| |
 |
|
|
Advent 2007: Pray and Act for Peace |
Last year during the first week of Advent, Pax Christi USA Bishop-President Gabino Zavala, in a homily given at the Catholic University of America, said: "I would offer that our presence in Iraq has long passed a capacity to contribute anything positive. Our 140,000 troops in Iraq are unable to stop the deepening spiral of violence. Last week we witnessed the bloodiest attacks since the U.S. invasion almost 4 years ago. It is time to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end."
Sadly, we are here again, on the cusp of another Advent, still waiting for peace to be born into our world, especially in Iraq. But we are a people of hope, and our witness is steadfast. This Advent offers us the time and space to pray, study, and act for peace and to connect our witness with the natural cycle of our church year. Advent signifies a time of new beginnings. Let us make this Advent truly a new beginning – the dawning of peace in Iraq and throughout the world.
Pax Christi USA will provide resources for prayer, study and action throughout the Advent season. Our publications department is already accepting and receiving thousands of orders for this year's Advent reflection booklet, The Advent of the God of Peace (also in Spanish) by Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear, S.J.
A Daily Prayer for Peace this Advent
Each day, at the same time, we are asking Pax Christi USA members, friends and all people of faith, to take five minutes to join in prayer with others around the world for peace. We are asking people to pray for five minutes, one minute for each year of the war in Iraq, and pray that this year will be the last. The time we are asking people to pray is at 12:00pm EST (11am CST; 10am MST; 9am PST). Any prayer for peace will do, but we are encouraging you to use the designated prayers listed below if possible. Click below to read each prayer or order the prayer on prayer cards available from PCUSA.
Weekly Actions for Peace this Advent
Pax Christi USA is encouraging its members, friends and all people of conscience and good will to undertake one specific action for peace during each week of Advent. For each week, Pax Christi USA will suggest one coordinated action in which individuals and groups from around the nation may participate together.
First Week of Advent, December 2-8
Prayer: Prayer for Unity in a Time of War, by Kathy Kelly
Study: Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent, by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Act: Write a letter as part of our letter-to-the-editor campaign on the Iraq Oil Law
Second Week of Advent, December 9-15
Pray: Muslim, Jewish, Christian Prayer for Peace
Study: Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent, by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Act: Local lobby days to make appointments with your representatives or their staff. If appointments are not possible, we suggest a rally to the end the war in Iraq outside your representative's local office.
Third Week of Advent, December 16-22
Pray: Prayer for World Peace, by Joan Chittister, O.S.B.
Study: Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent, by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Act: Leafletting action on the war at your local mall during "peak" shopping season.
Fourth Week of Advent/First Week of Christmas, December 23-29
Pray: Litany of Mary of Nazareth
Study: Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Act: Public prayer services designed around Christmas or the Feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec. 27)
Second Week of Christmas, December 30-January 6
Pray: The Pax Christi icon prayer
Study: Reflection for The Feast of the Holy Family, by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Act: New Year's Resolutions with families and friends incorporating socially-conscious themes: commitment to alternative transportation; tax resistance; ongoing vigils or actions for peace; support fair trade coops, organic agriculture, small farms and farmers' markets; etc.
Click here for more resources for prayer, study and action this Advent.
back |
|
|
|
|