Protect Our Kids: Youth, Suicide and Guns: a breakout session from the PCUSA National Conference

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Pax Christi USA (PCUSA) has working groups addressing various issues; one is the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group. Pax Christi Massachusetts (PCMA) Secretary Jeanne Allen serves on this working group, along with Madeline Labriola (Pax Christi Rhode Island; Mary Ellen Quinn (Pax Christi Maine), and Sherry Simon (PC Little Rock Arkansas). With input from Mary Gagnon of the National Association of the Mentally Ill, Maine Chapter, this subgroup presented a breakout session entitled “Protect Our Kids: Youth, Suicide and Guns” at PCUSA’s National Conference held in July 2025. Jeanne has shared the notes from this session, and we linked them below and also on our “Action Resources” page.

Protect Our Kids: Youth, Suicide and Guns: breakout session notes

For more resources, please visit the PCUSA page on Gun Violence Prevention.

Agape Community Gathering October 4: “A Call to Resistance”

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Haley House Community, photo by Teagan Mustone
Iona University Students, photo by Jim Robinson
Edgar Hayes speaking, photo by Jim Robinson
Agape’s 36th annual St. Francis Day gathering on October 4, 2025, “A Call to Resistance,” attracted a large. enthusiastic, multi-generational crowd on a perfect weather day.

Featuring prayer, music, and a few speakers, the program, planned and mostly presented by the young generation of Agape leaders, focused on two breakout sessions for all attendees. In the first, we discussed how we process our inner feelings about the current turmoil in our divided society. In the second, we channeled those feelings into options for nonviolent action to heal that divide.
 
Members of 15 breakout groups resolved to build a “community of communities” by staying in touch and taking inspiration from each other’s initiatives. We ended the day feeling energized, encouraged, and empowered. 
 

Update: Greater Springfield Peace Fair recap and reminder to register for Fall Assembly

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Sr. Jane Morrissey, SSJ, and Mike Moran, PCMA BOD, at the Peace Fair in Springfield, MA. Photo courtesy of Mike Moran.
May Peace Prevail

On September 21, 2025, Greater Springfield (MA) Campaign Nonviolence hosted a peace fair on the International Day of Peace. Around 100 people attended May Peace Prevail, the name of the annual peace fair held outdoors. Twelve local organizations working for peace and justice set up tables on the lawn of Foster Memorial Church, UCC to share resources about their work.

The organizations included Roca, Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible, the Baha’i Faith, Western Massachusetts Just Faith Community, Grassroots4GVP, and others.

Full details and photos are available on the Campaign Nonviolence website.

Fall Assembly October 18, 2025 — Register Now!

The PCMA Fall Assembly, featuring artist Brother Mickey McGrath, will be held October 18 at St. Susanna’s Parish in Dedham. For full details and the flyer, please visit our Upcoming Events Page.

All are welcome! Please register ahead of time to help us plan the day.