“Ms. Sandoval, can we talk about happiness?” Felipe, a fifteen-year-old student asked me after I assigned an art project in religion class in remembrance of the victims of the drug war in Juarez, Mexico. Felipe’s question made me see how uncomfortable it can be for a young person to deal with trauma. This was one of the reasons why I was using art therapy to promote trauma resilience. Most of the students at Cathedral High School in El Paso, Texas, were aware of the violence in Juarez and were truly committed to bringing hope through their art expressions. Some of the male students created poems, rap verses, songs, prayers, drawings, paintings and one even created a model for a monument to the victims in Juarez.
After the art assignment that day, I perceived a change in the students, as they started to pray more often for the victims of violence on the border. Like Felipe, there are other residents of Juarez who deeply desire to express their suffering after losing their loved ones during the drug war. Unfortunately, the communities that have suffered the most violence are located in one of the most impoverished zones in Juarez and lack free mental health services. What could be done for them?
Fr. Antonio Urrutia, a Catholic priest who serves for the parish of Christ Sun of Justice in
Juarez, has been working with the victims of violence in Juarez’s most impoverished areas. Fr. Urrutia recommends a pastoral care that listens, prays, and remembers the victim’s painful loss. He also stresses the importance of promoting forgiveness as a way of reconciliation. He believes it is urgent to provide occupational therapy for the young victims of violence.
Fr. Urrutia says:
After the art assignment that day, I perceived a change in the students, as they started to pray more often for the victims of violence on the border. Like Felipe, there are other residents of Juarez who deeply desire to express their suffering after losing their loved ones during the drug war. Unfortunately, the communities that have suffered the most violence are located in one of the most impoverished zones in Juarez and lack free mental health services. What could be done for them?
Fr. Antonio Urrutia, a Catholic priest who serves for the parish of Christ Sun of Justice in
Juarez, has been working with the victims of violence in Juarez’s most impoverished areas. Fr. Urrutia recommends a pastoral care that listens, prays, and remembers the victim’s painful loss. He also stresses the importance of promoting forgiveness as a way of reconciliation. He believes it is urgent to provide occupational therapy for the young victims of violence.
Fr. Urrutia says:
“The majority of the young people in this community spend their afternoons watching telenovelas (soap operas) or other television sitcoms. The urgency of establishing a center for traumatized patients in the border is high. Young communities in traumatized cities need to relieve their anxiety, depression, and grief in an artistic manner that aids them to open their imagination.”
Joel, one of my students who lives in Juarez and attends Cathedral High School in El Paso, approached me at the end of class that day and expressed his anguish from living on the border. He recalled the sound of gunshots, ambulances, and police vehicles as a frequent occurrence in his neighborhood. For the art project, Joel created a flag for all the victims and wrote the words liberty, peace and justice around a Holy Cross. Another student wrote a poem promoting care for the victims on the border. Gael wrote, “Offer the pain you have to God. Losing a loved one is hard. All of us want justice for what’s happened.” Art therapy promotes healing and resilience by giving hurting individuals a channel to express their anxiety, anger and suffering to the victimizers.
I highly recommend ministers to incorporate art expressions in their pastoral plans while working with communities that have been severely traumatized by violence. Young traumatized male communities can well express their anguish through art expressions that include poetry, music, painting, and writing. Because these traumatized communities on the border have seen their community life suffer due to the extreme violence that affected Juarez, a minister can organize a concert or an art show in honor of the victims for the community. Traumatized communities use these events to express their grief through the arts and create a sense of solidarity. With the help of well-prepared ministers, art therapy can become the means to help them understand the unconditional love of God.
Note from ICTG: Art therapy is a form of communicating what has happened after trauma. Communication is one of three keys to healing as discussed in the ICTG blog post, "Seven Traits of Trauma-Informed Congregations". Even more in-depth information on incorporating trauma-informed communication into your ministry can be found in the ICTG Resource Guides, available to all ICTG Affiliates.
I highly recommend ministers to incorporate art expressions in their pastoral plans while working with communities that have been severely traumatized by violence. Young traumatized male communities can well express their anguish through art expressions that include poetry, music, painting, and writing. Because these traumatized communities on the border have seen their community life suffer due to the extreme violence that affected Juarez, a minister can organize a concert or an art show in honor of the victims for the community. Traumatized communities use these events to express their grief through the arts and create a sense of solidarity. With the help of well-prepared ministers, art therapy can become the means to help them understand the unconditional love of God.
Note from ICTG: Art therapy is a form of communicating what has happened after trauma. Communication is one of three keys to healing as discussed in the ICTG blog post, "Seven Traits of Trauma-Informed Congregations". Even more in-depth information on incorporating trauma-informed communication into your ministry can be found in the ICTG Resource Guides, available to all ICTG Affiliates.
Karina Sandoval is a graduate of the master’s program of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She was born in Ciudad Juarez and has lived in El Paso, Texas, for the last 5 years. She is currently a Religion Instructor at Cathedral High School in El Paso, TX.
RSS Feed
