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22 | October 6, 2016 | The orland park prairie Faith
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Pastor Column
There is no place for domestic violence
Imam Kifah Mustapha
Prayer Center of Orland Park
On Sept. 30, 2015,
President Obama
declared October
National Domestic Violence
Awareness Month.
In that presidential proclamation
from the Office of
the Press Secretary, it stated
that, “Nearly 1 in 4 women
and 1 in 7 men in the United
States have suffered severe
physical violence by an intimate
partner.” The National
Coalition against Domestic
Violence reported that,
“In 2014 a total of 65,800
intimate violence incidents
were reported to Illinois law
enforcement, many others
were not reported.” The
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reported
that, “Every minute, about
20 people are physically
abused by an intimate partner
in the U.S.”
Such alarming rates
and numbers should be a
concern for everyone to
set prevention measures to
stop domestic violence and
provide treatment centers to
aid in the healing process
for victims of domestic
violence.
Next to law enforcement
and social services,
members of clergy have an
important role to play in this
issue, since we deal with a
large number of community
members in our congregations.
As imam of the Prayer
Center of Orland Park, I am
planning a series of educational
programs this month
to bring awareness and cure
to this social disease.
This series will focus on
three areas.
First, to clarify that Islam
does not permit abuse in any
form — be it verbal, mental
or physical. The life of
Prophet Mohammad, who is
the role model and example
for every Muslim, is totally
free from any abuse toward
a wife, child, servant or
worker. As a matter of fact,
he said, “The best among
you are those who treat their
spouses the best.”
Secondly, to launch a
series of sermons, written
articles and seminars
to address ways to prevent
domestic violence and help
bring healing to victims
of abuse. This series will
detail the legal liabilities,
social impact on the family,
especially children, and
produce emotional support
for victims in the healing
process from a community
perspective, such as creating
support groups.
Finally, to unite with
other faith-based groups
to learn and benefit from
their experiences in order
to provide a list of available
services to the public.
In this day and age,
people, especially children,
are routinely exposed to
violent images through
technology. Movies, games
and real scenes of atrocities
in the news are all just a
click away on their phones,
tablets and computers. This
constant bombardment
desensitizes one’s natural
abhorrence to violence,
making it seem less heinous
than reality, and even glamourous
in some cases.
I believe that dealing with
domestic violence within
our own communities must
come from a wholesome
approach. Teaching methods
of maintaining issues within
the family, from financial
wellness to raising kids,
is an important factor to
help reduce and eliminate
domestic violence in our
homes.
I hope and pray that each
one of us will take his role
in this fight against domestic
violence seriously, so
everyone can live in dignity
and honor.
The opinions of this column are
that of the writer. They do not
necessarily reflect those of The
Orland Park Prairie.
Faith Briefs
Presbyterian Church in Orland Park (13401 S.
Wolf Road, Orland Park)
38th Orland “Open” Spelling Bee
2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16.
This event is open to all participants
willing ages 8 and up. Contests
will compete within their
age group; 12 trophies and 24
ribbons will be awarded. There
is no entry fee to compete, but
pre-registration is highly recommended.
To register send an email
with participants name, address,
phone number, age, and school (if
applicable) to PCOrland@gmail.
com or call (708) 448-8142 For
more information, call Bill Smith
at (708) 645-303.
In Memoriam
W.O.W. Arts for Kids
4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays,
Sept. 21-Nov. 16. This event is for
children in grades one through six.
Parents and younger children are
invited to attend “Little W.O.W.”
for children ages 4-5 years. For
more information, contact Cindy
at (708)448-8142 or cindypcop@
Comcast.net
2016 Arts & Crafts Fair
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
12. Applications for the annual
Arts & Crafts Fair are available
at the church office. The fee for
table space (8-foot-by-4.5-foot)
with two chairs is $30. Tables
are available for an additional $5.
Bake sale items are also needed
for this event. For more information,
contact the church office at
(708) 448-8142.
Calvary Church (16100 S. 104th Ave., Orland
Park)
Men’s Barnabas Bible Study
7-8:30 a.m. Thursdays. Study
various books written by Christian
authors. Coffee and light refreshments
are served. For more information,
email info@calvaryop.
org.
Stretch and Balance
6:30-7:30 p.m. Every second
and fourth Tuesday of the month.
All are welcome to an hour session
of stretching and balancing.
All are invited to bring water,
beach towel and yoga mats. For
more information, contact Elizabeth
Kolada at elleof67@att.net.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (15050 S. Wolf
Road, Orland Park)
Defending Religious Liberties
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. Join
legal expert and national speaker
Jocelyn Floyd, J.D. in her talk
about recent religious liberty attacks.
This talk is part of the
Knowledge and Prayer Series. For
more information, call Betty Bailey
(708) 624-3101.
Faith United Methodist Church (151st Street and
80th Avenue, Orland Park)
Food for Faith Families
Volunteer to cook and make
a meal for one of the church’s
families when they are faced with
illness or death of a member. Services
are only needed for a few
weeks. For those interested, contact
Kim Sjo at (708) 767-2723.
Veterans Voices
7 p.m. every third Tuesday of the
month. This is a group for veterans.
For information, contact Darryl
Wertheim at (708) 923-0021 or
Darryl.wertheim@gmail.com.
St. Michael’s Parish (14327 Highland Ave., Orland
Park)
Women’s Retreat
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.
This year’s retreat will be held at
the Benedictine Sisters’ Priory,
5900 W. 147th St. in Oak Forest.
The theme is “Opening the Door
to the Joy of Mercy”. To register
or for more information, visit
the parish office or call Jeanne at
(708) 349-0663.
Women’s Day Trip
8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday,
Oct. 13 The Women’s Club of St.
Michael’s is sponsoring a motor
coach trip to the Shrine of Christ’s
Passion in St. John, Indiana. The
group will have lunch at Teibel’s
restaurant, and trams will be provided
for people unable to walk
long distances. For more information,
contact Mary at (708)
349-5407.
Have something for Faith Briefs?
Contact Assistant Editor Brittany
Kapa at b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia.
com or call (708) 326-9170 ext.
11. Information is due by noon
on Thursdays one week prior to
publication.
Irene L. Salinas
Irene L. Salinas (nee Smajick), 91,
of Orland Park, died Sept. 23. She
was a retired bookkeeper for Sears,
and is survived by her daughter,
Maryann (Robert Rutkowski) Aimone;
granddaughter, Christina (David)
Goulding; grandson, Francesco
Aimone; great-grandson, Elliot; one
great-niece; and nephews. Visitation
was held at St. Julie Billiart Church.
Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in Alsip.
Laverne M. Rudofski
Laverne M. Rudofski (nee Kopp),
age 87, formerly of Orland Park, Sept.
28. She was a retired bank teller, and
is survived by her daughter, Karen
(Robert) Koehler; two grandchildren;
six great-grandchildren; and a sister,
Lorraine “Toots” Kopp. A funeral
Mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi
Church. Interment at Good Shepherd
Cemetery.
Have someone’s life you’d like to honor?
Email Assistant Editor Brittany Kapa
at b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia.com with
information about a loved one who was a
part of the Tinley Park community.