Connections and relationships promote endurance in social justice work

All around us, blood cries from the Earth. Precious blood is spent daily, from the war in Gaza to wildfires in L.A. For those of us far removed, we hear their cries through television screens, social media, and articles. I do my best to stay informed, but at times it feels overwhelming. As a person of privilege, I have the option of turning the screen off and disengaging at the end of the day. I want to stay engaged, but how do I prevent getting so overwhelmed? 

Last fall, I attended the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice in Washington, D.C. IFTJ is an annual gathering of young people that first began after the murder of six Jesuits and two lay women in El Salvador. Since its beginning, it has served to memorialize these martyrs, educate young people on the injustice in our times, unite in prayer, and organize for justice and peace. This year’s theme was “Radical Hope in Precarious Times” — one that felt all too relevant in today’s world, and a great topic for the Precious Blood!  

At the conference, I led a breakout workshop on how Precious Blood spirituality can help us stay engaged in the work without numbing or burning out. In the session, a group of about 20 people came together in circle, and we shared stories of pain, heartbreak, hope, and healing. The main goal of the session was to unpack how we can hold the heartbreak together. If all we do is take in the suffering of the world from a screen, from a place of isolation, we will inevitably burn out and lose steam. What sustains us in the work of reconciliation and healing? Relationship. 

But I think I was missing something important when I led that session. Looking around the room, I realized that it was mostly white people, like myself, who elected to come to his particular breakout. I wondered, why are the people burning out those of us who are most privileged — most sheltered from and least affected by the injustices?  

A month later, I accompanied a group of college students on pilgrimage to El Salvador, where we learned about the sacrifice of the Salvadorian martyrs. We grew in relationship with the Salvadorian people and listened to their stories of heartbreak and resilience. We grew in love through their struggle, and while my heart broke, I did not leave feeling burnt out — I left with my heart burning with love and solidarity with their struggle.  

The work of liberation cannot happen without true solidarity. We are called to shatter our bubbles of isolation that keep us insulated and enter into deep, loving relationships with communities most in need. The solution to overwhelm and burnout? Getting out from behind the screen and entering into relationship, true solidarity, with those who cry out to us daily.  

Holly O’Hara, former PBMR communications director, current Faith & Justice Campus minister at DePaul University