"I will talk about how we can bring peace between these two nations," said Sister Olga, referring to Iraq and the United States. "The problem is that many people are saying, 'a war is too big of a problem for me,' and that 'it is not really my problem.' "

In her talk at C.W. Post, Sister Olga will share her experiences and shed light on the anger that Iraqis feel toward the United States - and what can be done to quiet the calls for war. She will speak on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 4 p.m. in the Interfaith Center Chapel Lounge. The talk is free and open to the public.

Raised Catholic in a country where just 2 percent of the population is Christian and even fewer Catholic, Sister Olga felt a calling early in her life to serve the people - both Christians and Muslims. Soon after her family fled to Jordan after the Gulf War, she returned alone to Iraq to work among the poor as a laywoman. She established an Iraqi youth organization called Love Thy Neighbor, through which she brought food to prison inmates, many of whom were children imprisoned for stealing. The government eventually allowed her to speak of God with the inmates and to arrange for priests to celebrate Mass in the prisons.

Four years after she began her ministry, Sister Olga established the Missionaries of the Virgin Mary, the first order of Catholic nuns in the Assyrian Catholic Church in 700 years. Today, the order has seven nuns, two in India and four in Iraq. Sister Olga came to the United States in 2000 to study English. She is now pursuing a master's degree in pastoral ministry and spirituality at Boston College, while working at a seminary library and volunteering her time with young children and college students. She plans to return to Iraq after completing her studies.

"I grew up in two wars," says Sister Olga, who is now 36 years old. "It was a very difficult life. But in spite of all the darkness that I saw in my life there, I always had hope. A lot of people here, with what's going on now with my country, ask if I am still talking about peace. But I still have hope. I have hope that we can do something."

The C.W. Post Campus is located at 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville. For additional information, please call the C.W. Post Office of Public Relations at (516) 299-2332.