March Pitches
St. Patrick's Day, March 17, is an occasion for parades and celebrations here in the United States, but it's also a time to reflect on an historic peace accord that may be on the brink of collapse over the issue of disarmament of the IRA and other paramilitaries. Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry went so far as to offer to supervise the turning in of weapons by the IRA in the hopes that that would break the impasse. The U.S. Catholic Conference has worked closely with its Irish counterpart and with Protestant leaders in Northern Ireland in urging Northern Ireland's political leaders, as well as those in the Republic of Ireland and in Britain, to overcome obstacles to peace. USCC Office of International Justice and Peace Director Jerry Powers says, "Obviously, this is a complex situation, but all parties must work tirelessly to meet their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which remains the best hope for peace for the people of Northern Ireland. "
Gerard Powers can be reached at 202/541-3196.
March is Women's History Month, and Saturday, March 25, Feast of the Annunciation, has been declared the Jubilee Day for Women. Thousands of women and men across the country will gather in their local (arch)dioceses to celebrate the theme of "Women Saying Yes to God." In Washington, the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Women along with several national women's organizations will sponsor a prayer breakfast at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Major events are also taking place in the (arch)dioceses of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Stockton, Palm Beach, San Antonio and elsewhere. "The Jubilee Day for Women gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate women's achievements and to consider the challenges that lie ahead," says Sheila Garcia, advisor to the U.S. Bishops on women's concerns. "Many dioceses and parishes are using this occasion to recognize and to thank women, whose contributions to society and to the Church are often under-appreciated."
Sheila Garcia can be reached at 202/541-3041.
Whether March comes in like a lion or a lamb, there's one thing about March 2000 you can count on: the registration packet for Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House will be in mail boxes. Excitement is building for this national celebration of the Jubilee Year which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, July 6-9. Speakers for this milestone event have been announced, scholarship applications are being accepted, and the list of national organizations supporting the event grows daily. "Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House is the perfect moment for church leaders - lay, religious and ordained - to come together during the Jubilee Year to act upon the challenges and opportunities of being church in the 21st century," notes Paul Henderson, one of a core team planning the event. People can register via mail, fax, telephone and on-line. Registration information can be found at www.Encuentro2000.org.
Paul Henderson can be reached at 202/541-3245.