"Am I willing to suffer with the people here, the suffering of the powerless,
the feeling impotent?
Can I say to my neighbors I have no solutions to this situation; I don't know the answers, but I will
walk with you, search with you, be with you. Can I let myself be evangelized by this opportunity?
Can I look at and accept my own poorness as I learn it from the poor ones?"
Ita Ford said that the year she was killed.
At SHARE, I am planning delegation for the 30th Anniversary of the deaths of Jean Donovan, Dorothy Kazel, Ita Ford and Maura Clarke. Ita and Maura were Maryknoll nuns, Dorothy was a Ursuline nun and Jean was a Maryknoll lay missionary. In 1980 they were all in El Salvador working with refugees and communities affected by the impending Civil War. On December 2, while driving back from the airport, they were followed by the Salvadoran armed forces. They were kidnapped, taken to a field in rural El Salvador, raped and killed.
SHARE and many other solidarity organizations are built of the legacy of the solidarity of people like those four women who gave their lives to stay in El Salvador and work for the Salvadoran people. That is why we are planning a delegation to commemorate the anniversary of their deaths.
One of the other things we did to commemorate the anniversary was produce a Commemoration Packet for communities in the States to plan events. Check out the packet. I invite you all do read the packet and if you are up to it, plan something in your community!
2 comments:
Hey Laur, Thanks so much for sharing the Churchwomen packet with us. I think that by telling the story about what happened to these women is really important; it allows us to remember what they did for the Salvadoran people, gives us a chance to celebrate their lives and their work, and raises awareness about violence and social injustices that have occurred in the past and are still happening around the world today. I know you've been working hard on this delegation, and I now see why you are so passionate about it. My thoughts will be with you & the people of El Salvador on December 2nd, and I plan on commemorating the Churchwomen of El Salvador in Columbus on that day-even if it is just a small action.
I also really appreciated the prayers that you included, I especially liked the Prayer for Globalization of Solidarity--it is really beautiful.
Love, Rach
Thanks so much Rach. I am so excited to hear that you read the packet and liked it. I agree, the lives of those women is so important and it really has affected how I have lived my life. That is great that you will be thinking of them also on December 2nd. I am excited about this delegation, I think it will be really cool. Thanks again for your kind words. love, laura
Post a Comment