Iona College’s Office of Mission and Ministry hosted its annual Week of the Peacemaker during the week of Nov. 4-10.

Students, professors and alumni gathered throughout the week for various peacemaking events and teach-ins that centered around this year’s theme: “Self+Other+Earth= A Formula for Our Future.” The discussions were all in regards to issues and topics that are experienced in the modern world including the environment, racism, sexual violence and immigration.

The inspiration for this year’s theme was Pope Francis’s TED Talk, in which he discusses interconnectedness, not only with each other, but with the earth as well, according to Dr. Carl Procario-Foley, director of OMM.

“It is connected to our mission and our heritage, as a college, in the Edmund Rice and Catholic tradition,” Procario-Foley said.

Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, lawyer and climate activist, presented the keynote address on Nov. 9 in Romita Auditorium. She spoke about the disregard of nature and the need for nature to have rights like those of a human being.

Gore believes the Week of the Peacemaker is important for students to participate in.

“I think this Week of the Peacemaker at Iona is a wonderful opportunity to think about what’s most important…and how we can be, in all of our work, in our personal lives, in our communities, in our national, political life – be standing for peace, be understanding what’s right and wrong, what’s moral and ethical,” she said.

Dr. Teresa Delgado, director of the Peace and Justice Studies department, presented a teach-in on Nov. 8 regarding the devastation of Hurricane Maria and how it makes us think about each other and the earth. Delgado claims that the hurricane has “exposed injustice” and people must not only address this injustice, but also do something to fix it.

On Nov. 7, excerpts from Jinah Parker’s “SHE” were presented to students in an effort to promote a greater awareness of sexual and gender violence. Students had a primarily positive response to the performance, and left with a new understanding of sexual violence, racial injustice and the disregard of rape victims.

Sophomore Vashone DeVaughn thought that the performance was important for college students to see.

“Many people don’t know what happens to women, because it’s not shown in mass media and the media often covers it up,” DeVaughn said. “I think it was informative, and people will take something out of it.”

A student-run discussion regarding the immigration experience took place on Nov. 8 and stressed the importance of acceptance and understanding.

Junior Giselle Fonseca, vice president for finance for the Student Government Association and campus minister, was one of the students running the event. She said she feels it is important to talk about immigration during the Week of the Peacemaker.

“It is a topic that brings up a lot of controversy and conflict […] but it is important to have that conversation where you can talk peacefully and share your experience without it having to be a debate,” Fonseca said.

Senior Alejandro Banda also ran the immigration event.

“An immigrant is a person, just like you,” Banda said.

The “Trashin’ Fashion” event on Nov. 7 addressed how people purchase clothes, whether or not the people who make our clothes get just wages and the environmental impact of the clothing industry. The event was run by senior campus minister Ceire Kealty.

One of the final events of the week was “Mindfulness Practice.” Students participated in a mindfulness walk, where they not only were able to meditate and relax, but they learned to focus on themselves.

The week ended with a Veteran’s Day Ceremony and Advocacy Fair. The ceremony featured performances by the Iona Pipe Band and Iona Singers to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

“The community on earth has to work together, no matter what religion, no matter what ethnicity, race, government, we have to work together to keep the planet together,” Procario-Foley said.