Pax Christi Minnesota

Job opportunities from The Mission Office of the Diocese of St. Cloud, MN

DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES
The Diocese of St. Cloud is seeking a Director of Multicultural Ministries.  This part- time position will be responsible for providing support to Diocesan offices and parishes to increase cross cultural competency so all are better able to welcome and enable the gifts of diverse populations within parishes.  Responsible for development of leadership and cross-cultural collaboration in order for parishes to provide pastoral care, fulfillment of material and social needs, evangelization and catechesis.

Qualified candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in theology, pastoral ministry, anthropology, cultural studies or languages.  Two years experience in ministry with Hispanic and/or other ethnic communities at a parish level.  Preferred experience in a cultural context other than one’s primary culture; Mission experience preferred.  Bilingual, fluent Spanish; good working knowledge of multicultural resources in local communities; multilingual and bi-literate strongly preferred.

COORDINATOR OF GLOBAL SOLIDARITY
The St. Cloud Mission Office is seeking a Coordinator of Global Solidarity.  This part-time position will coordinate connection and relationship building between people in the St. Cloud Diocese and our mission partners around the world to foster engagement of Catholics with the global Church and the world-wide mission of Jesus Christ, with particular emphasis on our two partner dioceses and other initiatives of global solidarity within our parishes.

Qualified candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree; a minimum of 2 years cross-cultural mission/volunteer experience; and experience with public speaking.  Spanish language ability; good organizational and communication skills; active participating Catholic familiar with Catholic social teaching and current trends and issues in global mission.

The above two positions may be combined as one full-time position for persons interested and qualified for both positions.

For questions or a complete job description, contact Rosanne Fischer, Director, St. Cloud Mission Office, Phone: 320-251-1100; E-mail: mission@cloudnet.com.

To apply for the combined position or either position, please send resume and salary expectations to:  Human Resources, Diocese of St. Cloud, 305 North 7th Avenue, St. Cloud, MN  56303.  Fax: 320-258-7652; E-mail: jbrinkma@gw.stcdio.org.

Applications will be received until position(s) is filled.

Reflection on the peaceful protest at the 2008 Republican Convention
By Steve Clemens

Sunday August 31, 2008 saw the first arrests of peaceful protestors at the Republican National Convention held in St. Paul, MN. As plans began to be announced for scheduled protest marches and rallies against the on-going war on Iraq and “against the Republican agenda”, a few of us in the local peace community in the Twin Cities grew uncomfortable with the style and tenor of some of the protests.
 
Although we are as strongly apposed to the war as many other groups, some of us wished to have a more reflective and solemn protest against the loss of life and physical and psychological destruction of both soldiers and civilians this war has wrought. This war had been supported by both major political parties and is not just a “Republican” issue.

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Personal Statement on Why I Risk Arrest at the Republican National Convention
by Steve Clemens, August 31, 2008

This immoral and illegal war against the peoples of Iraq must stop now!

I am required by the Nuremberg Principles to not be complicit with this war of aggression that the UN Charter calls a grave war crime.

I have written and called my Members of Congress as well as the President. I have sat in my Senators’ offices. I have marched and demonstrated in countless nonviolent vigils and demonstrations against this war and the illegal weapons (cluster bombs and depleted uranium munitions) used against the people of Iraq. I have protested the sanctioned use of torture and other violations of human rights under the guise of prosecuting a “War on Terror” – while, ironically terrorizing others!  I have written Letters to the Editor. When I heard that President Bush planned to address the Republican National Convention in my home state, I felt I needed to nonviolently confront the President himself since this War and Occupation continues. (On an attachment you will find the letter I hope to deliver.)

If I am arrested for nonviolently attempting to deliver this letter and the International Law documents I carry to the President, I will choose to refuse to pay bail to seek my release. To charge someone for their right to nonviolently voice their opposition to criminal activity is a tax against my conscience. I will refuse to pay bail to a government that seeks to protect this War Criminal.

I march and protest today in solidarity with the civilians of Iraq and the millions of refugees who have had to endure this violent attack and occupation of their homeland. I ask my fellow U.S citizens to rise up nonviolently and refuse to allow this war to continue.

I try to faithfully follow the example and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth who calls me to “Love my enemies” and “Love my neighbor as myself”. I call all those who claim to follow the life and witness of Jesus to find creative ways to stop this war and work to heal its many wounds.

Steve Clemens is a member of the Community of St. Martin, an ecumenical faith community in Minneapolis committed to nonviolence, social justice, and inclusiveness. He also serves on the boards of Pax Christi Twin Cities and The Iraqi/American Reconciliation Project.

August 30, 2008
Sisters of St Joseph
1884 Randolph Ave
St Paul, MN  55105

Join Witness Against War for a meal, music, and welcome event.

Witness Against War 2008 is a 450 mile walk from Chicago to St. Paul to challenge and nonviolently resist our country’s continuing war in and occupation of Iraq.

Our journey will begin in the City of Chicago, site of the 1968 Democratic Party convention in the midst of the Vietnam War. The walk will conclude on August 31 in St. Paul — in time for the start of the 2008 Republican Party convention in the midst of the Iraq war.

For more information, please contact: nancy@globalexchange.org phone #: 415-342-6409 or http://vcnv.org/witness-against-war.

Preemptive Peacemaking: Just Peace vs. Just War 

Friday, September 19, 2008
7-9pm

Cirque de Guerre a comedic, satirical, play about the mayhem of war told in a series of vignettes. Q & A following the performance.  Commissioned by Every Church A Peace Church.

Saturday, September 20, 2008
9am-3pm

Keynote address, Glen Harold Stassen, Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary: Just Peacemaking: The New Paradigm for the Ethics of Peace and War

Held at the O’Shaughnessy Education Center University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus.
 
Sponsored by Every Church a Peace Church and Co-sponsored by the University of St. Thomas , Justice and Peace Studies Program and UST Students for Justice and Peace 

For more information, please contact Rod Olsen at 651.228.7224 or joan@pleromacoaching.com or Every Church a Peace Church.