BIS #1335 SEMINAR ON PEACE AND JUSTICE

Mathew Katara sdb JHABUA, MARCH 24, 2009: A seminar on Peace and Justice was organized for the students of Std XII at the Mission School, Jhabua on March 20, 2009. The resource persons for the occasion were Fr. Mathew Katara and Sr. Sunita Bilung. Young people today do have a strong sense of justice. They want to make a difference in the world, but often they do not know what to do and how to go about it. The purpose of the seminar was to educate these youngsters on how they can concretely spread peace and justice in the world. In the first session, Fr. Mathew dealt with the theme of ‘Injustice’. The students were divided into six groups and each group was asked to prepare a short skit on the situation of injustice as they have experienced it, such as poverty, disaster, discrimination based on caste, gender, race, wealth, color, homelessness, war or political corruption. After the groups had presented their skits there was a discussion that focused on how injustice spreads in the world and what should be our role in curbing this social evil. In the next session, Sr. Sunita enlightened the youth on the topic of ‘Peace and Peacemakers’. The session began with a brainstorming on how one can bring peace in society, and how to become a peacemaker. After the participants that expressed several ideas, Sr. Sunita pointed out that where there is love, there is an opportunity for peace. When we share the feelings and suffering of others, understanding among people grows and this again leads to peace. She concluded by saying that the realization that we are all one big family is the foundation for peace in the world.