Building Peacemakers

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie recently began a new program to invite young women to live at the monastery for a year. This program, the Benedictine Peacemakers Program, provides participants with opportunities for spiritual growth and development, meaningful ministry experience, engagement with local communities, experience and formation in peacebuilding practices, and thought-provoking conversation and education.

“At a time when church membership is down, this program offers a unique way for young adults to engage in their faith,” Michelle Basista, Development and Communications Associate, said. “Local ministries will benefit from having extra staff to develop programs and increase services. When the year is completed, the Peacemakers will be forever changed by this monastic immersion experience. Participants become Benedictine Peacemakers for life in their local community.”

The Benedictine Sisters sought and was awarded a grant from the Catholic Foundation to support housing and transportation costs for the three participants of the inaugural year of the program. 

By all counts, this first year of the program was a success. The three members of the inaugural cohort experienced personal and spiritual growth and participated in service at different ministries in Erie: Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, Emmaus Ministries, and Groundwork Erie. 

“We’ve seen real transformation in the three women who are serving as our initial Benedictine Peacemakers cohort,” Michelle shared. “One of them recently remarked, ‘I have changed. I am a new me.’ What truly sets this program apart from other ‘volunteer programs’ sponsored by religious communities or schools is its emphasis on spiritual and personal growth. Key to making this growth possible is prioritizing time in the schedule for this deep work as well as living at the monastery, immersed in the communal life of prayer, shared meals and labors, and silence.”

This was also quite an experience for the sisters at the monastery, who would be similarly touched by having the Peacemakers living among them. “This program serves as an evolution of monastic life for our sisters, providing a new way to share monastic life both for women who may be interested in a vowed membership, as well as – and especially – for women who are not discerning a religious vocation,” Michelle explained. “By incorporating these young women into all aspects of monastery life, both the sisters, and these young women, are forever changed by this experience.” 

“The Benedictine Sisters of Erie are grateful to the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania for your generous grant,” Michelle said in thanks. “You have helped us to establish our new Benedictine Peacemakers Program which will make a lasting impact on young women and sisters.”

From left to right, the above shows Erin volunteering with the pay-what-you-can farmer's market through Groundwork Erie, Melissa displaying her woodwork as part of an art-as-meditation experience, and Emily encouraging Neighborhood Art House students before their dance performance at a fundraiser.

This project was supported by a grant from the Catholic Social Ministry Endowment of the Catholic Foundation. Your gift to the Foundation in any amount designated for this endowment increases our capacity to award grants for innovative projects and programs throughout northwest Pennsylvania.