Written by Camila Perez
Pax Christi USA Campus Organizing and Communications Coordinator
For the 2025 annual retreat, members of the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus (PCYAC) traveled from across the US for a transformative weekend of reflection, prayer and community engagement at the Benedictine Sisters’ monastery in Erie, PA. From June 27 to June 29, the participants had the opportunity to get away from the business of daily life, work, and school duties, for a meaningful experience centered on peacebuilding efforts, history and civic engagement.
The retreat planners were inspired by the words of Pope St. John XXIII: “Tradition means protect the fire, not preserve the ashes.” Since the retreat fell during the feasts of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the theme for this year was “Hearts on Fire” – connecting our hearts to the hearts of the nonviolent Jesus and the many peacemakers who have inspired us and how it is up to us to “protect the fire” of peace and resistance to nurture ourselves in community. Participants moved through collective prayer, study, and action with these themes in mind.
Day one began with a warm welcome at the Mount, where participants—a few joining the group for the first time—were introduced to the powerful legacy of Pax Christi USA and Pax Christi International. Through sessions on the importance of public witness in Catholic life, testimonies on nonviolence and direct action, and a critical conversation on Palestine and Christian Zionism, participants explored the historical and current role of faith in justice work. The evening concluded with a cookout and bonfire with the Benedictine Sisters, Oblates, and Peacemakers; creating space for fellowship and meaningful connections among the group. It was a beautiful experience to be surrounded by so many people who shared similar interests and a common passion for peace and advocacy. (Photo of Sr. Anne McCarthy, OSB, former national coordinator, sharing a classic Pax Christi USA publication written by the late Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB.)
On day two, participants joined in a public prayer witness calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza. This peaceful action, supported by members of the local community and the Benedictines for Peace, was a moving demonstration of faith in action, civic engagement, and moral courage. In the afternoon, retreat leaders Camila Perez and Tiffany Hunsinger guided the group through contemplative prayer, personal reflection, and deep listening—an intentional time for grounding and inner renewal.
The retreat concluded on the third day with a collective vow of nonviolence—a profound commitment to the values of peace, justice, and love. This shared moment was both a celebration of the community built over the weekend and a recommitment to the transformative work each participant carries forward. The retreat closed with a Liturgy of the Word with the Benedictine Sisters.
The 2025 PCYAC retreat was a testament to the power of spiritual community, intentional reflection, and courageous action. Participants left inspired and renewed in their mission to live out the Gospel call to justice and nonviolence in a world that deeply needs both.
Special thanks go to the PCYAC leadership team and retreat team who worked tirelessly behind all the planning.
This retreat was made possible by a grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and subsidized by Pax Christi USA.
Reflections from participants:
Camila Perez (she/her) – Washington, DC
The Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus retreat was a gift that I did not know I needed and now I am eager for many more to come. What an amazing opportunity it was to be surrounded by so many inspiring people willing to be vulnerable and grow together. Although we came from very different places around the US, it felt like we could all share our passion for civic engagement and peace building efforts as we sat together around the bonfire on Saturday night. From prayer, to public witness and Jenga night, this retreat allowed me to experience all the things I love all at once, community, social issues advocacy and my faith. Thank you Pax Christi for becoming my home away from home and thank you PCYAC for showing me a fresh and truthful way of living my faith, not by strict enclosed ideas but by welcoming and loving all.
Tiffany Hunsinger (she/her) – Dayton, OH
This past weekend with the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus felt like a breath of fresh air in a world gasping for peace. Our retreat was a collective exhale in the midst of what has felt like political chaos. From embodied prayer to moments of laughter and vulnerability, I felt what it means to build the peace we long for in our bones. Our public witness centered on Gaza and the money that the government takes from Erie to fund genocide and apartheid, and challenged us to proclaim peace in a world invested in war. Reading from Isaiah 58 and the Beatitudes of Pope Francis, we named the systems that steal bread from the hungry and water from the thirsty. We asked what it means to be witnesses who refuse to turn away. In our litany, we remembered those killed, displaced, or disappeared.
After the witness, we had an afternoon of stillness which invited us to hear what the Spirit might be saying beneath all the noise. We weren’t just “doing” justice; we were learning how to be people of peace, starting with ourselves. The creative reflection and prayer helped open up space to hear the Spirit’s guidance. At the end of the retreat, we had an opportunity to take the vow of nonviolence. In our vow, we recommitted to nonviolence as a way of life. What stays with me is not just the power of what we did together, but how deeply it was rooted in prayer.
Samuel Chawla-Rios (he/him) – Princeton, NJ
For many of us, it’s rare to find a group where we instantly feel a sense of solidarity and belonging. But when we do, it’s something to be cherished. The PCYAC retreat was exactly that for me — a space of immediate acceptance and genuine connection. I’ll admit, I felt a bit apprehensive beforehand. My past experiences with retreats at churches hadn’t always been the most positive, and this was my first time joining a Pax Christi Young Adults gathering. But I quickly felt at home after connecting to the good hearts present, and recognizing the sincere commitment to making the world a better place that united us all.
Having embraced nonviolence philosophy and practice from a secular angle, it was refreshing to learn of its rich lineage within the Catholic tradition. I was deeply inspired by learning about the remarkable legacy and resilience of Pax Christi’s founding members, and was honored to share space with people who have dedicated their lives to living out the values of love and nonviolence.
The retreat setting cultivated a space where vulnerable and heartfelt conversations naturally flowed. Personally, these conversations offered healing, validation, and a profound sense of solidarity. It was rejuvenating to be reminded that we are never truly alone in the struggle for peace and social justice. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who encouraged me to attend and to those who worked behind the scenes to make this weekend so impactful!
Sha’Kia Smith (she/her) – Washington, DC
This year was my first PCYAC retreat and it has set the bar for what I will look for in future retreats. Being afforded the opportunity to commune, worship, and let my hair down alongside my peers brought a peace that I had not foreseen or even anticipated during these trying times. I was able to be myself and was joyfully accepted with open arms and hearts as I was greeted with warm smiles by the leadership team and PCYAC as a whole. I am forever grateful and my heart is full with all that the retreat awakened and healed within me. I was able to leave with a renewed sense of purpose and few friends to walk alongside on this journey.
Gabriella Dudajek (she/her) – Hillsborough, NJ
Having joined PCYAC on a whim, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I went on this year’s retreat in Erie. I was worried that maybe I would have a hard time connecting with people, but this retreat exceeded all my expectations. I felt true joy being surrounded by so many inspiring people, committed to justice and peace. Even though I was a newer member of the group, everyone made me feel welcome and a part of the community. I got to learn how to participate in a public prayer witness, which I had never done before. Everyone made sure to check in on me going into it, making the experience much less intimidating. I also thoroughly enjoyed the contemplative time that we had to reflect on the witness and what we wanted to take from that experience. It was a privilege to be in a space where everyone wanted to learn from one another and grow in our common passion for peace and justice. It was also refreshing to be around such driven and passionate people who shared many of the same values as me, as I don’t have a community like that back at home. I can’t wait to hopefully attend another PCYAC retreat in the future.
Amy Katuska (she/her) – Harwich, MA
The “Hearts on Fire” retreat in Erie was a powerful reminder of the call to live out our faith through courageous, justice-rooted action. Grounded in Pope St. John XXIII’s words “Tradition means protect the fire, not preserve the ashes” — we gathered to rekindle the fire of peace, solidarity, and prophetic witness. Our protest in downtown Erie, which focused on the genocide in Palestine and the misuse of US tax dollars, brought our values into the public consciousness. We were joined by members of the community, including a woman affiliated with Jewish Voice for Peace, an Arab family, and Benedictine sisters. In addition to engaging in the community with some of the sisters in this way, we had the opportunity to share meals and morning prayer with them, which deepened my sense of community and spiritual grounding. For me, the highlight of the weekend was hearing Sr. Anne McCarthy and Oblate Jo Clarke share stories from their decades of involvement with Pax Christi. The combination of resilience, dignity, and good humor that these two women exuded reminded me that, while this work may be long, it is also sacred and sustaining. From cookouts to bonfires, prayer to protest, this retreat left my heart burning brighter with conviction, purpose, and love.