Maryknoll Affiliates

Believing that Jesus taught us to love our enemies, I am aghast that most Catholic parishes appear apathetic about the U.S.'s on-going violent, unloving approach to international relations and the resultant lack of peace. We know that most people in our parish won't participate in a rational discussion about war or anything they consider “political.” So we are trying a variety of approaches to produce a better awareness of the need for peace and non-violence, including organizing an annual Peace Mass in addition to the Search For Peace Art Festival which we have previously written about.

The 2010 awards, art works, and poetry are now available for viewing at www.SearchForPeaceArt.org

Check it out! Send your family and friends to see the inspiring contributions.

Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss and Manny Hotchkiss, in the photo on the left, with Gabriella Maertens and Mary Denevan on the right, have been involved in the Portland Maryknoll Affiliates for over 10 years. Mary's passion is peace, so she organizes the Search For Peace Art events. Mary co-chairs the Good Friday Walk of the Cross. In this Walk a couple hundred people walk through downtown Beaverton, singing and praying and relating current social justice issues to Christ's walk of the cross. Mary also teaches classes in English as a Second Language to adults at her parish.

Since visiting the Holyland in 2007 Manny's passion has been advocating for peace and justice in the Holyland, especially for Palestinian Christians. We both enjoy tabling for Maryknoll at the annual Oregon Catechetical Conference where we show Maryknoll educational resources to the religious education teachers who attend.