杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

The Catholic Church in England and Wales will celebrate Peace Sunday on January 17. The celebration occurs yearly on the third Sunday of January to reflect on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message for World Peace Day. Resources for parishes, young people and schools are provided by Pax Christi, part of the international Catholic movement for peace who, on the occasion, also collects offerings and donations from the parishes to support its year-round work for peace and against military spending and nuclear weapons.

'A culture of care as a path to peace'

Peace Sunday this year will focus on , celebrated on January 1st on the theme 鈥淎 culture of care as a path to peace鈥�, in which he called on government leaders and those of international organizations, business leaders, scientists, communicators and educators, to take up the principles of Catholic Social Teaching as a 鈥渃ompass鈥� to achieve 鈥渁 more humane future鈥�, particularly in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Highlighting the connection between social injustice and violent conflict, the message urges everyone to become 鈥渁 prophetic witness of the culture of care鈥� to overcome social inequalities, which can be done only 鈥渢hrough a widespread and meaningful involvement on the part of women, in the family and in every social, political and institutional sphere鈥�.

Pax Christi

On the occasion of Peace Sunday, Pax Christi鈥檚 National President, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool, who is also the Vice President of the Bishops鈥� Conference of England and Wales (Cbcew), has written to parishes to encourage them to support the work of Pax Christi and to raise up the Gospel message of peace, which, he says, 鈥渢hrough reconciliation, justice and nonviolence, can offer hope and direction in these times鈥�. Many dioceses across England and Wales are actively promoting Peace Sunday on their websites and in their parishes. Resources, which include 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� World Peace day Message, a liturgy booklet, a flyer with ideas for parishes, schools, individuals, families, groups and a script for a short talk about the Peace Sunday theme, are available on Pax Christi鈥檚 website: . On 16 January, the organization will also offer a national online service at 6pm to explore how the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message calls us to be peacemakers and respond to the call to live non-violently.