Blog by Sr. June Fitzgerald, OP[/caption]
Think about this quote for a moment, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism.
If that is true, then this is as well, “Sign a peace accord and you have peace for a day, teach the people to be peacemakers and you can create a culture of peace for a lifetime.”
As Kelly Litt, Promoter of Justice and Peace, shared last week, Fr. Bruno Cadore, the Master of the Dominican Order, named December the Dominican Month for Peace. This year the Order is focusing on the country of Colombia. Why Colombia? There are several reasons that this country was chosen from among so many who are struggling for peace or have recently begun to know peace and want to learn how to sustain it.
Colombia was chosen because in 2016 a Peace Accord was signed between the government and the members of FARC, the most prominent guerilla group functioning there. For 50 years the people of Colombia have only known war. They know how to exist amidst the constant fighting and daily insecurity. Now, they need to learn how to live, grow and teach peace so it will continue and they can begin to live again in freedom.
The second reason Colombia was chosen was because we Dominicans have begun a project already to promote peace in that country. Dominicans in the province of Catatumbo (Diocese of Tibu), Colombia, have begun to create a Diocesan Institute for Peace. Here they will train laypeople and others to promote a culture of peace. This will inspire significant action to bring the goals of the Peace Accord to fruition.
We are excited to share this project with you as it aligns perfectly with our (Dominican Sisters of Peace) Congregational charism, “Be Peace, Preach Peace, Build Peace.” Additionally, we have an ongoing program to teach Peace Leadership to students, Sisters and Associates. Peace doesn’t just spring up from the ground – lasting peace takes work, prayer, networking and commitment to the work through challenges and successes.
The Dominican Order and the Dominican Sisters of Peace and Associates have committed themselves to preaching, building, teaching and being peace. Come and join us in this adventure of a lifetime. Together let us make Peace a reality. (To contact one of our vocation ministers, click here and begin the conversation.)
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