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SAVE THE DATE! Online Forum — “Building a World Without Nuclear Weapons: An Urgent Imperative” JANUARY 27, 2024, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET

December 21, 2023 in /by

“To love our enemies means we have to begin the process of ending our preparations to kill them, including our preparations to drop nuclear weapons on them.”

—Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament
A Pastoral Letter by Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe
January 11, 2022, page 16

As we approach the second anniversary of Archbishop Wester’s pastoral letter, cited above, and the third anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entering into force, Pax Christi Massachusetts is planning an online forum on January 27, 2024, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET, entitled Building a World Without Nuclear Weapons: An Urgent Imperative, to examine the existential threat and moral implications of nuclear weapons, to enter into dialogue about solutions, and to urge prayer and action from individuals and groups.

Registration details are still being developed, but three powerful speakers have already been secured: Archbishop Wester; Dr. Ira Helfand, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)/Back from the Brink, and Marie Dennis, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative/Pax Christi International. Claire Schaeffer-Duffy of SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker, Worcester, will serve as moderator.

We thank and welcome our many co-sponsors for this forum! You can find them all listed here.

Keep watching www.paxchristima.org for the registration opportunity! 

If you have questions about the event, please email [email protected].

Northampton Peace Activists Initiate Fast for Palestine, and Invite all to Join

December 20, 2023 in /by

Calling on their neighbors and friends to join them, a coalition of Northampton peace activists initiated a fast for Palestine on December 12, 2023. Pax Christi MA is supporting this effort, which is described in this press release. The fast will be maintained until all of the area’s elected officials support two main demands:

1.      A permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank.
2.      Enforcement by the President and Congress of the Leahy Law with respect to the Israel Defense Forces.  This law prohibits shipment of U.S. weapons to gross violators of human rights.
 
Click here for a descriptive flyer, which includes more background information and contact information for Central/Western MA legislators.
 
Neighbors and friends who wish to show solidarity are invited to join the fasters as outlined in the flyer, join in some modified form (e.g., one day per week) and/or support the fasters with prayer.

Archbishop John Wester on Dorothy Day and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

December 2, 2023 in /by

Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, author of Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament, was in New York City during the last week of November for the Second Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations. While there he offered a Mass at the Church of the Divine Savior on the anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day, November 29. A small but enthusiastic contingent from Pax Christi MA was in attendance. Archbishop Wester’s homily is linked above. Here is the link to his letter, co-signed with other bishops, to the UN meeting

Statement in Support of the Second Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Archbishop Wester’s homily, Mass at Church of the Divine, 11/29/2023

Attending the Mass from Massachusetts were, from left, Christopher Spicer Hankle, Pat Ferrone, Karen Brennan, Linda Taylor, Archbishop John Wester, Madeline Labriola (Rhode Island), and Peter Metz. Also attending but not in the photo: Claire Schaeffer-Duffy, Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, and Dr. Ira Helfand.

Fall Assembly 2023

October 28, 2023 in /by

Pax Christi MA Fall Assembly

The Fall Assembly was held Saturday, October 28 at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham. Keynote speaker was Rev. Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democray Coalition and the Faneuil Hall Race and Reconciliation Project. His topic was “Renaming Faneuil Hall: the Role of Public Theology.” An afternoon panel of advocates expanded on the topic, and included Rev. Andre Bennett, President/ECCO; Youth Minister/Zion Baptist, Lynn, Rev. Valerie Copeland, Pastor, Neighborhood Church, Dorchester, and Sr. Linda Bessom, SNDdeN.

The parish hall stage displayed an installation of stones commemorating victims of gun violence arranged by Madeline Champagne and Rita Corey, with assistance from St. Susanna Pax Christi members Blanche Crandall and Pat Ferrone. Pat also  displayed her handmade tributes: long horizontal banners with the names of gun violence victims listed chronologically, and banners honoring past recipients of the Peacemaker Award.

 

 

Pax Christi Spring Retreat: Living the Company of Jesus

April 5, 2023 in /by

This spring’s retreat will feature Dr. Phil Harak, co-coordinator of Pax Christi MA. as he honors his brother, Fr. G. Simon Harak S.J., who passed into eternal life in 2019, by presenting some of Fr. Simon’s homilies and his own reflections, which focus on Jesus’ commitment to the nonviolent kingdom. The retreat will take place […]

Pax Christi Anniversary Celebration and Assembly, October 29, 2022

September 13, 2022 in /by

Build on Our Past to Create our Future Guest Speaker: PCUSA Executive Director, Johnny Zokovitch Keynote, workshops, Festive Lunch and Anniversary Celebrations St. Susannah’s Parish Hall (and on Zoom), 262 Needham St., Dedham Registration/Coffee: 8:30am Program: 9:00am to 3:30pm Parish Mass: 4:00pm We’re celebrating: Pax Christi USA 50 years, Pax Christi MA 30 years, Pax […]

Thousands in the U.S. Catholic Church Support Black Lives Matter and Gay Pride By Nancy Small

July 6, 2022 in /by

Recent articles about Bishop Robert McManus ordering Nativity School to take down its BlackLives Matter (BLM) and gay pride flags have caused quite a stir in our community. BishopMcManus suggests that flying these flags at a Catholic institution may promote an image ofinconsistency with Catholic teaching and Catholic identity. But it’s just as likely that […]

2022 Pax Christi Massachusetts Peacemaker Award Nomination

March 11, 2022 in /by

To be awarded at the annual Pax Christi Massachusetts Assembly Fall 2022 This award is given to an outstanding peacemaker who embodies the ideals of Pax Christi. She or he need not be a member of Pax Christi and may be a person as young as 16, or older. Nominations may be submitted by PCMA […]