Annual Peace Lecture will look at pope’s encyclical

The Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought (MCWRET) is sponsoring its sixteenth annual Shanti (Peace) Lecture on Saturday, October 3 from 2:30-4:00PM at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft.

This year’s theme is “On Care for our Common Home: Laudato Si!”, based on Pope Francis’ encyclical calling on all people to take “swift and unified action” for the environment in defense of our common home, planet Earth. Speaker Professor Antonia Malone will address the implications of Pope Francis’ message and how we can all unite for the common good of our environment.

Antonia “Tonie” Malone, is a retired professor of Religious Studies from Seton Hall University, where, among other offerings, she taught a course on “The Spirituality of the Environment”. Tonie’s interest in peace and justice led her to become a founding member of NJ Pax Christi, a branch of the International Catholic Peace Movement. For many years she served Pax Christi USA as an Ambassador of Peace, traveling to Nicaragua, Russia, Brazil and Haiti in various capacities. Today she serves on the boards of the MCWRET and the Haiti Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. She is a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Keyport, NJ.

All the public is welcome to attend. After the lecture and dialogue, light refreshments will be served. Admission is free; a free will basket will be available. For more information, please contact Madhav Phadke, madhav@phadkeassociates.com or phone the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House @ #732-747-0707. For more information on the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, visit www.interfaith-mcwret.org.