It's after midnight, late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morn.
I am the last one from our national staff leaving Chicago, following this past weekend's National Conference and our National Council meeting on Monday and Tuesday. I'm feeling oddly invigorated when I should maybe feel something closer to exhaustion. But I think that is what a good national conference ought to do maybe--energize, lift up, inspire, motivate. And more of course.

Gathering together--and hearing firsthand all of the incredible things people are doing across the nation to proclaim the peace and justice which are at the heart of the gospel--is a singular experience. To everyone, including all of our speakers and every participant, we on the staff of Pax Christi USA want to thank you. More than 300 of you made the trip, and in these difficult economic times, we know what a sacrifice that is. We had 30 young adults gather for a day of reflection on Thursday, 75 participants for the anti-racism training on Friday, 300-plus for the main conference, and over 175 people gathered for the African American-Latino dialogue at St. Eulalia Church and the subsequent immigrant rights march to and rally at the Broadview Detention Center.

For highlights of the entire weekend--photos, video, reports, Rev. John Dear's column on the conference for NCR, and more--you can click here.

We've added photos from Sunday's march and rally, and we'll be adding more video and other reflections on the conference in the weeks to come.

African American-Latino Dialogue: At our closing Mass on Sunday morning, we were commissioned and blessed as many of us made our way to St. Eulalia Catholic Church, where we took part in a dialogue between African-American and Latino/a Catholics. It was a powerful experience, which included discussion groups, reflections on the immigration/migration stories of our families or ancestors, videotaped testimonies, music and prayer. Many participants signed pledges to continue conversations needed to build solidarity of purpose and to hold in prayer all who are oppressed, especially communities of color experiencing systemic oppression in regard to education, healthcare, criminal justice and housing.

March and Rally at Broadview Detention Center: After the dialogue, participants marched the mile or so between St. Eulalia Church and the Broadview Detention Center, where we heard about the tragedies of immigrants detained there and later deported. Local Chicago activists and a detention center survivor shared their stories and we prayed and sang together, hoping those detained could hear us and know that they are not forgotten. The rally ended when we returned to St. Eulalia Church where their pastor, Fr. Carmello, and the parishioners welcomed us with music and hospitality. 

Again, to all who made the journey, we thank you. And to Pax Christi members and friends who kept our conference in prayer and who continue to do the frontline work of peace and justice in your local communities and churches, we are grateful for your witness. Blessings to all!