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A once-popular retreat for peacemakers will return to Pyramid Life Center in Paradox next month after an eight-year hiatus.

Previously, Christians and members of other faiths who oppose violence met annually there for 15 years. The retreats attracted 50 to 70 people from all over New York and Vermont.

The retreats were often guided by Rev. Daniel Berrigan, SJ, a peace activist well-known for his Vietnam War protests and other non-violent demonstrations that led to arrests and even placement on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. To like-minded people, the now 90-year-old priest continues to serve as an inspiration.

Linda LeTendre, the retreat's coordinator and a semi-retired social worker, said she's learned "being a Christian means you walk differently. You approach things with compassion and not with bombs and guns.

"I've had to go out and beg scraps for what Jesus calls the 'least of these,' while our country goes out and spends $2.1 million per minute on military expenditures," she added.

Father Berrigan's age and the rarity of equally charismatic leaders had contributed to Pyramid Life Center's hiatus from the peacemakers' retreat. This year, Ms. LeTendre decided to take action.

"I couldn't stand it anymore," she explained. "I just missed getting together with peace and justice people every year."

When Ms. LeTendre heard a talk last year by Rev. Simon Harak, SJ, an international presenter and retreat director, she knew he could revive the peacemakers' retreat.

"He made the Scripture come alive to the point that I marveled at the fact that the ink was dry on my Bible," Ms. LeTendre said.

Father Harak will lead the three-day retreat, to be held July 15-17, with Carol Lukens, a non-violence educator with whom he often partners. About 20 people have signed up so far; Ms. LeTendre expects more.

"It's the most popular retreat so far for that time period," she boasted.

The speakers' passion may have something to do with that: "Simon and I are both very committed to a life of non-violence and our spirituality is a tremendous part of that," said Ms. Lukens, an organizer for the National Office of the War Resisters League.

She teaches non-violence to at-risk youth; facilitates peacemaking, diversity and restorative justice groups; and advises the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

Peace and justice advocates should gather, she noted: "It's very important to have community."

Father Harak, director of the Center for Peacemaking, has studied non-violence since the 1970s. He teaches children in Wisconsin how to read body language and resolve conflicts peacefully; schools he's worked with have reported 40- to 50-percent reductions in suspensions and expulsions.

He said that active non-violence is similar to the work of a medical healer: "First, do no harm - but then you have a pretty persistent pursuit of the indignity of violence."

Father Harak uses Jesus' words to set the scene for attendees. "It's part of a personal conversation between Jesus and His disciples," he said. "When He says things like, 'Love your enemies,' it's hard to dismiss."

The retreat, Father Harak said, is an opportunity for peacemakers to reconnect with Jesus.

"Jesus says, 'I am with you always,' and He is the prince of peace. I want to confirm and assure the peacemaking presence of Jesus," the priest said. "This retreat is like the difference between baptism and confirmation. This will be like confirmation."[[In-content Ad]]

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