According to St. Francis of Assisi, “He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” Clearly Brother Francis saw the arts as something to be valued and celebrated.
See below how a number of HNP ministries use the arts to further JPIC efforts.
To add to the list, contact Fran Eskin-Royer in Holy Name Province’s Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.
CLARE GALLERY EVENTS
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish
Hartford, Conn.
The Clare Gallery is a not-for-profit professional exhibition gallery located in the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry. Clare Gallery exhibitions, receptions, and artist lectures are free and open to the public. The Clare Gallery Committee promotes the arts through its exhibits and educational programs that focus on world religious, interfaith, and social justice themes.
Committee members promote the Gallery by generating written and visual publicity materials; setting up and taking down exhibits; providing hospitality at receptions; coordinating scheduling with other parish ministries; researching art and artists for exhibits; and coordinating the Gallery’s finances and fundraising opportunities. For more information about the ministry, visit the parish website. To learn more about specific exhibits, click here.
Contact: Nancy Wynn or Pat Curtis
FILM NIGHTS
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
The parish’s Justice and Peace Office is working with other ministry groups to show Catholic Social Teaching-themed films. Discussion follows where all opinions and viewpoints are welcomed with mutual respect and openness.
Contact: Trevor Thompson
SACRED CREATION PRESENTATION
Bethany Ministries
Middleburgh, N.Y.
The presentation has taken a variety of forms, providing the basis for an evening of reflection or a day-long retreat, or standing alone as two separate pieces. The 45-minute presentation is based on the spirituality of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Sacred Creation includes stories from the lives of Francis and Clare, as told in the writings of the saints themselves. The spiritual insight of Francis’ “Canticle of Brother Sun” forms its frame. This dramatic reflection touches on nature, the environment, Islam, mystical prayer, death, friendship and peace. Fr. Peter Chepaitis and Sr. Anna Tantsits, speaking as Francis and Clare, use stories, puppets and music to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sacred Creation was created and presented for the first time at the opening of the Pierce Cedar Creek Environmental Institute in Michigan. Since 2001, it has been shared in many other locations. To find out some of these venues and to see a picture, visit this link.
Contacts: Sr. Anna Tantsits, IHM and Fr. Peter Chepaitis, OFM
THE JUSTICE THEATRE PROJECT
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
The Justice Theater Project is an advocacy and activist theater group inspired by the social justice teaching and tradition of the Catholic Church. The mission of the Justice Theater Project is to use the dramatic arts as a way to call to the public’s attention the needs of those who are poor, marginalized and oppressed. For additional information about this ministry, visit the Justice Theater Project website.
Contacts: Deb Royals-Mizerk