We are fortunate because we can help others.
Beginnings
In 1979, what is now called the Newman Center Peace and Social Justice Commission was known as the Social Justice Committee. An early project was publication of a paper analyzing the risks of a proposed US commitment to nuclear power generation. The Committee re-formed as a member of Pax Christi USA later in the year and retained that status until 1991. During that period, major projects included: protest of the proposed installation of a fighter jet near the Newman Center at Yale and Lomas; marches in support of peace efforts and housing for the poor; food and clothing drives, e.g., for the Tarahumara Indians; post card and information campaigns to garner US Bishops’ support against war; and Newman clergy presentations from the pulpit on war and Christian beliefs. Other major programs included: study groups and workshops on the US Bishops’ Peace and Economic pastorals; workshops on non-violence; monthly Mass for peace and justice; and a newsletter, La Paz. Spin-offs of the Newman program included Pax Christi Santa Fe and the Social Justice Commission at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Albuquerque. Newman members of Pax Christi still help organize the annual Peace Pilgrimage to Chimayo.
In 1985-1986, some of the Newman Pax Christi membership formed into the Central America Awareness Group. Accomplishments of this group included: the Central America Festival which included displays, typical food, booths, games; collection of medical supplies for Central America; and drives for school supplies and clothing for Nicaragua.
In 1990, the Peace and Social Justice Commission name and new functions were adopted. The Commission’s purpose was (and is) to provide an umbrella organization to support the major social justice groups at Newman, to act as a clearing house for funding requests, information and materials, and initiate actions that were considered deserving of Newman support but which are not under the purview of other groups.
In 1992, the Commission met with representatives of the Damiens who sought support for their work with the poor with AIDS. It also supported representatives of Dismas House, the group that still helps ex-offenders reenter society. A financial grant was made to support CROP WALK. Late in 1992, Commission members began a study to determine if the activities of the newly organized Albuquerque Interfaith were a suitable vehicle for Newman’s social justice work along with UNM and the Albuquerque community. In 1993, the Commission sponsored a soap drive for Cuba; an offering of letters to members of Congress regarding the work of Bread for the World - i.e., redirecting defense spending to foreign aid; a Mass in memory of the religious and others martyred in Central America; a clothing drive; and the monthly food program. Fr. Jack Risley, then Pastor, addressed peace and social justice issues frequently in his articles From the Pastor’s Desk that appeared in the Newman Bulletin.
Members of the Commission attended numerous meetings of Albuquerque Interfaith to continue the assessment of the benefits of membership. In September, the Commission started the process of 5-year planning and the structuring of peace and social justice operations in response to Archdiocesan guidelines. By the end of calendar year 1993, the decision was made to join Albuquerque Interfaith and begin the search for student and adult leaders to guide Newman’s participation in future Albuquerque and UNM social action programs.
Recent Work
By 2001, Newman’s peace and social justice work had evolved from these early efforts to a rich variety of long-term associations, newly adopted projects, and study of possible new initiatives.
Bread for the World - In 2001, Bread’s offering of letters at Newman was held on April 28-29 and May 5-6. The theme was: Africa, Hunger to Harvest. Letters urged New Mexico Congressional members to approve an additional $1 billion for debt relief. Our lead person, Carlos Navarro, recruited P&SJC members to attend foyer tables in front of the chapel for the project. Fifty-three letters were generated by NC parishioners attending Sunday Mass. In April Bread for the World’s local meeting featured conditions in Cuba as seen by people who had been there recently. Tony Anozie discussed conditions in Nigeria. Carlos provided flyers that described the September Bread conference, Standing with our Neighbors, sponsored by the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry--New Mexico. The Keynote Speaker was Art Simon, founder of Bread for the World. Carlos also recruited UNM students and others for the Albuquerque CROP WALK, held in October. Contact person for the walk was Laurie Monfiletto. Carlos maintains details about future BFTW meetings on their website http://breadnm.org/ . He can be reached personally at: navarroc@unm.edu . BFTW meeting details are also posted at Newman on the Peace and Justice bulletin board.
