Warriors of Peace

“Our Lady of Guadalupe” (16th Century), (PD-Art, PD-Old)

In a south side Chicago basement a group of Hispanic teenagers meets to say the rosary.  The teens call themselves Guerreros de Paz (“Warriors of Peace”).  They are part of a ministry that seeks to provide them with “a safe and welcoming space where they can grow in their faith” [1A].

This is an alternate to gang violence.

” ‘We meet…to try to inspire and move hearts with the grace of God,’ says Alberto Rodriguez, 25, who helped to found this ministry in 2016.  ‘Our vision is to inspire our youth in the neighborhood, so they can be leaders like Christ and to love like Christ.’ “

“During their weekly meetings at St. Gall, a predominantly Hispanic parish, young adult mentors and teens, ages 13-17, discuss issues that affect them, such as peer pressure, immigration, family issues, the lure of drugs and gang-related violence.  The meetings also center on prayer, Bible reading, music and bonding activities.  Most of all this is a space of encounter with Jesus…

‘People may see a basement with teenagers hanging out, but this is a basement filled with hope,’ says Marie Ramirez, 30, a leader for Warriors of Peace.  ‘You don’t waste time with youth; you are always planting a seed…We let them know that they have dignity, that they are respected and loved and seen by God’ ” [1B].

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[1A and 1B]  Maryknoll Magazine, “Go Forth in Peace” by Maria-Pia Negro Chin, March/April 2020, pp. 19-23.

So far 432 people have been killed in Chicago this year —
125 more than in all 2019.

See, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-chicago-homicides-data-tracker-htmlstory.html.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse  https://avoicereclaimed.com