by Kathleen Quiazon, Director of Mission & Ministry

Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director, and Sr.Anne-Louise Nadeau, Director of Programs, of Pax Christi USA led the Spirituality of Nonviolence Workshop at the Notre Dame High School Leadership Conference. This conference at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts brought together students, educators and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from all over the country.

This second annual gathering aimed to foster student leadership under a common commitment to the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and their foundress, St Julie Billiart, who envisioned people “with hearts as wide as the world.” In the twenty-first century, this commitment is exemplified by the seven Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community which speak of the Catholic invitation to live the Gospel with an emphasis on human dignity, justice, peacemaking, and community.

Mindful of this vision, Sr. Patty and Sr. Anne Louise laid groundwork for their workshop by reflecting on the Hallmarks before engaging students in the spirituality of nonviolence. From this place,students were introduced to the lexicon and behaviors of conflict, definitions of violence, and how to confront those realities through active nonviolence. Sr. Patty challenged the students saying, “How you deal with conflict will test how you stand with the Hallmarks.”

Sr. Patty and Sr. Anne-Louise asked us to consider how conflict holds the potential for good when we embrace active nonviolence and other Gospel strategies to remain in right relationship with others. As a Notre Dame educator, I recognize that students are eager to make social change possible and need the knowledge and skills to realize that potential. Through the workshop, I witnessed my students explore how the interactions they have with peers, parents, and teachers are in fact a springboard for further transformation in our communities. If they can be advocates of peaceful and active nonviolence in these settings, then their ability to stay true to the Hallmarks will enable them to create the social change we dream of.

In this next school year, our community will explore the civil rights movement and its implications for today’s changing landscape. No doubt, these lessons on nonviolence from Sr. Patty and Sr. Anne-Louise will contribute to our conversation and influence how we, the Notre Dame San Jose community, can reflect that spirit of justice and peacemaking amidst the cultural, religious, and socio-economic diversity of the Bay Area and the innovative fervor of Silicon Valley.