El Salvador Earhtquake Relief - From first-hand witnesses, the P&SJC heard about the terrible devastation in El Salvador due to the earthquake. Donna Bruzzese, Fr. Bob, and hard work by Wanda Zimmerman made it possible to get aid directly to the needy through APRODEHNI (Association for the Promotion of Children’s Rights in El Salvador) and Voices at the Border. APRODEHNI is our established point-of-contact for help in the area. Albuquerque-area earthquake for El Salvador was coordinated by the Newman Center. Contributions by Newman people and others totaled nearly $15,000. On September 13 and 14, Directors of Voices at the Border were in Albuquerque to report on the status of recovery and to thank those who helped so generously. They were at Newman on the 13th. Judy and Keith Bierbaum worked in the earthquake area during the summer. In July they were joined by Donna and other mental health professionals and healers to help natives recover from the quake’s devastation. Donna and Monica Espinosa reported that the work of mental health professionals, healers, and others was profoundly effective and deeply appreciated.
Romero Memorial - The Newman Center inaugurated an annual memorial to the slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero in 1997. One of the speakers at the first memorial was Archbishop of Santa Fe Michael Sheehan. He shared his experience in El Salvador, which he had visited a few weeks earlier. The 2001 commemoration of Bishop Romero’s assassination - with a theme of “A Voice for the Voiceless” - was held at Newman on March 27. Donna, Keith, and David Gilroy, and their subcommittee developed the program details, and arranged for publicity. The memorial service was very well attended. Response of attendees was enthusiastic. The 2002 commemoration of the life and death of Archbishop Romero was held at Newman on March 25. Donna Bruzzese and her committee (Fr. Bob, Fr. Matt, Keith and Judy Bierbaum, Joanne Keane, Eric and Rose Ann Shreve, Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Celeste and Aaron Froelich, and Reyna Luna) scripted an original theatrical performance that was both prayerful witness and worthy tribute to the spirit and work of the slain Archbishop.
El Salvador Delegations - An adult trip to El Salvador took place on November 12-18, 2001. Before leaving, delegates attended orientation meetings and raised funds for scholarships and the purchase of latrines destroyed during the earthquake. Five Newman parishioners were part of this trip organized in cooperation with the Center for Action and Contemplation and led by Fr. Bob and Donna Bruzzese. The Masses, scholarship money and latrines Newman people made possible were received with great emotion and appreciation. All participants testified to a deep and rewarding experience. Delegates presented a video report on the trip in December. Fr. Bob and Donna reported to the community at a meeting in January 2002. Additional healing and orientation trips are planned for 2002. Lead person for the P&SJC-sponsored El Salvador projects is Donna Bruzzese who can be reached at: donnabruzz@aol.com .
Albuquerque Interfaith - In late 2000, Richard Wood and Niki Baptiste organized “A Conversation on Public Education Reform” at the Newman Center. Selected invitees, mainly school teachers and administrators, gave Richard and Niki many excellent ideas for school improvement. Focus of this program is on Kirtland Elementary School where Newman’s Peter Espinosa is Principal. Connie Short is heading the Mentor Program Newman people have established as part of their program at Kirtland Elementary. In early 2002, a group from Newman, part of the Archdiocesan Public Discipleship program started work at Kirtland also. Other initiatives in 2001 included The AI Leadership Training Retreat at the Canossian spirituality Center in February; Relationship- Development Training at the Newman Center in February; the “Agenda for Working Families” assembly in April at St. Charles Borromeo church. Newman people were instrumental in planning and presenting this assembly. More than 500 people attended the April assembly; Newman participation was especially strong with 24 attendees. The AI series, “Public Life Institute,” on the history, politics, and culture of New Mexico ended in May. Another initiative, Interfaith’s Candidate Accountability Session in September drew nearly 400 people, of whom 20 were from the Newman Center.
