2018 Appeal for support

“Peace firstly means there are no wars … but it also means that there is friendship between all, that every day a step ahead is made for justice, so that there are no more children who are hungry, that there are no more sick children who do not have the possibility of receiving healthcare. Doing all of this means making peace. Peace involves work, it is not about staying calm and doing nothing. No! True peace means working so that everyone has a solution to the problems, to the needs, that they have in their land, in their homeland, in their family, in their society.” — Pope Francis

Dear Members of Pax Christi Massachusetts,

As our calendar year is coming to an end, we once again reach out to you for your support.  Your continued generosity has assisted all our work, as we try to practice the way of nonviolence and aspire for peace and justice.  Since Pax Christi Massachusetts does not charge membership dues, we depend on donations to fund our Annual Retreat, our Annual Assembly, our semi-annual newsletters, and our grants to new local groups that are beginning the work of Pax Christi Massachusetts.

This past April we held a spring retreat at Elms College in Chicopee and were thrilled to see an excellent participation level.  Western Massachusetts really hit it out of the park!  Fr. Warren Savage facilitated what proved to be a profound experience as we reflected on the theme Witnessing the Roots of Peace in a World of Discord and Hate. In October, we gathered for our Annual Assembly at St. Malachy Parish in Burlington where Erin Freeborn and Candace Julyan from the Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) engaged us in thoughtful discussion and reflection about the positive changes in society that restorative justice practices can yield.  Pax Christi Massachusetts also co-sponsored this year’s Annual St. Francis Day at Agape and published two comprehensive newsletters that highlighted several social justice initiatives happening in our state.

We know that you receive numerous requests for charitable contributions this time of year.  We would be very grateful if you could help out. No donation is too small. Please consider writing a tax-deductible check to Pax Christi Massachusetts and sending it to 6 Bolser Avenue, Natick MA 01760.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Gobron
Treasurer, Pax Christi Massachusetts

Members at the State House

Pax Christi members (left to right) Irene Desharmais, Pat Ferrone, and Fr. Rocco Puopolo at the Good Friday Stations of the Cross at the statehouse.  The Stations of the Cross at the Statehouse is an annual event initiated by Agape and co-sponsored by Pax Christi MA, Sisters of St. Anne and the House of Peace.

Salima Abbas

Read the poem here.

War Toys XMas

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday—It must be the season of gift-giving again! And why not? What can be nicer than giving gifts to show people we care about and appreciate them? And what can be more gratifying than seeing joy and excitement when the recipient is a child?

But what to give? This is a season for celebrating love whether it is Love born in a manger on Christmas day; or the Love of God providing for an oppressed people at Chanukkah; or the Love of family, community, and culture acclaimed during Kwanzaa. Love is at the heart of all faiths and traditions. And it is love that prompts us to give gifts, especially to the children in our lives.

So let us be very thoughtful about the gifts we choose. Our children live in a society plagued by war, terrorism, street crime, bullying, and many other kinds of violence. They deserve much better from us. They deserve to play in ways that allow them to have fun free of conflict. Let the things you give nurture love, not fear or prejudice.

Consider toys that:

  • Can be used in many ways
  • Allow children to be in charge of the play
  • Appeal to children at more than one age or level of development
  • Are not linked to video games, computers, TV, or movies,
  • Can be used with other toys for new and more complex play
  • Will stand the test of time as children develop new interests and skills
  • Promote respectful, non-stereotyped, nonviolent interactions among children
  • Help children develop skills important for further learning and a sense of mastery
  • Can be used alone or with others Can be enjoyed by boys and girls

    Choose:

  • Toys for constructing, like building blocks and molding clay
  • Toys that inspire creative arts, like craft supplies and musical instruments
  • Toys that promote movement, like bikes, wagons, and sports equipment
  • Toys that promote dramatic play, like costumes and props, puppets and magic sets
  • Toys that foster cooperation and teamwork, like dolls and puzzles and some board games
  • Toys that enhance the imagination, new ideas, and problem solving, like science and nature kits
  • Toys that respect the environment, that can be reused and recycled And don’t forget books, magazine subscriptions, tickets to a show or movie, Teddy Bears, and you.
  • There’s nothing better than YOUR time!

Thanks to www.truceteachers.org for the information presented in this flier. Visit their website, as well as www.responsibleshopper.org, and www.greenamerica.org for more ideas about gifts that promote the positive values we want for our children and have the extra benefit of being sweatshop-free and non-toxic.

Pax Christi MA and St. Susanna Peace and Justice endorse this effort.

War Toys Xmas

Peace Pages

You can view our Peace Pages in the Newsletter Archive!

2015 Annual Assembly

PCMA 2015 Assembly Flyer Sister Helen, the author of the autobiographical book Dead ManWalking and of The Death of Innocents, says: “The death penalty is one of the great moral issues facing our country, yet most people rarely think about it and very few of us take the time to delve deeply enough into this issue to be able to make an informed decision.”

Welcome to our new site!

Welcome to the web home of Pax Christi Massachusetts! As we develop our new website, please let us know if you see anything wrong!