In the Name of Peace and Nonviolence

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Katelyn Rieder, Communications intern, and S. Louise Lears

(From left) Sisters Annie Klapheke, Andrea Koverman and Louise Lears participate in the Circle the City with Love event in Cleveland, Ohio, as a way to join together to show unity, love and peace.

In March 2023, a group of Sisters, Associates and community justice partners gathered for the first meeting of the Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle. This Circle is one of six formed by the Sisters of Charity to bring about, in partnership with others, a more just and caring world. The concept of self-organizing Justice Circles emerged from months of discernment, reflection and outreach centered on the call to remain faithful to social justice outreach and advocacy.

Once the concept of self-organizing Justice Circles was introduced to the congregation, Sisters Andrea Koverman and Louise Lears felt called to invite others to form a Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle that would focus on the understanding and skills necessary for both personal transformation and ways to address injustices and suffering that do not cause further harm or division. Those who joined the Circle share the conviction that following the nonviolent Jesus is the best way to fulfill the call as Sisters of Charity and work towards world peace. A study program created by Pace e Bene, titled “Engaging Nonviolence: Activating Nonviolent Change in Our Lives and Our World,” shapes the work of the Circle.

S. Louise said, “I knew in my heart I had to be involved with a Peace and Nonviolence Circle. The opportunity to teach a class on the Spirituality of Nonviolence at St. Louis University opened my eyes to nonviolent alternatives and to the inspiring lives of so many nonviolent teachers. Each week, my students and I gathered for a voluntary 20 minute ‘silent stand for nonviolence’ (signs only, no talking) in the center of campus. Though students could opt out, they described the experience as energizing and affirming. Their willingness to stand for nonviolence taught me the importance of solidarity in witnessing to a nonviolent life.”

S. Andrea Koverman has had her share of ministry with people directly affected by violence. Before she discerned her current ministry of working on the U.S.-Mexico border, she was a program manager with the organization now known as Ignite Peace. “I found myself becoming immersed in the issues of human trafficking, capital punishment, immigration, and war,” she explained. One of the most profound experiences during this time was working on a publication that had been started years prior at Ignite Peace, called “A Death Before Dying,” which looked at prisoners in the United States suffering on death row. To complete the project, S. Andrea read through and compiled interviews with the family and friends of those prisoners. “As I read the interviews, I was sickened by the level of violence and neglect that these people lived through as children. I thought to myself, what is a logical, reasonable expectation for a person who was formed in that kind of environment? Would you expect them to be peaceful? Probably not,” she said. The saying that “hurt people hurt people” really crystalized for S. Andrea during her time at Ignite Peace. She says that if we want to end the cycles of violence both big and small, we have to commit to doing no more harm ourselves. We have to learn how to look beneath the surface of violence and address the root causes rather than exasperate them.

Since its founding, the Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle has focused on spreading nonviolence education and awareness, both to its members and to community justice partners. One of the ways Circle members encourage nonviolence is through an awareness of language. Phrases like ‘kill two birds with one stone,’ have morphed into something else than the literal, violent meaning. “I’ve had people use the argument that it’s just throw-away language and they don’t mean it,” said S. Louise. “I say that’s a great idea—just throw it away, because we don’t need one more ounce of violence in the world and certainly not in our language.”

Speakers have enhanced the work of the Peace and Nonviolence Circle. In January 2024, Eli McCarthy, adjunct professor in Theology and Peace Studies at Georgetown University, shared his experience of traveling to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian faith leaders. Professor McCarthy learned about 230 nonviolent actions by Ukrainians, whose resistance has protected civilians, undermined the Russian narrative, and built community resilience. Long-time anti-nuclear weapons activist, Dominican Sister Carol Gilbert described nonviolence as a circle on which everyone can find a spot to enter; there are no privileged spots, no hierarchy of actions. All of us are called to follow, in their own way, the example of the nonviolent Jesus.

Community members participate in a prayer service on International Day of Peace in 2023, led by the Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle.

Peace and nonviolence can encompass multiple issues, including gun violence, war, and human trafficking, among others. The Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle emphasizes how we as individuals can be more nonviolent in our relationships, workplaces, families, communities, and everyday lives. “Just look at our world now,” S. Louise said. “Turn on any news station or read any paper—our world desperately needs a commitment to peace and nonviolence.”

S. Andrea agreed, “We say that our Sisters of Charity mission is to live the Gospel values, and the Gospel and teachings of Jesus were all about radical love, nonviolence, and acceptance. All of those things that we say in our mission and vision statements really come down to being a good practitioner of nonviolence,” she said. “And as the world becomes more and more polarized—especially in the last eight to 10 years—it’s more critical than ever that there are people that not only have a desire, but the skills, to stay grounded and not get caught up in the violence.”

The Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle has been learning and practicing nonviolence for more than a year. Their monthly meetings through Zoom include multiple ways to engage the surprising power of nonviolence. All of these avenues serve to continue the exploration of active, creative nonviolence, both for the members and justice partners. S. Louise reflected, “How could we as a religious community not be committed to peace and nonviolence? If we’re going to be followers of Jesus, we have to be followers of the nonviolent Jesus.”

Skalski

Wear Orange Weekend was one of the many initiatives Sisters of Charity have participated in to unite with others to raise awareness of the national gun violence crisis.

The post In the Name of Peace and Nonviolence first appeared on Sisters of Charity.