative outreach during discriminatory affronts, natural disasters and whatever else enhances or harms the common good. SDRIC has recently sponsored two lunch meetings with 100plus attendees from more than 15 different religious entites. FPC folks are part of the planning team for the third lunch meeting scheduled later this year. 3 KEEPING THE"I's" IN OUTREACH MINISTRY San Diego Women in Ministry -The SWiM group meets for lunch and discussion every five-six weeks. Approximately 30-35 woman from about 10 interfaith traditions take turns hosting and choosing the topic. The FPC is grateful for a sisterhood that is not only a support system, but also a channel for education, broader networking, public relation extentions, and a safe place to vent and be vulnerable. "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." ― Mother Teresa The third leg in the programming tripod is new Outreach Ministry. Heeding the example and verbal nudges of Pope Francis, FPC team members network when works of mercy are already happening and initiate new venues where they are needed. a - La Mesa First United Methodist (LMFUM) Attendees at the most recent Bi-monthly Interfaith Dialogue and Dessert, hosted by LMFUM, learned from Pastor Elbert Kim that the mission of the Methodist tradition is primarily outreach. He and his people are diligent about serving the needs of La Mesa's marginalized. The FPC and St. Martin of Tours have joined them in co-sponsoring a Once-A-Month-Brunch-Shop-Shower-and-Socialize event. Guests can also get a hair cut, a blood pressure reading, and contact information regarding other pertinent needs. It is becoming a comfortable, safe place for regulars to come and relax from 10:30- to noon on Saturday morning. LMFUM is sponsoring a unique fund-raiser on Saturday, June 11, 6 - 8 p.m. The Art Gala is an outreach to encourage local artists, artisans, photographers, etc., to share their work and simultaneously support outreach ministries. FPC members are selling tickets ($10), seeking donations for the food committee, and soliciting "treasures." These art, artifact, jewelry, painting, photography "treasures" are for sale. Hors d'oeuvres, background music and a silent auction will complete the ambiance. Contact Sister LaVern for tickets and more details at 619-890-9846. b - Summer Lunch Program The FPC will be partnering with other interfaith congregations to sponsor the 4th Annual Summer Lunch opportunity. This seven-week event has three forms of outreach: it feeds children (and their parents/grandparents); it also provides opportunities for diverse relationship building among the volunteers and those being served; and this year, thanks to a new food service provider, it will also provide training and work experience for youth and young adults who are choosing this type of work-release in lieu of, or after, incarceration. c - Donation Warehouse-Circle of Gift Sojourner Julie Fawley and her "elves" are getting more and more notoriety for keeping recyclables out of landfills . . . doors, sinks, cabinets, countertops, vanities, Sojourner Julie Fawley adds fans, lighting, one last piece of wood to the left-over construction load of materials that she has diverted from the landfill. materials, concrete blocks, rocks, etc. Julie and her team retrieve, store and then re-circulate these items to persons with limited income. The Circle keeps expanding and so do the smiles on the faces of recipients. GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS-PREVENTION MONTH June has been designated as the month to ponder and actively respond to the consequences of prioritizing greed over public safety. March 3 Sister LaVern and Sojourner Julie Fawley were present for the official screening of Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA. This powerful, stat-staggering documentary tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. It features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims' families. The film exposes how the powerful gun companies and the NRA are resisting responsible legislation for the sake of profit - and thereby putting people in danger. The film looks into gun tragedies that include unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings and trafficking and what we can do to put an end to this profit-driven crisis. Through this film and campaign, Brave New Films will work with partners to fight for a country where public safety is more valued than profit. The movie was released in May and the FPC hosted its first showings on May 21 and June 7 at La Mesa First United Methodist. Two Pax Christi showings are planned in Solana Beach on June 13 and July 11. Others are still pending. Contact Sister LaVern at 619-890-9846 for more details. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE FPC team members, in tandem with the Interfaith Council-La Mesa, Pax Christi, and Poway All Faith Center, are sculpting educational, consciousness-raising, and action-driven opportunities specifically for September 21, as well as for the Week of Action: September 18 - 25, and beyond. More details to follow in the next newsletter. More photos of the Sister-to-Sister Event from page 2 Guests at the Sister-to-Sister accessories party take a break from shopping to enjoy refreshments. Back to Page 2 John Quinata attended the Sister-to-Sister event to sign his book for those who ordered one. He poses for a photo with Sister LaVern Olberding and Western Associate Ellen Flores. BIDD gathering photo from page 4 Attendees join in the question-and-answer session held following Buddhist monk Letske Tsomo's April presentation. Back to Page 4
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