On Saturday evening, October 20, 2001, over one hundred people gathered at the Kroger Banquet Hall on Westport Road. We came to honor and to celebrate our long history of peace and justice ministry in the St. William community. We enjoyed seeing again many "old timers" who came back for this special occasion.
Nancy Fox emceed the evening's festivities, introducing several speakers who each told of some aspect of our community's history and ministries. Father Jim Flynn, a former pastor in the '80s, gave the keynote address. (Click here to read it.) Every one of the speakers challenged and delighted with their words. Afterward, many people lingered in the hall to share hugs and conversation with one another. This memorable event was a bright highlight of our year-long Centennial celebration made possible by the hard work and creativity of many.
The community's mission statement begins "St. William is a peacemaking community of faith, inspired by our rich tradition of peace and justice." Five areas were identified that were felt to be representative of the community's peace and justice ministries since the 1960s. A representative of each was invited to talk about how that area evolved, what is was like for them, who else was involved, and how was it connected to the mission of St. William, and what does it say to us now. Nancy Fox told about the other numerous peace and justice activities, weaving this information between the speakers.
Dennis Bricking spoke of the Vietnam protest years in the late '60s and early '70s.
Nancy Fox outlined other peace issues: educating ourselves and the community in the '80s about the dangers of and, what many felt was, the immorality of nuclear weapons; speaking out against the dedication of so much of the nation's resources to defense, especially nuclear arms (some did tax resistance); taking part in peaceful, prayerful protest at Nevada nuclear test sites; developing, endorsing and signing a Peace Covenant; and hiring a person to work part time on peace and justice issues.
Other outreach ministries to the neighborhood throughout the years have been numerous: providing the school building to Parkhill Planning Council which used the space for a medical clinic, legal aid office, and outreach to young people; hiring a community member, Jackie Cress, as a community organizer to work on issues ranging from starting Block Watch groups to starting a Bread for the World chapter; working with Dismas Charities to house minimum security prisoners in the school building, now known as the Diersen Center; working under the leadership of Mo Byrne, developing along with St. Francis of Goshen School and Centennial Olivet Baptist Church an expanding reading, computer and vocational mentoring program at Centennial; providing a program that teaches life skills under the guidance of Phyllis Fitzgerald at St. Ann's; developing, with the energy of Marilyn and Mike Byrne, Mary Mattingly, Jo Blincoe and Mary Ann Ostertag, the STARS program (for children of mothers attending the Life Skills classes), a reading and school skills program.
Pat Ramser-Palma reminded the community about its experience as a place of sanctuary in the '80s for those seeking refuge from the upheavals plaguing Central America.
Nancy Fox mentioned other Central American involvements: through a local chapter of Pastors for Peace, sending truck loads of clothes, school supplies, etc. to Central America despite an embargo; sponsoring delegations of the local chapter of Witness for Peace to Central America; organizing, under the leadership of Jim Flynn and Jim Butler, a Via Crucis, a walk through Kentucky the two weeks prior to Palm Sunday to educate and witness against U.S. role in Central America.
Julie Driscoll spoke about another outgrowth of our involvement with the people of Central America - the development of sister parish relationship with the church of Nuestro Senor de Esquipulas in Nicaragua.
St. William was instrumental in reopening Just Creations, a craft store that ensures a fair wage for craftspeople in developing countries.
Emcee Nancy Fox concluded enumerating the many peace and justice issues: inclusive language, equal treatment of women in the church, and support of the gay, lesbian, and transgendered members of the community.
The last speaker, Shannon Queenan, talked about one of the newest peace and justice ministries at St. William. This ministry, CrossRoads, is geared toward passing on knowledge about and commitment to peace and justice to the next generation.