As part of the inter-generational focus for the 50th anniversary of Pax Christi USA, Pax Christi New York State co-coordinator Ryan Di Corpo and Ambassador of Peace Isaac Chandler have organized a series of video interviews with past recipients of the annual Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace award.
In this interview with Pax Christi USA’s 1990 Teacher of Peace Joan Chittister, the Benedictine sister discusses her work in late 1980s Haiti, the youth-led anti-war movement of the 1960s and the need to teach peace to a new generation.
“We have looked at peace as a commodity, something on the side,” said Sister Joan. “We really have not taught peace as one of the sacraments.”
Sister Joan is an influential religious and social leader a prolific author and widely-regarded spiritual leader known for her appearances on “60 Minutes” and Oprah Winfrey’s “Super Soul Sunday.” For more than 50 years she has advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal. She is a speaker, author (of more than 60 books), and a columnist with the National Catholic Reporter. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses, and for 12 years, she was prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. She is executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality, and animator of the online movement, Monasteries of the Heart.
Such a moving conversation with Sr. Joan! She brings historical perspective & wisdom while challenging each of to ‘face the wind’ , to not turn away, to continue forward as peacemakers, peace builders, disciples of the nonviolent Jesus. Grateful to Ryan & Isaac for this powerful series highlighting the PCUSA Teachers of Peace from the past 50 years.