The theme for Season 4 of School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) podcast, Called to Action, is Racial Justice. Racial Justice is one of five primary areas of advocacy for the SSND Central Pacific Province.

SSND work to create a global community where human dignity is respected, all creation is treasured, spirituality is nourished and justice is the goal. This commitment is reflected in the work of Shalom – Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation ministry. Shalom is the Hebrew word for Peace. Shalom is also the word SSND use to describe their international network for justice, peace and integrity of creation. Sisters, associates and friends in five continents make up the Shalom Network.

The sisters believe all people are made in the image and likeness of God. This means local policies and practices that promote or perpetuate racial bias must be challenged and changed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

Until there is racial justice, no one will know true peace. Decades of segregation, discrimination and racial injustice, manifesting in poverty, police brutality, poor education and economic opportunities, poor health care and unsafe streets, must be addressed and painstakingly dismantled.

The SSND pray, educate, advocate and act in collaboration with partners to develop Racial Justice. The podcast is just one example of SSND’s commitment to building Racial Justice. In Season 4, hosts Sister Anna Marie Reha and Adam Schicker, talk to sisters, lay colleagues, associates and SSND ministry leaders about Racial Justice, and present pathways any listener can use to take action to enact change to achieve Racial Justice.

Listen to Called to Action Season 4: Racial Justice on the SSND website or listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. A new episode is released every other Wednesday.