In 2003 on the twentieth anniversary of the US Bishops' peace pastoral, The Challenge of Peace, Pax Christi USA invited other national Catholic organizations to participate in an historic and far-reaching project called The People's Peace Initiative. This initiative became a collaborative effort between 20 national Catholic organizations and ministries to articulate the challenges for Catholic peacemaking in the 21st century.
Several years were spent developing the relationships which led to a grassroots process of reflection that would lead ultimately to the writing of a "people's peace letter." This booklet, Called to Something New: A People's Peace Initiative was designed to solicit input from Catholics throughout our country, to capture the "sensus fidelium" on peace in our time.
The two major components of this initiative include:
1. The writing and publication of a document, based on input from small group reflection processes in parishes and diocesan convenings; and
2. An invigoration of the “vocation of peacemaking” and strengthening of relationships among Catholic organizations at the local level to further the work of building a more just and peace-filled world.
Prior to this year's national conference, Pax Christi USA will hold a very special gathering focused on The People's Peace Initiative. During the day on Friday, August 10, from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Pax Christi USA will be hosting a preconference gathering for a “national grassroots discernment” process to help articulate the challenges of Catholic peacemaking for the 21st century. Small groups throughout the nation have been engaged in a reflection and discussion process aimed at contributing to the writing of a “Catholic grassroots peace letter.” Pax Christi regions and local groups are encouraged to send a representative to this gathering to help discern Pax Christi USA’s organizational contribution to The People's Peace Initiative. It is important that all of the voices, stories, insights and experiences from every level of the Catholic peace and justice movement--regions, local groups, campus groups, high school chapters, parishes, religious communities and individual members--are raised up.
This day promises to be a unique and exciting collaboration. Housing will be available Thursday night at Seattle University for all participants, and meals will be available Friday. (See the registration form for this information.)
You don't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Register for the conference today and plan on joining us for this historic pre-conference gathering!
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