Category: Campaigns

Pax Christi International celebrates its 70th anniversary this year –  70 years of inspiring peacemaking! 

One special feature of this anniversary is the World Assembly of the movement which will take place in Bethlehem between 13 – 17 May 2015. This event is open to  all Pax Christi members and a delegation of two people will go from the Pax Christi team.  If enough people are interested we may add a day or two to the planned programme.

The programme offers a variety of events ranging from local visits to dialogue sessions and round tables where members and local peacemakers can reflect and strategize on Pax Christi themes and issues. Also, there will be a day long anniversary festival, celebrated with the local people, including a marketplace, a variety of events, entertainment and the Pax Christi Peace Award ceremony. You can read more about some of the costs on the ground here.

The International Pax Christi office is asking for registration by 16 January.  If you are interested please contact us here in London to coordinator@paxchristi.org.uk 

Pax Christi is joining with Westminster J&P, CAFOD, Progressio and many more to support the year-long project Pray and Fast for the Climate flyer. Why pray and fast? In Warsaw 2013 at the UN interim Climate talks, Yeb Sano, leader of the Filipino climate delegation, begged world leaders  not to be a talking shop,  but to make a binding commitment to  reduce global carbon emissions and avoid drastic consequences of global warming. He promised to fast on the first of every month until such a decision was taken. We as people of faith are undertaking to make that journey, in solidarity with him and many worldwide, who have been inspired by his commitment. Times of prayer and fasting each month.  Pax Christi will co-host an evening with the Religious of the Assumption on 1st May 2015 in Kensington.

Every year Pax Christi promotes the World Peace Day message in England and Wales, celebrated in 2015 on 18th January.  The theme for 2015 is  ‘Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters‘ and looks at the links between war, violence, forced labour, modern day slavery and trafficking.    Pax Christi  has produced a variety of resource materials for Peace Sunday which are available  here .  Please think about how best YOU can celebrate Peace Sunday in your community or parish and at the same time support the work of Pax Christi by taking a collection.

Our sister organisation PAX Netherlands have produced a second Iraq & Syria Alert looking at  the inclusivity  essential to long-term political strategy to counter ISIS.  It  sets progress markers for the international community to monitor inclusive policy in different sectors as part of the larger political strategy to counter ISIS.  Despite the complex political and security situation, meaningful steps can and should already be taken under the present circumstances by the countries participating in the coalition against ISIS .

We are always delighted to hear news of our members and their local activities and have a whole web-page dedicated to this!  Take a look and be encouraged: from challenging the arms trade to memorial services for past members and events on Israel Palestine…. read more here If you are a member, send us your reports and we will post them too.