Memories of Anne M., by Brad Lyttle

I first met Anne Montgomery at the project, ‘The Walk for a Peaceful Future,” in Israel, in 1992. She was a slight woman, and had a chronic limp, but it was evident from the first that she had great energy, and did not permit her handicap to limit her activities.

Sr. Anne speaking on Life, Light and Hope

Dear Friends,

Chrissy Nesbitt was going through the videos that she discovered of the Festivals of Hope surrounding the 1980 Plowshares Eight and discovered many treasures.  Among them was one of Sr. Anne Montgomery speaking to one of the gatherings.  In this particular video Anne speaks beautifully about light and darkness; about living into the light.

Photo Tribute to Anne Montgomery

Editor’s Note: The audio clips of Anne speaking were taken from various YouTube videos of events related to the 1980 Plowshares Eight.  We are thankful to whomever converted so many 8 millimeter films to digital format and organized them into over 100 YouTube videos.  Here is one of those from which we extracted audio of Anne:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJbpQTYQzZ4&feature=share&list=PLC9DDEA86AA1A4451

Anne Montgomery: A reflection on the “Teflon Nun”

(a reflection on Anne Montgomery from Ciaron O’Reilly)

I remember Anne most clearly around the beginning of our ANZUS
Plowshares process in 1990. She was such a delight to be in the
company as we set off on this grand adventure – a 10 month process
that saw us disarm a B-52 Bomber on the eve of Gulf War

Anne Montgomery: “A Hero and a Saint”

A Tribute to Sr. Anne Montgomery

By Michele Naar-Obed

It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote that I didn’t believe in heroes. Heroes, like saints, have been sanitized, whitewashed, sensationalized and put up on some unattainable pedestal where the rest of us are not supposed to go. So I guess it’s those kinds of heroes and saints that I can’t believe in.

On Anne Montgomery: Of Two Hands and Two Feet

Dear Friends,

Kathy Kelly is one of those extraordinary souls whose acts of love, compassion and courage are well-known.  Kathy understands, as did Anne Montgomery, that it is not about “us” per se, but about our work and the fact that we do not do it alone.

Anne and Kathy would meet, not unexpectedly, in conflict zones where both were working with people in dire need.  It is work that takes not only faith, hope and courage, but persistence.

Funeral Service for Anne on September 15th

Dear Friends,

The funeral service for Anne Montgomery will be:

10:00 am Saturday, September 15th in the

Oakwood Chapel
140 Valparaiso Ave.
Atherton CA 94027

followed by burial in the Oakwood cemetery (same property as the chapel),
Sharing of memories,
and Lunch

Bill Bichsel, SJ and Steve Kelly, SJ will concelebrate.

For people planning to fly in, Oakwood is approximately midway between the San Francisco International and San Jose International Airports.

In Memory of Anne Montgomery: “Let the Children Live”

(This was originally posted at The Nuclear Abolitionist on August 28th)

Dear Friends,

In the long, hard struggle for a just, nonviolent, peaceful world there are participants who dedicate their lives so fully to the service of others – truly to all humanity – that they shine (in a humble way) bright as the noonday sun.

Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, who passed away yesterday, is one of those extraordinarily bright spirits.  Her every breath, every step, every word, every action embodied the deepest spirit of love and compassion.  Her nonviolent spirit poured from her and touched so many in this world.

To Anne and the Road Less Travelled

Dear Friends,

Our dear friend and peacemaker Anne Montgomery was no stranger to the road less travelled, a road requiring great skills of spiritual navigation.  On the other hand, that road less travelled is one that was blazed by some well-worn sandals roughly 2000 years ago.  Anne locked on a true compass bearing that guided her well on her long, full life’s journey.

Sr. Anne remembered by her Sisters (of the Sacred Heart)

(From the Society of the Sacred Heart, in memory of our Dear Sr. Anne.  We will post details on the celebration of Anne’s life here at Disarm Now Plowshares as soon as they are available.)

*************

Anne Montgomery, RSCJ

Birth: November 30, 1926
Profession: March 5, 1951
Death: August 27, 2012

Prominent peace activist Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, died Monday, August 27 at Oakwood, the Society of the Sacred Heart’s elder care center in Atherton, California. Known around the world for her commitment to peace, Sister Montgomery was incarcerated many times after witnessing to peace and justice through acts of nonviolent civil disobedience, in protest of nuclear weapons. Her life will be celebrated in a Mass of Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, at Oakwood, 140 Valparaiso Avenue, Atherton, CA 94027. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.