|
By Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP
Published January 13, 2006
 An interesting statistic: On Oct. 6, 2005, the percentage of search hits for the term "peace" versus the term "war" on The New York Times Web site was 26 percent searching for the word "peace" while 74 percent searched for the word "war".
A hopeful statistic: On the same date, the search hits for those two words for YES! magazine were 97 percent "peace" versus 3 percent "war".
Next month (Feb. 21) several offices of the Archdiocese of Detroit will host a conference, "Cherishing the Fullness of our Lives: A Conference of Information and Skill Building for Parish Staff and Leadership." One of the breakout sessions will examine the reality that we live today in a society pervaded by violence. Viewing so many violent acts in the media (real life and in the movie/video game world) sets the standard for what is normal. Our children are growing up in a world lacking respect for differences, living in fear and failing to embrace the sacramentality of all of creation. Do we know the teachings of our Church about war and the oppressed? Are we skilled in conflict resolution and peace-making?
On Jan. 1 (as every year), we observed the World Day of Peace. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that this year's theme, "In Truth Is Peace," comes from the Vatican II document, "Gaudium et Spes" (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). "Peace is true because it responds to a desire inscribed by the Creator in all people's hearts. There is no peace when mankind violates the natural law and does injustice to others."
It seems that at this time and place in our history, our faith formation processes for all ages and circumstances (children, youth, adults, our eldering/wisdom figures, RCIA, marriage preparation, etc.) are not complete if we do not take the time to explore the challenges of living peacefully in a violent world. Without the Church's voice, we are bombarded with the culture's message that "might makes right." The Gospel message proclaims, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice… . Blessed are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5: 6, 9)
Our faith formation processes – for all ages – can incorporate our mission as peacemakers in three ways.
Prayer
- Use anniversaries of world events such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) and Sept. 11, 2001, for prayer vigils.
- Continually remember in prayer all the places and people in our world needing our prayer for peace.
- Participation in Church Unity Week each January will illustrate that unity is far more bonding and peaceful than difference.
- Visit the World Peace Prayer Society: www.worldpeace.org.
- On their anniversaries commemorate in prayer the people who have died in the struggle for peace such as Archbishop Oscar Romero and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Study
- The Website www.pax christiusa.org provides current and helpful resources for all ages.
- Never leave the study of a Scripture passage without looking at what it says about peacemaking, respecting differences, cherishing human dignity and human rights.
- The UNESCO project for the International Decade of the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace has a curriculum site for children (www.celebratingpeace.com). They refer to the benefits of peace education as:
- Prevents violence
- Encourages compassion
- Advances responsibility
- Cultivates integrity
- Empowers wholeness
Are these not also the benefits of Gospel-living? (Check that Web site, too, for a wonderful new book, "Go with Peace," with hands-on activities which teach the skills of peacemaking.)
Action
- Become aware of the good things that are happening and support them. On Sept. 22, 2005, Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., introduced a bill before the Senate: The Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act. It is the counterpart to the House bill to create a Department of Peace which was first introduced in 2001 and reintroduced in September 2005. Sixty representatives have signed as co-sponsors of the House bill.
- Pope Paul VI reminded us, "If you want peace, work for justice." Service and outreach is an integral part of our faith formation processes, and must accompany the study portion. In our outreach, charity is important; doing things to help people who are in need. We also need to go beyond that; we need to be involved in justice work. What is creating the need in the first place? How can we do our part to begin to change the system, the ways of thinking, the culture … our small part of the world – so that there is less in need? So that there is less violence … and more peace.
Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, is the archdiocesan associate director for adult faith formation for the Office for Faith Formation/Catechetics.
All Faith Formation Articles
|
