Maryknoll Affiliates

This past week, I attended a conference jointly sponsored by Villanova University and Catholic Relief Services as part of their formal partnership. The conference was called The Global Water Crisis: Conflict and Cooperation. The presenters were Environmentalists, Civil Engineers Health Specialists, Economists, Sanitation and Water Resource Experts, Lawyers and Peacebuilders… all from the University, CRS and private industry. Within the Villanova University, it was Co-Sponsored by the Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Schools of Business and Law, the Office of Mission and Ministry, the Center for Peace and Justice Education and the Honors Program, the Department of Geography and the Environment.

One of the presenters from CRS was Thomas Bamat, Ph.D. Senior Technical Advisor, Justice and Peacebuilding. Prior to coming to CRS, he said had been with Maryknoll for 20 years.

Northeast Maryknoll Affiliate Gathering: October 9, 2010, Maryknoll Society Center

Pat Hayes, Paul Witte and Millie Hirschle at registration table

The Northeast Regional Maryknoll Affiliate Gathering brought together sixty one people, both Maryknoll Affiliates and other members of the Maryknoll family, for a day of reflection, listening, learning and conversation around the theme of Seeking the Way to Comprehensive Immigration Reform:  What Would Jesus Do? The gathering day was planned by the Philadelphia Area Maryknoll Affiliates. This theme was selected because it is timely and many undocumented immigrants are suffering in the shadows in our communities while the national debate is becoming more political and divisive. It also was meant to help answer the need by many to have a way to engage in a civil conversation with those who have differing opinions on the issue of immigration.