Spoilt for Choice! A multi-media celebration of Peace Sunday 2021

A peace quiz placemat and table peace-cube ; a podcast from Fr Rob Esdaile, an article for a parish magazine, a penitential rite and bidding prayers and an on-line service are just a few of the creative resources produced by the team at Pax Christi to encourage individuals, families and parishes celebrate Peace Sunday 2021 on 17 January. This is when the church in England and Wales marks the annual World Peace Day message.

The theme chosen by the Holy Father this year is A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace -

file:///C:/Users/TEMP/Downloads/papa-francesco_20201208_messaggio-54giornatamondiale-pace2021%20(3).pdf

in which he emphasises the role of the family, school and community in creating a "compass" of social principles that are both useful and reliable in creating a path to peace. This, he suggests, is a way to "combat the culture of indifference, waste and confrontation so prevalent in our time."

While COVID 19 has placed many limitations on what we can do there is much we CAN do. Some can still eat and pray together, we can reflect alone or talk with others and pass on a message of peace. All are very 'doable' with the help of websites, social media and platforms such as ZOOM.

Parents and schools are used to on-line resources. Downloading the placemat, with its invitation to colour a tree of peace and have fun with a quiz and then make the peace cube and discover prayers and images that tell a story of peace are ideal 'sitting around the table' activities. They open the door to chats about the messages and what they mean to us, no matter our age. file:///C:/Users/TEMP/Downloads/2021-FAMILY-TABLE-ACTIVITY-FOR-PEACE-SUNDAY.pdf

Fr Rob's podcast which last for about seven minutes is well-crafted and ideal for personal reflection or for use as a homily or reflection during the Mass on Peace Sunday. It journeys from our COVID reality to all we have learnt in these months about social friendship, social capital which all contribute to the common good at interpersonal and international levels. https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2021/

There are musical resources too, a song written by Sue Gilmurray, Let us Raise our Voice, invites us to sing and pray our commitment to peacemaking with the lyrics: Let us join the march for the sake of our children, and a future hope that can still be theirs; we will walk the miles with a mind to make it; we will sing our songs, we will breathe our prayers. https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2021/

On 16 January Pax Christi will offer a national on-line service at 6pm to explore how the Pope's message calls us to be peacemakers and respond to the call to live nonviolently. See:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peace-sunday-2021-national-liturgy-tickets-133225849101

On 17 January, J&P Leeds will have a service at 4pm Pathways to Peace for Earthlings. These are open to all. Book tickets here:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pathways-to-peace-for-earthlings-a-liturgy-for-peace-sunday-tickets-132843936791

On-going support for Pax Christi

Celebrating the World Peace Day message annually, challenging military spending, promoting peace education at all levels, campaigning to rid the world of nuclear weapons and the arms trade are elements of Pax Christi's work all year around - even under COVID 19. Against many constraints this work has continued with a small and dedicated team and needs financial support if it is to continue. Sharing posts from our Facebook and Twitter pages is another way of walking a 'path to peace.' Pax Christi is very grateful to those Diocese and Justice and Peace Commissions who have promoted the day and resources.

In his message to parishes our National President, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon says: This year has been one of unprecedented and continuing challenges. We are all conscious of the need to restore and rebuild our communities here and around the world, accepting that we need new ways of working and relating to each other. The Christian message of peace, through reconciliation, justice and nonviolence, can offer hope and direction in these times. I invite you to seriously consider facilitating a collection for, or making a donation to, the work of Pax Christi at this time as a way to make a practical contribution to continuing the work of peace

Donations to the work of Pax Christi https://paxchristi.org.uk/about-us/support-us/donation/

If you are unable to celebrate on 17 January, no worries. The prayers, activities and message can be presented at any time during the year.