Setting the World on Fire Peter G. Martin
U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in 2003 for a diplomatic assignment as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, I knew I would be engaging with Holy See officials on the hot issues of the day, such as stability in Iraq, religious freedom in China, and other topics of interest to the Department of State. My marching orders were also to foster cooperation with other foreign diplomats in Rome who were accredited to the Holy See. I had little idea, however, that one of my closest partners in diplomacy would be the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic lay organization involved in peacemaking, refugee work, and interfaith dialogue. Indeed, by the time I completed my assignment at the Vatican, I had supported Sant’Egidio in peacemaking negotiations with rebels from Darfur, consulted on the group’s peace and reconciliation work in the Balkans, and served as U.S. representative to the Community’s annual Prayer for Peace, which brings together a diverse group of religious leaders from around the world to promote peace and reconciliation. Nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Community of Sant’Egidio has become a powerful force for good in the world despite its small size. Its members are resourceful, indefatigable, and fueled by their Catholic faith and a belief in the power of prayer. Throughout my diplomatic career, working on issues from nearly every continent, I encountered many such examples of Catholics doing good, far from their own homes, working to help people of all races, cultures, nationalities, and faiths. With this issue of C21 Resources, we offer the reader the stories of some of these organizations and people, motivated by their Catholic faith and unrestrained by borders. The work is often unheralded, but quietly effective and inspirational.
photo credit:
Boston College Campus Ministry - Arrupe International Program
when i arrived at the
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c21 resources | spring/summer 2022
Boston College students on an Arrupe International trip to Puebla, Mexico, in January 2019. Students are seen here working on a neighborhood garden as part of a community sustainability initiative.
