Nobel Peace Prize Nominee to Receive SJC Esse Non-Videri Award

March 23, 2011

PATCHOGUE, NY MARCH 24, 2011 The Institute for the Study of Religion in Community Life at St. Josephs College is pleased to welcome Nobel Peace Prize nominee Father John Dear, S.J. to present the lecture, "The Beatitudes and Nonviolence, on Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the McGann Conference Center located in OConnor Hall on the Colleges Long Island Campus. Fr. Dear will also be the recipient of the Colleges Esse Non Videri Non-Violence Award at a special ceremony and luncheon to be held earlier that day.

A Jesuit priest, pastor, peacemaker, organizer and retreat leader, Fr. Dear is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. Nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he has written and edited more than 25 books, including his autobiography A Persistent Peace: One Mans Struggle for a Nonviolent World. Fr. Dears work toward peace has taken him all over the world, where he has taught and lectured on nonviolence to thousands. Currently, he writes a weekly column for the National Catholic Reporter and lectures in churches and schools across the country and world. Fr. Dear holds two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

"In a time of so much war and violence, the Esse Non Videri Non-Violence Award is given in recognition to an individual who has chosen a commitment to a nonviolent way of life, said Director of Campus Ministry Patrick Tracey. "John Dear's tireless journey and heroic efforts toward bringing about peace are to be held up as a model peacemaker and he has exemplified the St. Josephs mission statement: To be, not to seem.

Named after the Colleges motto, Esse Non Videri: "To be, not to seem, the Non-Violence Award is presented annually to individuals who exemplify compassion, social engagement and spirituality in the pursuit of social justice and peace. Recipients are chosen for their commitment to a nonviolent way of life and efforts toward bringing about peace, perhaps in an individual or personal situation, or to the wider community or world. Past recipients include womens rights activist Homaira Mamoor, award-winning journalist Antoinette Bosco, peace activist Sister Mary Fritz, Woodrow Wilson Fellow and Middle East Scholar Janet Wallach and Dead Man Walking author Sister Helen Prejean.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Paul Ginnetty at 631.687.2681 or email [email protected].