Margaret McKenna
Margaret McKennaMMSis an Americanreligious sisterandanti-militaristactivist. Raised inHackensack, New Jersey,she earned her PhD in the origins and religious thought ofChristianityfrom theUniversity of Pennsylvania.In the 1970s, McKenna began participating in non-violent civil disobedience with thePlowshares Movement,sometimes being arrested or imprisoned for her actions. Her activism has continued through recent years.
In 1989, McKenna helped to found New Jerusalem Laura, aNorth Philadelphiaaddiction treatment center that strives to help people recover from substance abuse without the use of medication,[1]by substituting community service, discussion, and Bible study as routes to recovery.
Early life and education
[edit]McKenna grew up inHackensack, New Jerseyand upon graduating from high school entered the Medical Mission Sisters, aCatholic Churchorganization of women dedicated to improving world access to health care.[2]She earned a bachelor's degree in English fromChestnut Hill College,[3]then a small Catholic women's college, and a master's degree in liturgy fromNotre Dame Universitybefore moving on to theUniversity of Pennsylvaniaand earning a doctorate in Christian origins and religious thought. For her doctorate thesis, she traveled to Israel for the clarity and solitude.[3]
Activism
[edit]me and Sister Margaret on the Pentagon lawn
with our wrists in a plastic tie
McKenna has been arrested for several acts ofcivil disobediencesince becoming an activist in the 1970s.[5]In 1987, she participated in a protest over theIran–Contra affairduring the bicentennial celebration of the signing of the constitution in Philadelphia.[6]In 1988 on Easter Sunday, McKenna and three otherPlowsharesactivists accessed the third deck of theUSSIowaand symbolically hammered on emptyTomahawkmissile housings before pouring their own blood on them.[7]At the same time, a banner that read "Follow the nonviolent Christ" was placed on the side of the ship.[1]The group was charged with trespassing, and McKenna was sentenced to four months in prison.[1]In 2007, McKenna, as well as musicianAaron Weiss,was arrested for participating in a "die-in"to protest the civilian casualties of theIraq Waron the grounds ofThe PentagoninArlington County,Virginia.[8]This event was referenced in the song "Timothy Hay" by Weiss's band,mewithoutYou,on their albumIt's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright.[9]
New Jerusalem Laura
[edit]McKenna andRichard Withers,a modern-dayhermit,both of whom were passionate aboutDesert Fathersat the time, asked themselves, "Where is the desert today?"[10]After concluding that "the desert" was the inner cities, in 1989, they moved to theFox Chaseneighborhood inNortheast Philadelphia.There, they witnessed the impact of drug addiction on the lives of the residents. In reaction, McKenna and Withers founded New Jerusalem Laura in an attempt to treat drug and alcohol addiction.[1]In addition to New Jerusalem, McKenna helped set up the Peacemakers Reflection Center and the Alternate to Violence Project in her community.[3]
New Jerusalem Laura's addict counseling methods were influenced by those of One Day at a Time, founded by the Rev. Henry Wells.[1]For the first 60 days of their stay, recovering addicts are prohibited from contacting the outside world, must surrender their cigarettes, and must be escorted if they leave the building. During this time, residents occupy their time with chores, community service, meetings, and Bible studies.[5]After the first 60 days, residents' actions are less tightly restricted; however, they are still required to participate in the chores, Bible studies, and meetings. Residents graduate from the program after six months.[1]
McKenna believes that the reason for the New Jerusalem Laura's success is the community. "In a recovery community, you can't get away with [lying], because it shows," she said. "It forces you to be honest."[1]Nearly 400 residents have graduated from the program since its inception.[2]Of those, close to seventy percent are reported to remain drug-free, well above the results of traditional recovery methods.[2]
References
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Campellone, Christopher (2010)."North Central: Addicts and Activists Provide an Oasis on Norris Street".Philadelphia Neighborhoods.Temple University.Retrieved14 January2013.
- Ellis, Lisa (1988)."An Activist Nun Trying To Provoke People To Think".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-28.Retrieved2022-02-26.
- Hagerman, Sarah; Weiss, Aaron (2009)."mewithoutYou: Let It Go".Jam Base.Retrieved16 January2013.
- Jonah House (2007)."Feast of the Holy Innocents Faith and Resistance Retreat Pentagon December 28, 2007".Jonah House.Retrieved14 January2013.
- Kolodziej, Maureen (2006)."Sister McKenna speaks about her call to serve".Collegian.La Salle University. Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2013.Retrieved14 January2013.
- Medical Mission Sisters."Sister Margaret McKenna".Medical Mission Sisters. Archived fromthe originalon 6 January 2009.Retrieved14 January2013.
- mewithoutYou (2009).It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright(liner notes). Seattle: Tooth & Nail Records.ASINB0024RI77A.
- Schenk, Christine (2014)."And the desert shall bloom".National Catholic Reporter.Retrieved8 January2015.
- Stevens, William (1987). "Congress Marks Birth at Fete in Philadelphia".The New York Times.
- Thompson, Isaiah (2009)."The Rehab Wars".Philadelphia City Paper. Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2014.Retrieved14 January2013.