In the last two years, there has been a global rise in nationalism, particularly as manifested in the twin concepts of religious and racial puritanism. The current debate about border security and immigration, not to mention the violence that it has spawned, is a direct result of the rise in white supremacy. We have heard many chants and calls for building “the wall.” As people who embrace the Gospel’s call to unity and love, we have an obligation to help build bridges, not walls. As catechists who believe that the work of forging peace is begun with the youngest child with continuing formation through adolescence, we have an obligation to guide children and youth to an understanding of the Gospel mandate to love one another as a mandate to be radically open to “the other,” whoever that “other” might be. I would like to explore the many resources that we have in the Level II and Level III atria that can aid us as we facilitate the breaking down of the walls that seek to separate us, and building the bridges that will lead future generations to be more welcoming of “the other.” In recognizing the brokenness of humankind, we come together with the children to seek to heal this brokenness within ourselves and in our world, with humility, grace and hope. This is the cosmic task that awaits us all.
