What began as a few young students gathered for schooltime prayer has grown into a ministry touching Marines deployed abroad amid tensions in the Middle East.
Jorge Sotomayor, 10, is a rising sixth grader at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Vienna. Last fall, he gathered students together at recess to pray and reflect on St. Teresa of Kolkata’s “Blessed are You” meditations.
A few months later, that handful of kids grew to 16 and adopted the moniker of the “Society of Peacemakers.” Jorge leads the initiative with an open heart and clear mission: to love God, love others, love oneself and promote peace throughout the world.
Jorge was unsettled by the ongoing wars that have been occurring throughout the world, as well as conflicts that happen at school such as bullying. He described it as “wars between kids” — something that needed to stop.
When Principal Robin Williams caught wind of Jorge’s peacemakers club, she loved the concept. Soon, the club was established as an official after-school initiative, complete with a curriculum procured by Jorge’s mother, Claudia.
Every meeting begins with a pledge: “I promise to love Jesus with all my heart. I promise to be kind to everyone I meet. I promise to be cheerful and share smiles. I promise to be helpful at home, at school, and everywhere I go. With God’s help, I will be a peacemaker every day.” Jorge wrote this taking inspiration from the baptismal promises that the priest recites during Easter. Following this, the club engages in dynamic activities as well as reflection to think and share about the role of a peacemaker.
When Claudia Sotomayor learned the niece of Christy Bishop, middle school teacher, was deployed with the U.S. Marines, she sensed a service opportunity for the young peacemakers.
Bishop was preparing a care package for her niece, assigned to the San Diego-based U.S.S. Boxer serving in the Indo-Pacific region, according to media reports. Claudia notified the society members, who wrote personalized letters and gathered rosaries and prayer cards for the ship’s crew.
The shipment arrived on the Boxer in Singapore, where the crew was delighted to open the prayer packages from the young peacemakers.
“God bless you all!” one crew member said in response. “Thank you for your prayers and know that our prayers go out to you as well. It is heartening to be reminded that we are not alone here and that you, our brothers and sisters, are united with us in Christ, may he pour out His graces upon you continually!”
“Thank you for the wonderful card,” another crew member responded. “I keep it in my back pocket all the time!”
Hearing these responses was thrilling for not only the Society of Peacemakers, but the entire school. Jorge had faith that the Boxer crew would respond.
“I was surprised, but somehow I knew it,” he said.
Club members anticipate more service projects in the upcoming school year, whether it be praying together in groups of three or reaching out to those in need outside of the community.