In late 2001, Interfaith sponsored its Institute for Public Life on Revenue and the Albuquerque City Budget. The first session on The Composition and Capacity of the New Mexico Revenue System was presented November 7 by Bill Fulginiti, Executive Director of the New Mexico Municipal League. The second session, presented on November 14 by Vickie Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, was on City Budget Revenues and Expenditures. Newman’s Jerry Ortiz y Pino, a member of Mayor Baca’s cabinet, provided amplification on this complex issue. The third and final session, on the Ins and Outs of the Budget Process, was presented on November 28 by Louis Columbo, Deputy Director of Council Services. Mayor-elect Chavez attended this session.
At year’s end, and into 2002, groups of Interfaith members were meeting with Mayor-elect Martin Chavez’s transition team to establish the working relationships Albuquerque Interfaith will need to impact the City budget process on behalf of family-oriented issues.
Richard Wood leads Newman’s work to organize our teachers and administrators to support school improvement. Richard can be reached at: rlwood@unm.edu.
Iraq - Conditions in Iraq were the subject of the P&SJC education meeting in September 2001. Judy and Donna are reviewing a proposal we received for further action relating to Iraq. They will report at a future meeting with recommendations for Newman action. Keith Bierbaum is our lead person for this work. He can be reached at k-bierbaum@hotmail.com.
Islam - Fr. Bob, working with local Muslim leaders and students, sponsored September and October P&SJC education meetings. More than 200 people attended the session on “Islam Explained” at the Newman Center in September. Presenters were Sheik Mohmoud Solamin, Imam of the Mosque; UNM Professor Mohamed El-Genk; and Mr. Hatem Abdullah, translator. Covered were the historical background of Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam, the relationship between church and state and Islamic views on war. A follow-up session was held in October. Our contact person for this work is Fr. Bob. He can be reached at Fr. Bob.
School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) - Newman’s Judy Bierbaum spent three months in the Arizona Minimum Security Prison for Women in 2000 for “crossing the line” at the November demonstration against the SOA at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 2001, she reported that the school adopted a new name, Center for Hemispheric security, but that not much else has changed. In Roswell, NM, the International Law Enforcement Agency (ILEA) was scheduled to open in the fall. There is concern about the purpose of this facility and its objectives. Judy is monitoring activities of the Center and the ILEA. The founder of SOA Watch, Roy Bourgeois, spoke at Newman and at the Peace Center in August. Local and national demonstrations were held in November. Jerry Ortiz y Pino reported that more than 75 people attended the local demonstration at the UNM Bookstore. A roll call of religious leaders killed by SOA trained people was read. A peaceful, silent march followed. Judy Bierbaum, our point of contact, can be reached at: k-bierbaum@hotmail.com .
Prison Ministries - The Archdiocesan Pastoral Outreach Office invited Newman people to help in various Archdiocesan programs, viz., juvenile mentoring, transition programs for released prisoners, in-prison programs. In late August, we used our annual ministry-recruiting campaign to find members for a new program, Project SOAR, and extant programs, such as the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility Volunteers and Dismas House. Project SOAR has an active Newman contact, Gus Arellano, who was invited to the August P&SJC meeting for an exchange of ideas. Gus described his involvement in SOAR and urged us to consider joining this program to help people transition from incarceration to society. Flyers are available in the foyer and SOAR was one of the Newman ministries featured during Stewardship Sunday on September 23. Gus can be reached on 505-344-0506. Also featured on the 23rd was the Dismas House program, also designed to help people transition to society after prison. A point of contact for Dismas House work is Bob Rodgers (505-822-0478). The project at the Guadalupe County facility is on hold pending the outcome of future parole hearings.
UNM Student Peace & Social Justice Activities - Students worked at Dismas House in February and March and helped sort food at the Roadrunner Food Bank in April. They completed work at Glenmary Missionary Farms in Appalachia in May. UNM students joined the Maryknoll Call and Response team that went to Oaxaca, Mexico in August. Five UNM students joined others for two weeks of living in community and performing social work. Lead person for this work was Annette O’Connor who can be reached at oconnor@aps.edu. Sr. Mary Ann reported that there would be no P&SJ intern at Newman in 2001-02, a position held previously by Amy Waruszewski. Sr. Mary Ann is the lead person for student P&SJ work. She can be reached at mabop@aol.com. Keith Bierbaum is Newman’s point of contact for Maryknoll work. He can be reached at: k-bierbaum@hotmail.com.
