April 15, 2005

Benedict Inn to host retreat on
non-violent conflict resolution

By Sean Gallagher

On April 30 at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove, Basilian Father Gordon Judd will lead a retreat titled “The Spirituality of Non-Violent Conflict Resolution.”

Father Gordon explained that he hopes that participants in the retreat will reflect on the ways that they approach conflicts and learn practical skills in conflict resolution.

“I think … participants might leave the workshop more confident about confronting conflict,” he said, “not feeling that they have failed when they find themselves in a conflict situation, less ready to find blame and more skillful in handling conflict situations.”

Father Gordon brings to this retreat his own studies of non-violent conflict resolution as well as his own experience in observing and seeking to resolve conflicts in his own life.

“I consider my own life, my attempts at relationships, my work situations and even my experiences driving in heavy traffic or waiting in lines at stores to be the laboratory for my theories on conflict and conflict resolution,” he said. “Theories don’t get us anywhere if they can’t be tested against reality or experience.”

In addition to helping participants consider their thoughts on conflicts and gaining practical skills for resolving them, Father Gordon also hopes to illustrate the central importance of peace and non-violence to the Catholic faith.

“It is absolutely essential,” he said. “If we are not doing this by our words and actions, then I seriously question whether we have grasped the central message of the Gospels. This is something that I will address in the … retreat.”

The retreat, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4:30 p.m., will also aim, according to Father Gordon, to help the participants grow closer to Christ through growing in their value of non-violent conflict resolution.

“The Jesus Christ who preaches peace and practices nonviolence is the only Christ that there is,” he said. “Christ is obviously more than this, but he can never be less than this.”

(For more information or to register for the retreat, call 317-788-7581.) †

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