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Newsletter: Spring Issue 2007

From the President's Desk . . .

Dear friends of Path to Peace Foundation,

“Peace be with you.” These are the first words spoken by the risen Lord when He appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room. These are my words to you during this Easter season. May you and your loved ones experience the peace that only Our Lord can give.

       We as a Church have much to celebrate. Our primary reason is that Christ is risen and remains with His Church through His Sacraments and guides us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is also visible in His Vicar on earth, our Holy Father. Last month, we celebrated the 80^th birthday of Pope Benedict XVI as well as the second anniversary of his pontificate. We wish him ad multos annos.

       As you know, the Path to Peace Award Gala Dinner is around the corner. I hope you will make every effort to join us for this annual event. It is a good time to celebrate with friends and to establish new relationships as together we strive to work together on the path to peace.

       Finally, I hope you enjoy the new cover design and layout of our newsletter. As always, we are open to receiving your input on how we can improve the quality of the newsletter.

       I look forward to seeing you next month at the Gala.

Sincerely,

+ Celestino Migliore

Events

CONFERENCE ON WOMEN

The second in a series of side-events at the United Nations on “The Dignity of Women in Contemporary Society,” was co-sponsored by the Holy See Mission on February 26, 2007. The conference dealt with various humanitarian issues affecting women. As at the last conference, this too, was well attended by a number of ambassadors and NGOs. Subsequent side-events are planned to be presented in conjunction with the upcoming United Nations meetings.

INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

A panel on “Religion in Contemporary Society” of the Informal Thematic Debate of the General Assembly on “Civilizations and the Challenges for Peace: Obstacles and Opportunities,” will take place at the United Nations on May 10-11. Five countries, including the Holy See, are hosting this side-event. The main objective of the debate is to unravel the reasons behind the increasing level of mistrust among people of different religions and cultures; and, to discuss the relationships between cultural and religious differences and conflicts.

The informal thematic debate will consist of four inter-active panel discussion with high ranking Imams, Rabbis, and Buddhist religious leaders. Professor Mary Ann Glendon, President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences will represent the Holy See.

UN LEADERSHIP MEET WITH POPE

Two UN leaders, on separate occasions, met with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the General Assembly (and our PTP honoree), met with Pope Benedict XVI on February 24. Two months later, on April 18, the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon also met with the Holy Father.

The willingness of these leaders to meet with the Pope is a positive sign of their desire to further strengthen the relationship between the Holy See and the United Nations.

Gala Dinner June 12 

The date of our annual Path to Peace Award dinner is fast approaching. By this time you should have received your invitation. If you haven’t received yours or would like for us to send one to someone you know who is interested in attending, please contact our Office (212) 370-9614. As you know this is our main fundraiser of the year. Your participation will help us in the many activities we support and sponsor on behalf of peace. 

In addition to the Path to Peace Award which will be bestowed upon Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the Sixty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly, two individuals will be receiving the Servitor Pacis Award. This year our recipients are: Hon. Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and Sr. Sabina Iragui Redin, a Daughter of Charity, who has been serving the poor in Rwanda for the past 30 years.

Projects

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING SEMINAR

Our second annual seminar on Catholic Social Teaching will be held from May 20-25. This year’s theme is, “Catholic College Students and the Common Good: Building a Better World.” The purpose of the symposium is to give young college students more exposure to the social and moral teachings of the Church in order to contribute solid values and convictions to the formation of their minds and consciences. 50 students registered from universities and colleges from various states, such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Washington, DC, California, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and countries including Canada, Germany, and Mexico.

PASTORAL FAMILIAR

A contribution through the Path to Peace Foundation was made to Pastoral Familiar located in the Diocese of Pereira in Colombia. This family life office offers services to families experiencing difficulties such as violence, HIV/AIDS, financial, and spiritual problems. The office also has radio and television programs and distributes Church documents on marriage and life issues. They also train individuals in apostolates dedicated to Christian families.

BOOKLAUNCHES

CHIARA LUBICH ESSENTIAL WRITINGS

On March 29 at Fordham University, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations co-sponsored the launch of the English publication of Chiara Lubich, Essential Writings. Participating in the panel discussion were Archbishop Migliore, Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard from the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and Dr. Peter Steinfels, author, professor, and Co-Director of the Fordham University Center on Religion and Culture.

Chiara Lubich is the founder of the Focolare Movement. In the midst of the destruction and hopelessness of World War II, a group of young women, together with Chiara, resolved to live as persons whose actions and thoughts would be based on the Gospel. The group soon grew to about 500 people of all ages and walks of life. Eventually the group began to be referred to as the focolare, the Italian term for the hearth or family fireside. From its humble beginnings in the Italian city of Trent, the Focolare has become a worldwide movement, numbering over 87,000 members and about two million friends and adherents in over 180 nations.

In 1977 Chiara received the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and in 1988 the Augsburg Peace Prize, which is awarded to honor accomplishments in inter-denominational dialogue.

The book is the most complete collection to date of the letters, mediations, poetry, reflections and conversations which capture both the original spirit and the key ideas that animate and sustain the Focolare Movement’s work in interreligous dialogue and intercultural understanding throughout the globe.

AUDIT

We have the pleasure to inform that we engaged the services of the firm WithumSmith&Brown, with offices in New Jersey and New York, to conduct our annual audit. We are pleased to report that we have received a favorable account and copies were distributed to the Board of Directors.

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