Campus News
By Grace Campanga, Guest Writer
Last week, the Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) hosted an event entitled “Peace is Sweet,” organized by the Interfaith Bridges student leadership team.
The event was one of many initiatives at the University throughout the week in honor of the International Week of Peace, centered around the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21.
Peace Day was established in 1981 to provide “a globally shared date for all of humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace,” accordign to internationdayofpeace.org.
At the “Peace is Sweet” event, the CFJ provided treats, discussion and information about various service opportunities available to students.
“In order to have peace in our world, part of that involves living in a just society where things are fair for others,” Rabbi Jen Lewis said.
Participating in service is one way for students to be agents of peace in the community by standing in solidarity with others. Often, peace is seen as something to reach, not something that can cultivate in the way that we live each day and in the actions that we take.
“Peace can be something that is sweet and good…not just something that is a hard road to get to. Because it is, but it is also a beautiful thing,” junior theology and gender studies major Guana Lesniewski, said.
International Week of Peace events were held throughout the week at Xavier.
Next to the CFJ table was an exhibit that stood all week containing quotes in various languages and in multiple traditions as a testament to the international aspect of the International Week of Peace, bringing a worldly perspective to the Gallagher Student Center. Multiple aspects of the mural connect Peace to Xavier’s Jesuit tradition, referencing peace through a lens of faith. Others described what peace, as a concept, means to them.
In a world where peace can seem to be a far-off reality, members of the Xavier community can strive to live in a way that makes peace a reality.
“We can’t stop all wars. We can’t stop all the troubles across the world…but it’s about improving what we can and leaving our imprint of peace,” Lesniewski said.
