Building a New Society
in the Shell of the Old
An Advent Retreat with Brian Terrell & Betsy Keenan
By December, we'll be almost two years into the current regime, which is already marked by war, hatred, and violence. We don't need to list the outrages that will probably be worse by then. The question will still remain: how do we find hope in these times, and how do we resist the inhumanity going on? How do we build a new society based on the common good?
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Brian Terrell and Betsy Keenan have been involved with the Catholic Worker movement since the 1970's. Brian worked at the NYC house and Betsy at Tivoli Farm. In 1979, they met at a CW house of hospitality in Davenport, Iowa. Over the next seven years, they married, had two children, and did the work of welcoming, housing, and feeding people in need while actively resisting war and the arms race.
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In October 1986, Brian and Betsy and their children, Elijah and Clara, along with another family founded Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm in Maloy, IA. There they continue gardening, keeping dairy goats and chickens, and sharing skills in homesteading and crafting. Betsy is a weaver and liturgical musician. Brian organizes resistance to nuclear resistance to nuclear weapons with Nevada Desert Experience. Over the years his work has brought him to war zones and prisons, and then back to the farm.
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Building a new society in the shell of the old requires a deep change in our ways of living, a new reverence for the earth, a commitment to sharing and nurturing life. Not everyone can live on a Catholic Worker Farm, but we can all make positive changes in our daily lives and take action to resist evil.
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Come and reflect with us on building community and resisting the evils of the day - we look forward to seeing you!
Retreat Leaders: Brian Terrell & Betsy Keenan