26-28 December 2006
The Des Moines and Omaha Catholic Worker communities invite you to:
The 28th Annual Feast of the Holy Innocents Retreat, Witness & Line Crossing
at STRATCOM Headquarters
& US MILITARY SPACE COMMAND,
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

 

WHY AT OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE (AFB)?

Offutt Air Force Base has served as the home of our nation’s nuclear weapons targeting and command headquarters for over 56 years. Formerly the Strategic Air Command, after the end of the Cold War the command headquarters was expanded to the Strategic Nuclear Command (STRATCOM). While there are no nuclear weapons stationed at Offutt AFB, STRATCOM is the operational command center for all land, air and sea strategic nuclear weapons systems. No nuclear missile silos can be activated, no Trident Submarine can set sail or B52 Bombers fly without STRATCOM'S approval. STRATCOM at Offutt AFB holds the whole world under a threat of global nuclear annihilation every day, every hour, every minute of the year.

As if the targeting of 8,000 nuclear weapons were not horrific enough, on Oct. 1, 2002, the US Military Space Command was added to this hellish mission. With the addition of the US Military Space Command, the STRATCOM command facility now has the mission and ability to initiate and direct what it calls "Full Spectrum Global Warfare."  That means the Pentagon can now wage war at any point on the earth's surface in a 30-minute time frame directly form Offutt AFB. From nuclear weapons to direct control and command of clandestine secret military missions, the people at STRATCOM have a direct hand in it all!

(See http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/offutt.htm)

WHY THE FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS?

The DM and Omaha CW communities invite you to make your Christmas celebration complete and join us as we explore the often ignored and deeper meaning of the season. Using the Gospel of Mathew’s infant narrative, we will examine the links between King Herod, his killing of the innocent children in Bethlehem and the murderous deeds of US backed modern day Herods. The Herods of Jesus’ day were backed up by the Legions of the Roman armies. Our modern day Herods are backed up by the USA Global Military presence and Offutt’s Nuclear and Space Commands.

Come and help us expose, confront and convert our country’s God-awful nuclear weapon’s operational headquarters and its War in Space Command through this prayerful three day retreat and witness at Offutt AFB.

This years retreat takes place in the basement of St John’s Church on Creighton University campus at 2500 California Plaza, Omaha NE.

Directions to Creighton U. here - http://www2.creighton.edu/maps/

The Retreat begins at 7:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 26th with a Christmas Party and Social. On Wednesday morning Dec. 27th, we will drive to Offutt AFB for a brief prayer service and reading of St. Mathews Infant Narrative. Nonviolence training, community building, bible study and prayer will follow on Saturday. The Retreat will end with a Vigil and Line Crossing at Offutt AFB Thursday Dec. 28th.


Schedule Feast of Holy Innocents
Retreat & Line Crossing 2006

Tuesday, Dec. 26
 
 7:00 p.m. Christmas Party in the basement of St John’s Parish on Creighton U. campus at 2500 California Plaza, Omaha NE. - for all our Omaha area friends and Feast of the Holy Innocents Retreat participants. Floor space is available at St John’s for over night hospitality. Beds in local homes available upon request.
 
Wednesday, Dec. 27
 
10:00 a.m. Introductions and drive to Offutt for “on site look” at Kinney gate, prayer circle and reading of St. Matthew’s Infant Narrative (weather permitting) Return to retreat site.
12:00 p.m. Lunch
 1:00 p.m. Offutt Resistance History Overview
 1:30 p.m. Nonviolent Training
 4:00 p.m. Planning Session for “Line Crossing”
 6:00 p.m. Supper
 7:30 p.m. Line Crossing Plan Report
 8:00 p.m. Talk: Offutt’s new, central command role in the US Global Military Empire by Frank Cordaro
 
Thursday, Dec. 28
 
 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
10:00 a.m. Finalize Witness & Line Crossing Plans. Clean up at St John’s.
11:00 a.m. Liturgy
12:00 p.m.  Car caravan to Offutt & the Kinney gate
12:30 p.m. Witness and Line Crossing Main Gate

For more information contact:

Frank Cordaro
The Phil Berrigan Catholic Worker House
713 Indiana St., Des Moines IA 50314
Ph (515) 282-4781 Cell (515) 490 2490

E-mail   Frank.Cordaro@Gmail.com
DMCW Web Page http://www.desmoinescatholicworker.org

Or

Jerry Ebner
Omaha Catholic Worker
1104 N 24th St, Omaha NE 68102
Ph (402) 502- 5887
E-mail omahacw@hotmail.com

 


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