World AIDS Day Activities – 2008.

1. 40 Hours of Prayer and Remembrance – WEB
Myrna Rodriguez, MM Society, had offered some months ago to set up a web space for a prayer vigil, with the hopes that it would be interactive. In the end, we had a static list of people signed up for prayer (representing 33 states and 22 countries, thus far). MOGC and the Maryknoll Sisters included links on their websites for the prayer, and Myrna sent an email blast out to a number of blast contacts. I also sent email invitations to prayer out to all missioners, former lay missioners, employees and affiliates and a number of people on my various email lists. From that perspective we did decent coverage. Where I fell off this year was not having sign-up sheets at the sisters and seminary for those persons who do not use email to sign up. One aspect to enhance for next year is to make certain that everyone contacted knows about the action alerts and NewsNotes. I was so last minute this year, that that wasn’t well thought out. You can see who all signed up (thus far) by going to http://www.maryknoll.org/aidstf.

2. 40 Hours – at the Maryknoll Centers.
We opened the 40 hours with a prayer service on Sunday evening, November 30, at the Society Lady Chapel While it was a small group, and the feedback was excellent. The program is attached, as well as Br. Mark Huntington’s talk. The chapel was beautifully decorated, and I owe great thanks to Mark, Sr. Sylvia Postles, LM Judy Helein, and Mike Duggan, Ann Hayden and Owen Borda who provided the music without much warning.
We closed the 40 hours with a very short prayer service at noon on December 2, at the Maryknoll Sisters Chapel, coordinated by the lay missioner candidates. We owe particular thanks to Richard Perez, who coordinated the service. The focus of the prayer was the AIDS Way of the Cross written by Sr. Kay Lawlor, MMM. Afterwards people commented on how moved they were by the prayer, and some requested copies of the Stations.

3. Westchester Coalition on Global Poverty and AIDS
Maryknoll again participated in this World AIDS Day event, December 1 in White Plains, by contacting the main speaker, Ms. Isabel Matenje of Malawi, whom I had met at a CSW preparatory meeting, and other preparatory tasks. The event began with a brief candlelight prayer, followed a short candlelight procession (sponsored by a local youth coalition), then followed by music, Ms. Matenje’s presentation and shorter presentations by representatives Nita Lowey, RESULTS, Bread for the World, and the Coalition. It was wonderful that Sr. Ann Braudis attended! There were tables set up for display as well, and it’s been clear that people appreciate Maryknoll’s presence in this coalition.

4. Presentation at the Community Unitarian Church, White Plains
This was a simple presentation of readings about people living with AIDS, and a ‘sermon’. I saw accepting this invitation as another way of making Maryknoll present in local communities.

5. United Nations Side Event: Co-sponsored by the CONGO NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS and UNFPA: “HIV and Young People: Leadership for Change”. December 4, 2008. I participated in the planning meetings for this event.