Beginning on the International Day of Peace, September 21st and continuing through September 27, Pax Christi USA members and groups will be hosting and/or participating in a week of actions as supporters of Campaign Nonviolence. Pax Christi USA was an earlier endorser of Campaign Nonviolence, and if your local group or region has something planned, we want to know! Send your information to jzokovitch@paxchristiusa.org and we'll help promote your event and connect others to your action.

Peace education and the practice of nonviolence are needed now as much as ever. Dr. King told us that "the choice is not between violence and nonviolence, but between nonviolence and nonexistence." Events like the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO to the U.S. bombing campaign in the Middle East, and issues from climate change to nuclear weapons are the evidence for just how prescient Dr. King's words were. But we can turn the tide. We can "mainstream nonviolence" and create a world which is more peaceful, just and sustainable. Join us between September 21-27 for this week of action. It is not too late to plan an event or make plans to participate. Let's take our action to the street and show that nonviolence is "the love that does justice."
In peace,
Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA
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PRAY: The Vow of Nonviolence
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by Eileen Egan and John Dear
Recognizing the violence in my own heart, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy'; but I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven."
Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus...
Click here to see the rest of the Vow of Nonviolence.
Click here to order copies of the Vow in brochure format for your church, family, school, or others, with additional actions and resources for practicing nonviolence.
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STUDY: Two free small group discussion resources on nonviolence
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Drawing from articles sent in to the Bread for the Journey blog on the Pax Christi USA website, we periodically reformat several articles into a free, downloadable process booklet of 4-6 sessions designed for small group discussion and reflection. We think that these two resources may be of particular interest for your group or even individual study as part of Campaign Nonviolence. To see more of these process booklets, click here.
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ACT: Three actions you can take Sept. 21-27
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1. Join or plan an action in your local community. Click here for more information.
2. Take the Campaign Nonviolence pledge.
3. Join the Fast for Peace.
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