Voices: Notes from the Agape Community

In Memoriam: Nina Anderson Nina, long time Agape friend, supporter, and neighbor died November 13th after a long illness with cancer. Nina was a mystical soul who expressed her spiritual vision through her poetry. With her long-departed soul-friend poet Rich Bachtold, Nina and Rich were twin stars shining a mystic

Kings Bay Plowshare 7 Update

Agape continues to stand in solidarity with the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 and the death-dealing weapons that these systems produce and employ. With our plowshare friends, we renew our commitment to the nonviolent Jesus in his resistance to the systems of domination. As prisons continue to be hotbeds for COVID-19

Pro-Death Catholics and the Racist Death Penalty

by Suzanne Belote Shanley Today is the second day of Advent, and I have just completed reading two women friends’ mystical writing, one a poet, Denise Levertov, another a mystic, environmentalist woman priest of the Episcopal Church, Margaret Bullit-Jonas. Denise’s poetry matches the 6 a.m amazement as I look out

Conversation with a Trump Supporter on Election Day

by Brayton Shanley About six of us from Agape made our way to the Ware High School on November 3rd where the locals were voting. What we found there took our breath away: Ten or so Trump supporters standing steamroller strong along the road leading into the polling place, wildly

November 30, 2020: Celebrating Dorothy Day and Etty Hillesum

Today we are praying with, through, to, and for Dorothy Day and Etty Hillesum. We invite you to join us in connecting with the Spirits of Dorothy and Etty. May we open our minds and hearts to the wisdom and compassion that they so powerfully embodied and articulated. “Ultimately, we

Agape’s Vigil for Orlando Cordia Hall

Last updated: 11:05 p.m., November 20, 2020 Orlando Cordia Hall (Shakib Wali), father of 6 and grandfather of 13, was executed at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, IN on Thursday, November 19th, just before midnight. Though a district court judge had granted a stay before the execution, which had

Agape Community Update & Winter Appeal

Dear Friends of Agape, Here at Agape, fall is a joyous season, the completion of the banquet of summer’s harvest. As we move through November, the Agape woodlands are still strewn with acorns of our towering oak trees. The five of us living at Agape turn our wary gaze to

Healing Our Divisions on & Beyond Election Day: Agape’s Vigil in Ware

In solidarity with interfaith vigils in the area and across the country, Agape has been holding an ongoing vigil in Ware, MA. Here is our message: Healing Our Divisions on & Beyond Election Day We are an interfaith group consisting primarily of Christians who are gathered here in the spirit

“Song for Agape” by Sarah Pirtle

Sarah Pirtle, cherished friend of Agape Community, first performed “Song for Agape” at the community’s opening ceremony in 1989. We hope it brings you joy.   SONG FOR AGAPE Oh, justice song! We hear the human family. Oh, justice song. Oh, bind our hearts to all. Oh, justice song. Oh,

Dixon’s Baptism and Confirmation!

On Sunday, October 25th, Agape Community member Dixon George was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church. Dixon took “Francis” as his confirmation name. Fr. Tom McMurray, SJ, Dixon’s spiritual director, was the celebrant. Sr. Jane Morrissey, SSJ and Jim Robinson served as his godparents. Suzanne Belote Shanley and Brayton