Our pledge to anti-racism Fostering just communities Diane Roche, RSCJ
Consequently, in December 2020, RSCJ had the opportunity to attend one of two day-long anti-racism trainings offered via Zoom by our consultants. In addition, the province’s Anti-racism Planning Committee, made up of descendants of those enslaved at Grand Coteau, RSCJ, Associates, educators, alumnae and partners in mission, sponsored two additional live zoom training sessions in January and February 2021. Sisters Patty Chappell and Anne-Louise Nadeau also led these trainings. The latter training sessions were designed primarily for the members of the extended Sacred Heart family, including but not limited to Associates, alumnae/i, educators, Network staff, provincial staff and other partners and colleagues in mission. The day-long trainings provided participants with a shared definition of racism, an understanding of the central role that racism On May 29, 2020, the United States – Canada Provincial Team plays in the systems that influence every released a Statement on Racism on behalf of the province, in which we pledged aspect of our lives, and an introduction to the “to raise our voice in opposition to acts of racial discrimination and to fight tiretransformational values that, if intentionally lessly against the sin of racism.” The statement also joined that of other Catholic integrated into our lives on both the personal leaders in “calling for a ‘genuine conversion of heart, a conversion that will compel and organizational level, change, and the reform of our institutions and society.’” can offer us a way out of Since then, the province has continued its efforts toward “ to raise our voice in opposition this deadly cycle of violence, this pledge of communal conversion as well as offered to acts of racial discrimination racism and injustice. several anti-racism education opportunities to the wider and to fight tirelessly against The provincial team is Sacred Heart family. the sin of racism” encouraged by and thankful At the November 2020 meeting of the province’s for all who were able and Anti-racism Coordinating and Planning Committees, willing to join in this collecour consultants, Notre Dame de Namur Sisters Patty tive journey toward a more just and inclusive Chappell and Anne-Louise Nadeau, pointed out that, although Religious of future. N the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), since 2016, have been actively researching and sharing information about the Society’s engagement in the enslavement of human beings, Diane Roche, RSCJ, is currently a member of the many RSCJ and members of the wider Sacred Heart family had not been given provincial team. the opportunity to participate in an in-depth training session.
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2021 | Vol. 18, No. 1
