Memorial Day, May 28, 2012

Greetings!,  

On this Memorial Day, as we remember all those who gave their lives, let us continue to work to end all wars and to bring about once and for all a world of peace. Let us join with Pope John Paul II in saying:  

"War - never again! No, never again war, which teaches how to kill, throws into upheaval even the lives of those who do the killing and leaves behind a trail of resentment and hatred, making it all the more difficult to find a just solution to the very problems which provoked the war... No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between states, the noble exercise of diplomacy: These are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences." ~Pope John Paul II 

We join with all of you who are mourning the loss of a loved one this Memorial Day, and we give thanks for your work and your witness to bring about peace in our time.

On the Pax Christi USA website, we hope the following resources will support your work for peace as you reflect and pray on this Memorial Day, and as we work to end the war in Afghanistan and violence everywhere:

• Pax Christi USA organizational statements, including a statement against the war in Afghanistan
• The Vow of Nonviolence
• Resources on Conscientious Objection
• Local Group resources, including 3 plays on peace by Pax Christi USA member and playwright Jack Gilroy 
• JustPeacemaking, a 12 session module for small groups on the challenge and promise of nonviolence for our time
• A host of resources for peace education from the Pax Christi Store

In Christ's peace,

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA