In early July, the Pax Christi USA Anti-Racism Team (PCART) held a retreat in Chicago focused on reflection, relationship-building, and envisioning the future of anti-racism work within Pax Christi USA. While the gathering surfaced areas for growth, it also demonstrated the depth of commitment, care, and possibility within PCART and the wider Pax Christi community.
The retreat affirmed that PCART’s greatest opportunity is to grow beyond providing anti-racism training toward helping Pax Christi become a movement that embraces anti-racist relationships, practices, and values. Training remains essential, but lasting transformation also requires shared formation, honest assessment, accountability, and meaningful organizational change.
PCART can provide leadership, but the work of becoming an anti-racist organization must be embraced across Pax Christi USA, including staff, National Council members, PCART members, local leaders, and the broader membership. PCART’s 20+ year history provides valuable institutional wisdom; its present membership brings new perspectives and possibilities.
The next phase should include a comprehensive organizational anti-racism assessment, continued formation through the Crossroads model, strengthened community agreements and accountability practices, and greater clarity around facilitation, leadership, and participation. Pax Christi USA has an opportunity to examine how power operates within its structures and how its policies and practices can better reflect its commitment to justice, equity, nonviolence, and Gospel values.
The retreat ultimately pointed toward a hopeful challenge: How can Pax Christi USA become an organization where anti-racism is not simply something we teach, but something we practice in how we relate, lead, make decisions, share power, and pursue justice together?
The opportunity before PCART and Pax Christi USA is significant: to transform challenge into learning, relationships into community, and shared commitment into meaningful organizational change.
Thank you for sharing this ! As one of the “founding” members of PCART I am thrilled at this new team (looking at you Mikulich!) and I can’t wait to meet the team in person one of these days. I continue to be committed to the Brothers and Sisters All initiative and will support you all with prayers and whatever way I am able. Peace and every good!