Thank You Oscar Lopez Rivera ~a Man of Hope

 

Kathleen Desautels, SP 

A Federal Penitentiary is not where one might imagine learning how to findhope in today’s world. However, that may be because one has nevervisited Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Oscar Lopez is a Puerto Rican political prisoner who has served 35 yearsin multiple high security prisons, 12 of which were in solitary confinement.He is the longest held political prisoner in the history of Puerto Rico, andone of the longest held in the world. Puerto Ricans both on the island and

in the diaspora, as well as their political partners as 8 Day Center isth

hold him in the deepest respect for his integrity, his courage, andhonesty.

Oscar’s crime, according to Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop DesmondTutu, “is conspiracy to free his (Puerto Rican) people from the shacklesof ” imperial justice.

On Memorial week-end Sister Denise Wilkinson, SP, a friend and the GeneralSuperior of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN and Idrove from our Motherhouse to the Terre Haute Federal Prison for ourfirst visit. A visit at a Federal Prison System one can always expect a fewbumps along the way…and we did. For instance we were refused entrybecause Denise wore sandals – not proper prison wear, we learned. Thismeant getting back in our car and driving to the local Dollar Store to buya pair of cheap canvas shoes. The winner here is clearly the local economyand the Dollar Store owner. Ah, the prison system!

Once in the visiting room with some 50+ inmates and their love ones wewaited in airport-type seating arrangements sitting across the 2ft aislewith another set of such seats facing us. After a long wait Oscar camesmiling through the door and greeted us like old friends. After

pleasantries Denise asked Oscar how old he was when he came from PuertoRico to the U.S.? With this question Oscar never stopped talking as heshared story upon story of his life from Puerto Rico to Chicago’s Westside. We heard stories about his mother, his time in Viet Nam, and hiscommunity organizing days. All of this was intertwined with what he’sreading, his opinion about the state of the political scene in the U.S. Healways had one more story or idea he wanted to share with us.

After more than an hour of listening to his stories we asked where hefinds hope in life given his life of 35 years in Federal Prison. Without amoment of hesitation, he answered by saying in short – “One needs threethings in life to live in hope. The first is one has to have a .purpose in lifeWhy do we do what we do? Second, one needs to have a sense of humorbecause there are too many ironies not to be amused. And thirdly, oneneeds to be kind, one needs to have compassion toward others becausethere’s always someone worse off than you are.”

Oscar’s smile and twinkling eyes just exuded the peace-filled, hope-filled,kindly person that he is. No barbed-wire fences or prison walls havestripped Oscar of his genuine, holy humanity. Indeed, I learned a lessonabout hope in being with Oscar that day. If ever someone deserves to befree from prison walls, it’s Oscar Lopez Rivera. May It Be So!

To learn more about the campaign to free Oscar .click here 

Welcome,JoAnne Harbert Bhati,

8th Day Center's new DevelopmentCoordinator

 

JoAnne and her husband, Shabbir, just returned from spending 3 1/2years in India, but prior to this JoAnne was Associate Director of theComboni Lay Mission Program in LaGrange Park, IL conducting workshops,designing and implementing training programs, as well as coordinatingannual fundraising events. 

JoAnne with her students on her last day teaching. She volunteered to teach computerskills to kids aged 11-17 at an informal school in Gurgaon, India, called the Radiant KidsSchool, run by the Ecolib Foundation.  

JoAnne has a M.A in Pastoral Studies from Boston College with aconcentration in Social Justice, and a B.F.A. in Visual CommunicationDesign from the University of Dayton. JoAnne brings to us years oforganizational experience and communication skills in non-profitdevelopment alongwith her deep commitment and passion for justice. Asshe wrote in her cover letter, “I'mexcited to learn more from 8th Dayabout local and national justice issues, since I was very focused oninternational issues in the past." 

8th Day Staff is equally excited to have JoAnne’s gifts of wit andwisdom with us. Welcome Again! 

 

What can you do with $8 a month?  

Each month, we receiveAt 8 Day Center, we can do a lot.th

contributions from a group of passionate individuals who believe in ourwork and want to be part of building a better future. We count on thesegifts to provide consistent financial support to the Center, and we regardthese monthly giving members as some of our most committed andfaithful partners in justice.

Signing up for $8 for 8 Day is an easy and meaningful way to showth

that you, too, believe in the power of consistent support, and that youwish to build this better future with us. It’s a small, yet powerful,commitment that drives 8 Day Center forward.th

So, what can YOU do with $8 a month?

 

Join today by .clicking here 

Questions? Email JoAnne at joanne@8thdaycenter.org 

 

 

On , we invite you to:Friday, July 8

On , we invite you to:Friday, July 8 

LGBTQ+ Justice in Faith-Based Communities:Understanding the Evolving Story of Gender &

Sexuality

 

This interactive workshop, featuring a keynote address and paneldiscussion, will explore the following and more: What does it mean to bequeer? How can we better understand queerness so our faith communitiescan be more inclusive? How might the story of the evolving universeinform our understanding of sexuality and gender? What might a churchthat is fully embracing of the queer community look like?

Our keynote speaker and panelists – Chris McNulty, Chantal de Alcuaz,Pat Curran, and Lydia Gajdel – were all raised Catholic and will discusshow their LGBTQ+ identities relate to their faith lives. Please join us!

Friday, July 8, 2016

| Gather8:30am | Workshop9am-12pm

Grace Place637 South Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60605to cover speaker stipends$20 Suggested Donation

and venue rental.

email or call 312-641-5151 x112.To register, maryellen@8thdaycenter.org

Click herefor more information and for registration information!

 

 

   

 

8th Day Center needs your support! 

We rely on generous donations throughout the year to fund our yearlyprojects, including our publication, the Centerings Good Friday Walk for

, and this ! You can join 8th Day as it works toJustice e-Newsletterrealize a more peaceful and just world by making a donation here. Takea stand with 8th Day, and give a gift today!  

 

Thank you! 

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Please visit our website at www.8thdaycenter.org8th Day Center for Justice, 205 W. Monroe, Ste.500, Chicago 60606

312.641.5151