Clothing drive, music, speakers highlight SMU’s Lasallian Week of Peace
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Office of Campus Ministry has a full slate of activities planned for Lasallian Week of Peace Oct. 19-25. The theme of the week is “solidarity in peace as Lasallians across the globe.” Events — several of which are open to the public — will touch on many contemporary issues including immigration, genocide, war, personal peace and the expression of peace through music. Events will engage several different groups and organizations on the SMU campus.
The Lasallian Week of Peace schedule includes:
Monday, Oct. 19 — Sister Judith Schaefer, OP, Ph.D., university dean for university affairs, will discuss “How to bring peace into your life” at 8:30 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 — Ernesto Velez Bustos of Centro Campesino Inc. will present “Immigration 101: What we know, but don’t understand about immigration,” at 6:30 p.m. in the Presidents Room of the Toner Student Center.
Thursday, Oct. 22 — The Winona Peacemakers will conduct a non-violent civil action from 4 to 5 p.m. on Broadway and Main streets in Winona.
SMU associate professor of interdisciplinary studies Stephen Pattee will discuss “Genocide: Personal & Communal Implications” at 7 p.m. in the Presidents Room of the Toner Student Center.
Friday, Oct. 23 — The Common Threads Clothing Drive kicks off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room B of the Toner Student Center. Gently used clothing and footwear for men, women, youth and infants will be available. A fashion show, featuring donated clothing, will begin at 4 p.m. The cost is 50 cents per item or $3 per bag, and all proceeds will go to the Dan Corcoran Catholic Worker House.
Carlos Lumbí, a singer/songwriter from Leon, Nicaragua, will perform at 8 p.m. in the Toner Student Center Lounge. His lyrics cover a range of topics, focusing on Central American social and environmental justice issues, and his musical style is folk/trova. Lumbí has also set to music poems by Gioconda Belli, Ernesto Cardenal and Francisco Ruiz Udiel, among others. Along with his own music, Lumbí performs songs by friends from Nicaragua who also sing of a deep desire for social, economic and environmental justice in Nicaragua.
Students will be raising awareness about the millions of people who do not have adequate shelter to sleep during Habitat for Humanity’s Shack-a-thon from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the Plaza. Students will be sleeping outside in cardboard boxes.
Saturday, Oct. 24 — The Common Threads Clothing Drive continues from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room B of the Toner Student Center.
Saint Mary’s will be volunteering as part of Make a Difference Day throughout the community from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.
Sunday, Oct. 25 — The Common Threads Clothing Drive concludes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room B of the Toner Student Center.
