The Gettysburg/Adams County Chapter of Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) honored the 2023 winners of its Peacemaker Awards this week during a well-attended ceremony at the Valentine Hall Auditorium on the Lutheran Seminary campus. Darren Glass, President of ICPJ opened the ceremony and mentioned that, since inception of the program in 1995, the Center had given awards to 60 individuals and six organizations for their efforts on behalf of peace and justice in the community.
The 2023 William J. Collinge Peacemaking Awards were presented by Bill Collinge himself, who introduced the recipients, Christine Kellett, MJ Duffy, and Dennis Murphy.
Christine H. Kellett, Professor of Law, Emerita at Dickinson School of Law, who served as former member of the board from 2013 to 2021 had brought her experience to ICPJ to help reformulate its bylaws. Professor Kallet thanked the Center for the award and spoke about how much ICPJ had actually given to her. “I am not a peacemaker”, she said. “I am a rebel rouser and I like to get into good trouble”. She spoke of the many peacemakers and service programs in the Gettysburg community and stressed the importance of Peace Camp, of which she herself had been part of for 30 years and which, to date, has sent hundreds of young folks out into the world making a difference. “Kids don’t see color, gender preference; they don’t see creed or disabilities; they accept one another”. She reminded the audience to think globally, but act locally, to make a real difference.
Mary Jane (MJ) Duffy had served on the board from 2016 to 2019 and as its President in 2018-2019. Coming from the nonprofit world, she brought valuable experience and ideas to ICPJ. Bill Collinge mentioned that, to his knowledge, MJ had been the only church representative working for ICPJ. Ms. Duffy thanked the board and emphasized that the award should go to everyone in the room who works so hard for the mission of the Center and the many programs connected to the organization. She recounted that the Vietnam War had been her incentive to get involved in peacemaking activities. “We still have a lot of work to do,” she said, “but if you got love, you can get it done!”
The third William J Collinge Award went to Dennis Murphy, who was not present at the ceremony. Mr. Murphy served on the board from 2017 to 2022, served as Second Vice President in 2017, First Vice President in 2018 and 2019, and President from 2020 to 2022. He was instrumental in guiding ICPJ through the Covid epidemic by enhancing fundraising and board development.
The 2023 Peacemaker of the Year went to the Refugee Resettlement Partnership of Gettysburg (RRPG). Rukhsana Rahman and RRPG Chair Rayna Cooper provided an update on the organization’s activities, which most recently included the sponsorship of two Afghan refugee families. Supported by eight churches and other benefactors, the organization helped the families settle into Gettysburg, to find housing, furnishings, clothing, medical care, language tutoring, work opportunities, school, and recreation. Both families have adjusted well, with the first family just having celebrated its one-year anniversary in Gettysburg. Ms. Cooper recounted how a group that first started out with approximately 50 unrelated individuals “discovered a shared responsibility and, in the process, discovered the power of purpose in our own lives.”
The 2023 Lifetime of Peacemaking Award went to Amelia Contreras, Executive Director of Manos Unidas Hispanic/American Center. Ms. Contreras, an immigrant from Mexico, founded the organization which provides advocacy on immigration issues, after-school programming, a food pantry, and numerous other services to the Hispanic community in Adams County. Yeimi Bautista, who was last year’s Lifetime of Peacemaking Awardee, presented the award and emphasized that there was not enough time and room to mention the long list of families and individuals that Ms. Contreras has helped over the years. “She is a true people person who really sees individuals. There are those who can help people because their own essence is already peaceful and there is no void to fill; evil has already vanished”, she said.
Ms. Contreras spoke of the magic happening at Manos Unidas, a culture “where all ingredients of humanity, the needs of others, their stories, their tragedies, our hopes, our compassion, all are poured together and mixed, until fumes develop that glow in the dark. In the darkest moments, this glow sends out signs of hope.” She closed out reciting the third verse of a hymn that she had just heard at a chapel service for the Uvalde gun violence victims an hour earlier:
Each Peacemaker Award includes a donation of $250 worth of books or other materials to the Adams County Library in the honoree’s name.
The Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) seeks to promote respectful dialogue on peace, social justice and equity, multiculturalism, and environmental sustainability by hosting events and encouraging individuals and organizations to work together nonviolently to enrich our community. To learn more about the ICPJ, go to http://icpj-gettysburg.org.
God, we pray for those who suffer when this world seems so unfair.
May we all be quick to offer loving comfort, gentle care.
And we pray: Amid the violence, may we speak your truth, O Lord!
Give us strength to break the silence, saying, “This can be no more”.
Featured image caption (l-r): RRPG Chair Rayna Cooper; Amelia Contreras, Manos Unidas; Prof. Christine Kellett; Mary Jane (MJ) Duffy.
Hymn: God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us, Copyright @2009 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Donate Gardner is a freelance writer and journalist who came to Gettysburg from Montgomery County, Maryland. A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. She currently serves as the news communicator for the Adams County migrant outreach program, Pasa La Voz and supports various pro bono legal services to migrants in the area.
An immigrant born, raised, and educated in Western Europe, Donate uses her multi-lingual background to maintain connection to other cultures, both as a writer, historical researcher and advocate.
Donate is also an active musician, multi-instrumentalist and award-winning songwriter, enjoying the rich music and arts community in Gettysburg, and supporting traveling musicians coming through the area. Donate can be reached at: dvbgardner@gmail.com.
Ms. Donate Gardner,
This is a wonderful article. Thanks so much for the care and appreciation you offered to this special moment. I look forward to seeing so much more!
Patrice Smith