The end of July a small group from the Erie Benedictine community traveled to Detroit, MI, for the Pax Christi USA National Conference, themed: "Reclaiming the Power of Nonviolence in a Broken World." Speakers included Maria Stephan, a civil resistance scholar, Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of Nonviolence International, and Martha Inés Romero, the Secretary General of Pax Christi International. Many were also excited to hear a letter from Pope Leo written to those attending national gathering, where he reminded all in attendance to "make their local communities into 'houses of peace' where one learns how to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is cherished.”
In addition to powerful liturgies, public art, and a shared protest, workshops explored themes including: "Building communities of hope–walking with immigrants," "Broken treaties, broken land: restoring relationships, restoring the Earth," "Resisting a surveillance state: racism, warfare, and economic injustice powered by AI without ethics," and more. Another highlight for the Erie delegation was reconnecting with PCYAC, the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus, who had just held their annual retreat in Erie in June 2025 (read about their retreat at the monastery here).
The weekend was filled with practical insights for engaged Catholics to take home to their communities, including six actions that faith leaders can take in our current political moment, outlined by Maria Stephan: 1) Moral Protest & Persuasion; 2) Organizing & Training; 3) Providing Resources, Mutual Aid, & Mitigating Repression; 4) Leveraging Symbolic & Spiritual Power; 5) Bridge-building; 6) Noncooperation with oppression. If any of this is of interest to folks in Erie, follow Benedictines for Peace, who are currently offering Nonviolence Training Sessions locally.
In addition to Benedictines for Peace, we also shared information at our table on the Benedictine Peacemakers Program, Monasteries of the Heart, and Spirituality Programs at the monastery. Many stopped by our table to share how much the Erie Benedictine community inspires them, especially all the contributions that Joan Chittister and Mary Lou Kownacki made to the entire Pax Christi community through their writing over many years. It was a beautiful weekend as we were reminded of how deep and vast the legacy of peace and nonviolence is in the Catholic tradition, and what a significant role the Benedictine Sisters of Erie have played in its development.
Pictured: Sisters Anne McCarthy and Colleen Leathley, along with friends of the community Jessica Sun and Katie Gordon
