Finding Peace with Peer Mediation

One of the means I use to bring the social gospel into the lives of students is to moderate a Peer Mediation club at Villa Angela St. Joseph High School. The club members are trained in fine tuning their communications skills and in conflict resolution methods. The Peer Mediators then use these skills when the dean of discipline refers students who are in conflict to them for a resolution. This is a powerful tool in teaching students that conflict can be resolved using peaceful means.

Moderating the Peer Mediation club has heightened my awareness of the various people in the larger community who are interested in peace making. It has also made me pay attention to the peace making efforts demonstrated in the life of Jesus. When I bring my experience to prayer I am reminded of the need for clearer communication with and better understanding of other people. Frequently at the dinner table the brothers will ask me about the Peer Mediation club. I find the questions they ask me and the discussion that follows supportive in my efforts at the Marianist vision of social justice.

Moderating the Peer Mediation club has helped me to focus our mission more clearly in helping students understand that there are peaceful means of conflict resolution and that the Gospel message can be lived. As our Rule of Life says: “our primary objective is formation in faith….Faith lends us and the apostles we form to conversion of heart and to the unity with those who struggle for justice, freedom and dignity; it moves us always to work for peace through reconciliation and healing of peoples and communities.”

Bro. David Murphy, SM