Historical and modern-day racism — as well as ways to deal appropriately with such bigotry — will be the focus of a two-day April workshop being presented by the Diocese of Rochester’s Department of Pastoral Services.
The workshop “Building the Beloved Community: Racism and Beyond” will be led by Sisters Patricia Chappell, executive director of Pax Christi USA, and Anne-Louise Nadeau, Pax Christ’s director of programs. It will take place April 12 from 2 to 5 p.m. and April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Road, Pittsford.
Bernard Grizard, diocesan director of Pastoral Services, said the impetus for hosting the workshop was such recent incidents as damage to one of Rochester’s Fredrick Douglass statues and the surfacing of racist photos in a Rochester Institute of Technology yearbook produced by students in the 1970s.
“Racism is still alive in our community,” he noted. “As church leaders, we should address and bring attention to these issues.”
Grizard said Sisters Chappell and Nadeau were invited to conduct the workshop due to their leadership experiences and anti-racism efforts within their religious order, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The event’s goal is to provide community leaders with training on how to deal with racism every day, at work and in society, Grizard said.
“The decision to host this workshop is so individuals are made aware of their own racism,” he said. “The workshop is structured to highlight white privilege, different perspectives and other themes of racism.”
Tickets for the workshop are $25 each, and participants must attend both sessions. For more information, visit ps.dor.org/events. To preregister, contact Carmen Rollinson at 585-328-3228, ext. 1318, or Carmen.Rollinson@dor.org, or Nicholas Frega at 585-328-3228, ext. 1287, or Nicholas.Fre ga@dor.org. Tickets also will be available at the door.
