In keeping with its emphasis on scholarship and grassroots peacebuilding, the Kroc Institute has continued to deepen its partnership with Catholic Relief Services. Kroc’s collaboration with CRS — through formal institutional arrangements and through the individual consulting and training by several faculty — has placed Kroc at the heart of the U.S. Catholic community’s engagement with the peacebuilding work of the church around the world.

From June 20-28, 2004, Kroc hosted the fourth annual Summer Institute on Peacebuilding. It brought together some 35 senior CRS field staff and administrators, along with Catholic bishops and other local leaders from war-torn regions. This intensive program trains participants in conflict analysis and resolution, deepens their understanding of Catholic social teaching, and provides an opportunity for a vigorous exchange of ideas, experiences, and strategies. It has become an integral part of the effort of CRS to develop its capacity to promote peacebuilding as part of its relief and development work. The next Summer Institute will be held in May 2005.

In addition, several peace studies graduate students will be interns at CRS programs overseas, and individual Kroc faculty continue to contribute to the development of the CRS peacebuilding programs. In May, John Paul Lederach and Scott Appleby spent several days with the Burundi Bishops’ Peacebuilding Commission to assist with the development of a major pastoral strategy for peacebuilding in that African country. Lederach continued his training seminars for CRS headquarters staff, as well as for CRS staff and other church personnel in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Southeast Asia.

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