Storehouse Project - The “Each One Feed One” program was announced to the parish in the February 25 Keller’s Korner of the Newman Sunday Bulletin. Details were announced later after the Storehouse indicated they needed canned meats and fish and baby formula. A periodic reminder will be published in the Newman Bulletin to maintain interest. Jerry Ortiz y Pino is our point of contact. He can be reached at: jortizyp@aol.com.
Mary Quinalty Project - Mary, a Newman parishioner, performs annual, individual works of support in Mexico and asked the P&SJC to provide a forum for her to describe her work and possibly enlist the help of others. She participated in the discussion that followed the 2001 Romero Memorial and Donna reported that Mary appreciated the support she received. Mary’s organization is now called Esperanza de Joaquin with Mary as the president and fellow Newman parishioner, Robert Flanagan the director.
Ways of the Cross / Way of Compassion - The Newman Center has participated in and financially supported this event annually for several years. In 2001, the Way was held in downtown Albuquerque on April 13. The Center for Action and Contemplation invited the Newman Center to participate again this year, which it did on Good Friday, March 29. Newman participation through memberships in CAC, SOA Watch, and Bread for the World was strong again. The complex operation went well.
Leonard Peltier Pardon - Newman Center letters were sent to President Bill Clinton urging him to pardon Peltier. Leonard was convicted in 1976 during a demonstration in North Dakota - wrongly, many believe - and sentenced to two life terms. President Clinton did not pardon Peltier and hope for any future pardon is dim, but no doubt the struggle for his release will continue at the national level.
Witness for Peace - Judy Bierbaum, with P&SJC support, joined the WFP/SOAW delegation and visited Columbia January 10-21. She presented her report to the parish March 5 and explained how US tax dollars are being used in this war-torn nation.
New Work
Bread for the World, El Salvador, and Albuquerque Interfaith - initiatives will continue to be supported by the P&SJC. Under consideration for action in 2002 are the following:
Pax Christi - Chris Sandoval and Nancy Searles proposed that Newman again join Pax Christi USA as a congregational member. They outlined the historical background of Newman’s involvement with this organization at a recent P&SJC meeting and recommended that we rejoin. The P&SJC consensus for joining was favorable and Chris and Nancy agreed to develop Newman support by outlining the program and budget requirements with Fr. Bob and Sr. Mary Ann, and providing publicity materials for distribution to parish members. Chris will be the initial point of contact for this project. He can be reached at: chrismsandoval@aol.com.
Public Discipleship: Living the Faith - This Archdiocesan program started at Newman in 2000 with leadership by Ken Mangione, a member of the diocesan leadership team. Small groups meet according to the Catholic Action format of Observe, Judge, and Act with the objective of providing vehicles for individual and action and ways members can live discipleship publicly. In early 2002 a new group spun off from A Conversation on Public Education Reform and the Kirtland Elementary School initiative developed there (see discussion of Albuquerque Interfaith work above). Lead persons for this work are Connie Short, lasnutrias@aol.com and Niki Baptiste at: niki~baptiste@sandovalcounty.com .
Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation - Mr. Clovis Thom of this organization asked for a chance to describe ways Newman people might work in this effort to reform New Mexico drug policy. Claire Conrad continues her investigation of how we may want to engage in this work. Claire can be reached at: conrad523@aol.com.
Peace and Justice Speakers - A Jefferson Middle School teacher has asked if Newman could, on occasion, provide speakers to describe our work in Central and South America for the school’s Humanities classes. We plan to assign a lead person to this question later in 2002 to investigate if and how we might help.
Contacts
Readers interested in any of this work are encouraged to contact the lead persons.
By Joe Calek and Mary S. Affeldt