Life-changing event: Marian College students and teacher participate in United Nations forum

Marian College students Carrie Shelhart, from left, Staci Striegel, Sarah McEwan and Katie Louden spent four days in New York in March to participate in a United Nations study session called “Women as Peacemakers.” The Statue of Liberty can be seen in the background. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

They drove straight through the night from Indianapolis to New York, making it to the United Nations with just enough time to change their clothes in a women’s restroom before they participated in an international event.

Then for the next four days, the five women saw their lives and their perspectives change dramatically.

It was all part of an amazing journey that Marian College professor Donna Proctor made with four students from the Franciscan college in Indianapolis: Katie Louden, Sarah McEwan, Carrie Shelhart and Staci Striegel.

From March 5 to March 8, the group was in New York to participate in a United Nations study session called “Women as Peacemakers,” sponsored in part by the International Movement of Catholic Students.

“I thought it would be great to hear people around the world talking about women’s issues,” Proctor said. “Being able to be part of that conversation can broaden the conversation at our college. That the Church is active and involved in that endeavor is important.”

Their experiences in New York had that kind of impact on the students.

“One of the days, a member of the Kenyan Parliament was there to speak to us,” said Louden, 20, a sophomore from Pittsboro, Ind. “I thought it was cool. She was talking about the problems over there, and what she is doing. She’s dedicating all her life to something that people say is impossible to solve.”

Approximately 1,500 Kenyans have died in election-related unrest in the country over the past few months. A power-sharing agreement between rival parties has recently gone into effect there.

McEwan recalled a forum co-sponsored by the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, a forum that focused on providing economic power to women and the role that Catholic organizations play in that goal.

“There were two representatives from Catholic Relief Services, both women,” said McEwan, 20, a sophomore from Mason, Mich. “They talked about having a safe savings bank for impoverished women in India and Africa, and also about getting free trade going so the women can sell their goods.”

Striegel said she’ll never forget the visit their group made to the New York site where Dorothy Day lived and started the Catholic Worker Movement, an organization committed to helping the homeless, the hungry and others in need.

“She’s always been this wonderful example to really do things rather than just talk about them,” Striegel said. “Our trip was about, ‘What does it really mean to be a peace builder—from your personal life to internationally?’ Seeing where she lived was the finale of talking about peace and what we can do to create peace.”

For Shelhart, the defining moment was coming to understand how she can serve the Church in different ways.

“As I discern how I am to serve the Church, I often only see the roles of youth minister, director of religious education and pastoral associate,” said Shelhart, 20, a sophomore from Lowell, Ind. “And although I haven’t completely ruled those options out, seeing how

non-government agencies interact with the Church to create change opened my eyes to all the possible ways to serve the Church.”

The Marian College group also marveled at how women—and some men, too—came from across the world to try to create change and hope for women who face poverty, oppression and gender bias in their daily lives.

“They all came together to do something about it,” Proctor said. “There’s a wonderful sense of community power that’s exciting to be around.”

McEwan nodded and added, “If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that peacekeeping can be done on a personal level, but it can also be done on a much larger scale. I’m always looking for ways to be involved. I never realized there were all these organizations trying to make a difference.

“I learned the world is a lot easier to reach than you think. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to do so.”

That approach also applies to faith, Striegel said. During a trip where the Marian College group spent time at the United Nations and the Statue of Liberty, Striegel felt her faith growing from nearly every experience.

“Anything that exposes me to diversity enriches my faith,” Striegel said. “You have to reach people where they are. That’s one of the theological points I’ve always felt is important.” †