Becoming a Missionary of Non-Violence
October 2016 was dedicated as the month of “Non-Violence”. Every Wednesday night at Prayer Meeting and every Friday evening there were special talks on “Non-Violence”. All sessions were aired on TRINITY TV and can be viewed on our “Non-Violence” website – www.nonviolencett.org. On Wed 26 Oct, all were invited to take a pledge of Non-Violence and you can also do so via our website. In 2017, our first session will be on Tuesday 17th January and from February, on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning February 07 at 8.00 pm at our Centre and Live on Trinity TV.
Message from Rhonda Maingot, LWC Community Director (January 2017)
Happy New Year, dear sisters and brothers.
Our hearts are filled with praise and thanksgiving to God for a most blessed 2016, with all its ups and downs, hills and valleys, culminating in our celebration of the Advent Season and Christmas Day lunch with our most needy sisters and brothers. Many of you have contributed to this year of grace and I do want to personally thank you for your generous support of your time, talent and treasure…. thank you, thank you, thank you. May our generous God repay you a hundredfold as only He can.
As we begin 2017, I would like to quote Pope Francis in his World Day of Peace (New Year’s Day) message….”I wish peace to every man, woman and child, and I pray that the image and likeness of God in each person will enable us to acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense dignity. Especially in situations of conflict, let us respect this, our ‘deepest dignity’, and make active nonviolence our way of life.”
As you know, as a Community we have already embarked on this journey of ‘active nonviolence’ and many of us have taken a pledge to live this way of life. In the Pope’s words I too say: “….I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values. May charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other as individuals, within society….” Of course this is a tall order ….I ask myself the question …. ‘does charity and nonviolence govern how I treat others?’ Wow! I’m sure most of us will say no. We need to address this in our lives, dear sisters and brothers. As I’ve said before ….we need a tsunami of nonviolence to push away the wave of violence in our homes, schools, workplaces, offices and communities….it must begin with ME. One family at a time, one school at a time, one community at a time.
But how can this come about? Firstly, a commitment to living nonviolence and then nurturing this way of life by prayer and education in understanding active nonviolence. To this end, we are continuing our monthly sessions in education and prayer. In January our session will be on Tuesday 17th and from February, on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning February 7th, at 8.00 pm, here at our Centre and Live on Trinity TV.
I would like to end, again using Pope Francis’ words….
“All of us want peace. Many people build it day by day through small gestures and acts; many of them are suffering, yet patiently persevere in their efforts to be peacemakers”. In 2017, may we dedicate ourselves prayerfully and actively to banishing violence from our hearts, words and deeds, and to becoming nonviolent people and to building nonviolent communities that care for our common home. “Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. Everyone can be an artisan of peace”.
Together we aspire, together we achieve…
Love and prayers in the hearts of Jesus and Mary…………..Rhonda
Message from Rhonda Maingot, LWC Community Director (30 Sep 2016)
Greetings dear sisters and brothers.
“Our families are torn by violence. Our communities are destroyed by violence. Our faith is tested by violence. We have an obligation to respond. Violence — in our homes, our schools and streets, our nation and world — is destroying the lives, dignity and hopes of millions of our sisters and brothers.’ (US Bishops)
Some months ago we asked the question: ‘What can I do’ in the face of the violence around me and we invited anyone who would like to meet to discuss this topic. As we explored the theme of ‘non-violence’ we soon realized that, in some way, we were all contributors to the violence that we see around us. Another quote from the US Catholic Bishops puts it perfectly:
“Not all violence is deadly. It begins with anger, intolerance, impatience, unfair judgements and aggression. It is often reflected in our language, our entertainment, our driving, our competitive behavior, and the way we treat our environment. These acts and attitudes are not the same as abusive behavior or physical attacks, but they create a climate where violence prospers and peace suffers.” I’m sure we can all see ourselves in this quote!
So the question now is, ‘How can I help create a climate of non-violence? How can I make a difference?’ The answer: Starting with me, then, one person at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time.
Seeing and discerning this great need, to begin a ‘tsunami’ of non-violence, we have set ourselves on a journey and we invite you to join us. This month of October we have dedicated to Non-Violence. On Trinity TV every Wednesday Night, beginning October 5th, and every Friday night at 7.00 pm, we will be offering special teachings which will guide you in understanding non-violence and the need for all of us to commit to this way of life so that we can push back the tide of violence, starting with one person at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time.
We hope that towards the end of October many of us would make a pledge of non-violence and then be able to encourage others to do the same. Of course, this is a huge step for any of us to take. In faith we go forward and trust that The Holy Spirit will guide us in our endeavors. I encourage you to think and pray about this as a serious Christian. If we, who know the Light that came into the world, don’t respond to such a need, how can we expect anyone else to do so. How can we expect that this tide of violence will ever end? We have an obligation to respond……I urge you to join us on this journey in October 2016 …. Together let us make a difference