Youth pray for change after Annunciation

As the notifications about the shootings at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis captured our attention, a wave of nausea permeated my body. Given that the location is less than a 90-minute drive from Collegeville, I must admit that once again the world felt less secure and more malevolent.

Yet a horizon of hope cracked open when I learned that young people were coordinating their collective voices by organizing a nation-wide walkout on Sept. 5. It was organized by Students Demand Action. Thousands of students from hundreds of schools participated.

St. John’s Prep School participated in this nation-wide event with more than 200 students from Prep, CSBSJU, and the SOT and Seminary. They gathered in front of the St. John’s Abbey and University Church during midday prayer.

Prep students were the driving force behind this event, but coordination involved St. John’s Abbey, CSBSJU Administration, Life Safety, Communications, Student Development, SJUfaith, and Prep faculty and staff. Peaceful gatherings like this contribute to the flourishing of faith and democracy. “Change starts in Congress with stronger gun laws, but it also starts here. With us. With conversations. With courage. With action,” said Grace Hoffer, a student at the Prep school who spoke at the event.

Members of religious orders have also engaged in action that speaks out against gun violence and promotes the way of non-violence that Jesus taught. In Oct. 1999, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie and Oblates, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Agrégées, and Associates, and the Sisters of Mercy and Associates inaugurated the Take Back the Site Vigils. The vigils “reclaim the place where violence has occurred” and participants “pray for all people who are harmed by violence: victims, perpetrators, bystanders, friends, families.” Each vigil is approximately 15-minutes in length.

Above the entrance to many Benedictine monasteries is the Latin word for peace: pax. The spirit of peace imbues the Rule of St. Benedict (RB) by promoting a way of life that involves integrity, reconciliation, and unity. In fact, Abbot Marion Nguyen of St. Martin’s Abbey in Lacey, Washington, contends that peace is the “heart” of Benedictine witness. In the Prologue to RB, Benedict exclaims: “Let peace be your quest and aim.”

When students, religious, staff, and faculty stand together to promote non-violence and peace, I believe the place where this occurs is pervaded by the divine presence. Benedict states in Chapter 19 of RB “that God is present everywhere and that the eyes of the Lord gaze everywhere on the good and bad… [and we] should… be totally convinced that this is so when we are present” during prayer.

Perhaps we can ponder this as we head into the weekend. How might I become more aware of the divine presence in my day-to-day living? How can we begin to pay attention with the ear of our heart?

This latter question involves slowing down and listening to one another, amidst the hurt and pain, being open and present. When we open ourselves to another by being attentive, we can become a site of hospitality. We can begin to truly see one another and offer care and concern. This seems so necessary right now.