Art & Jeanne Sheridan

a coffee mug inscribed with the words, "go against the flow," sits near Art’s desk.

"peace and justice is really about helping people, and it’s about relationships…"

Art and Jeanne feel that they have been called to "be a voice for those who do not have a voice."

Not surprisingly, a coffee mug inscribed with the words, "go against the flow," sits near Art’s desk. He passionately believes that Jesus asks people to go against the norm, and that Catholic Social Teaching calls "us to a certain responsibility left us by Christ. Jesus was never uninvolved or resting in a comfort zone."

Art and Jeanne Sheridan are one of the most energetic, inspiring, and active couples in the diocese. They have worked non-stop since the 1970s, and they have been excellent advocates for peace and social justice issues.

"We have an awesome diocese that allows us to do peace and justice work," Art exclaimed.

One of their first endeavors was with CCD and Marriage Encounter. After spending five years with Marriage Encounter, they immersed themselves in "Retrouville," French for "rediscover", a program for hurting marriages. The Sheridan’s originally learned of the group while visiting Toronto and they subsequently started a "Retrouville" program when they returned to Chicago.

They describe it as a ministry of helping people, "peace and justice is really about helping people, and it’s about relationships…so Retrouville is really about peace and justice."

Throughout the years they have worked with PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), "Human Hands," and Naperville C.A.R.E.S. In 1996 they jumped at the opportunity to join their parish’s, St. Elizabeth Seton, newly formed Peace and Justice Committee. Jeanne said the Peace and Justice Committee "started giving us an awareness of the needs and of the opportunities to do something about them."

Art and Jeanne lit up when they spoke of their recent work with a Catholic Charities transitional housing mentoring program. To date, they have mentored one woman with four children and another woman with nine children. The faith of the mother of nine deeply moved and touched them.

"God was taking care of this lady!" Art enthusiastically said. "Everything about her was like a miracle, and she always said, ‘God will take care of us.’"

Meanwhile, Jeanne keeps busy with SESNO (St. Elizabeth Seton Neighborhood Outreach). Although the program does direct service, Jeanne stated that the main objective of the outreach is to uncover the core issues hindering one from becoming self-sufficient. She strongly encourages people to try to understand others and listen to those in need.

To this end, Art and Jeanne refuse to see the poor as "them," or as "those people." Art poignantly asked, "Who are we to exclude or judge people? We categorize people, but it’s about becoming aware. Each of us has a uniqueness we need to appreciate." Jeanne humbly added, "What we do is help the poor---we seek to understand before we do things."

Their heart for the poor has led them to Sucre, Bolivia, Hopkin’s Park, Il, and Fort Benning, Georgia. Art refers to his mission trips to Bolivia as "spiritual retreats." For Art and Jeanne the trip is "about building relationships and we think we do that…we recognize that we are all brothers and sisters" (Art made his 8^th mission trip in October while Jean made her 5^th).

"People think of missions as you have to ‘do,’" Art continued, "but you have to ‘be.’ You have to listen to people…that alone gives them self worth…just being there shows you care."

Their trips to South America have also turned the Sheridans into "two successful protesters" at the School of the Americas (SOA) in Fort Benning. Art and Jeanne feel that they have been called to "be a voice for those who do not have a voice." In protesting, they act as a voice for the children deemed voiceless---children like the ones in the barrios of Sucre who have been affected by the SOA.

Currently, the Sheridans have been working with St. Anslem’s, an African American parish in Chicago. This corresponds with their work at St. Elizabeth Seton on racial justice. They are hoping to travel back and forth between their parish and St. Anslem’s in a unifying effort to "build community and relationships" with people from diverse cultures, races, and classes.

Jeanne finds that the greatest challenge in all of her work is facing her personal feelings. She expressed how she finds it "incredibly difficult" to see other people hurting because it hurts her too. Hence, she believes in empathy and of "allowing yourself to be in solidarity with the pain of someone else."

Art’s most difficult challenge is finding a balance between working for systemic change and working directly with people. While the system needs to be changed, Art also believes that "you cannot ignore the person standing in front of you---we have to reach out, even if it’s just to embrace, to cry, or to listen."

Although the Sheridans would like to participate in a Navajo Nation trip in the future, they say they will remain open and follow "wherever the spirit leads." But wherever the spirit leads them next, they are confident that they will continue to work for peace and justice. "Even if things are negative," Jeanne said, "we cannot give up." For this reason, Jeanne finds strength in the Bible verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"All the tears, all the things we’ve done, places we’ve been," Art summed up, "it all boils down to saying ‘we’re blessed.’"

When the Sheridans are not volunteering somewhere, starting a new peace and justice program, nonviolently protesting, helping a brother or sister in need, or traveling to Bolivia or Hopkins Park---not to mention holding down full time jobs---they are swing dancing in Chicago, working outside in their yard, or reading.