Greetings of peace!
I have just arrived at Notre Dame University, South Bend in the Indiana State, USA. I arrived here this evening from New York.
South Bend is very cold right now, and there is snowfall going on outside. All roads, buildings and cars are all white, covered with snow. However, the place I am staying in is centrally heated.
Notre Dame is a Catholic University and it was established by the Holy Cross Fathers in 1842. It has a huge campus of 1,200 acres of land. There are around 11,500 students. And as I am told, it is the top Catholic University in the USA. There are about 1,000 professors and over 4,000 other staff members. The Notre Dame football team is one of the best in USA and very often it wins championships.
I am here as a keynote speaker for the conference to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Encyclical of Pope John XXIII, “Pacem In Terris" (Peace on Earth). My lecture will be on the 22nd of March at 9:00 a.m. local time, followed by 15 minutes for questions and answers. My topic is " ‘Pacem in Terris’: Its Influences and Challenges to Catholics/Christians in an Islamic Context of Pakistan." There will be around 250 scholars and students from all over the world participating in this conference.
I feel honored that this university has invited me from Pakistan to give a keynote speech with a concentration on Pakistan, where there is a grave need for peace and interfaith harmony. I will also mention the work of URI in my country. This conference poses me a challenge to give a keynote address.
The conference will begin on the 21st of March and end on the 23rd of March. I request your prayers and meditation for my lecture. Thanks!
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
In peace,
Fr. James Channan OP
Director, Peace Center
URI Regional Coordinator Pakistan
