September 10, 2010

Indianapolis chapter of Pax Christi USA to hold first meeting on Sept. 12

Criterion staff report

For Catholics who want to advocate for peace and social justice, a new group is forming in Indianapolis to promote those values.

The Indianapolis chapter of the national Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi USA, will hold its first organizational meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12 at Marian University in Indianapolis. The group will meet in room 163 at St. Francis Hall.

“The timing seems right to start the group,” says Fran Quigley, one of the group’s organizers. “Right now, the Gospel message of peace and justice for all is clanging against the current realities of [the United States’ involvement in] two wars, and there are also social justice needs here in the United States and locally. It seemed logical as Catholics to act on these issues. We hope to be a Catholic voice for peace and justice.”

Quigley expects the group to be involved in issues that have engaged the attention of other local Pax Christi organizations across the country—opposing executions of death-row inmates, and supporting the rights of immigrants and workers.

Organizers of the local group were thrilled by the response to the first activity they held—a presentation on nonviolent commitment to humanity by peace activist Kathy Kelly, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times. More than 130 people attended the Aug. 29 program at Marian University.

“There were a fair number of high school and college students and folks in their early 20s, and a good amount of folks in retirement age,” says Quigley, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis. “We are hoping that the group who came to hear Kelly speak will form the leadership of the group, representing several generations of Indianapolis Catholics.

“One of the things that was exciting about that event was that Marian University was our host and will continue to be. It’s nice that Marian is accepting their place as a gathering spot for Catholics in the community. And there is a significant amount of interest at Marian for this already because they have a student chapter of Pax Christi there.”

(For more information about the local Pax Christi organization, contact Fran Quigley at 317-750-4891 or Joe Zelenka at 317-213-9094.)

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