ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration is now open for our next study circle on the book, Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church, beginning in late-May 2021. Click here for more information.

For Lent 2021, from late-February through April, Pax Christi USA will be hosting study circles on nonviolence using the new book from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World.

The Advancing Nonviolence study circles are aimed at deepening the Catholic understanding of and commitment to Gospel nonviolence. This project grows out of our fundamental belief that nonviolence is critical to the life of the Catholic Church and the survival of our world, and that nonviolence is an essential component to transforming violence and injustice. Participation in these study circles will lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for nonviolence as a constitutive element of our faith and the cultivation of practical and effective tools for building a just peace in our families, local communities, churches, cities and the world.

The Advancing Nonviolence study circle will be the first in an ongoing series we’re calling, “Love is Political: Literary Circles for Liberation”. A new circle will start using Olga Segura’s new book, Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church, starting in May.

ORDERING THE BOOK

We have partnered with the Winchester Book Gallery in Virginia, a locally-owned, independent book store, for online orders of the book at a discount to people participating in the Advancing Nonviolence study circles. See more about the book at the bottom of this page.

REGISTRATION

Registration is now closed. If you have previously registered to participate and have not as of yet downloaded your participant’s packet, click here to download it now.

SIGN-UP TO ATTEND THE BI-WEEKLY ZOOM GATHERINGS

Every other week, beginning March 3rd and going through April 28th, all participants in the Advancing Nonviolence study circles will have the option to attend 5 Zoom gatherings, each composed of a panel discussion with contributors to the book and members of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, followed by a one-hour small group book discussion with other participants in the study circles in Zoom breakout rooms. Zoom gatherings will take place at 3pm ET on March 3, 17, 31, April 14 and 28.

Click here to sign-up to attend the Zoom gatherings. You do not have to attend all of them (see schedule below); attend as you are able. All panel discussions will be recorded and posted for later viewing if you cannot attend.

NOTE: If you cannot make the panel discussions at 3pm ET on Wednesdays, but would still like to partake in discussion with others reading the book from around the nation, you can sign-up here for this alternate discussion group for discussion only at 7pm ET on the same Wednesdays. This session will be only 1 hour and allow for individuals from around the nation to meet in small groups for discussion of the book.

  • March 3: An introduction to the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, the book and how we got here. In preparation for this session, read the preface to the book. Our panelists will include Judy Coode, Project Coordinator for the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and one of the book’s co-editors; Marie Dennis, former Co-President of Pax Christi International and one of the book’s co-editors; Eli McCarthy, professor of peace studies at Georgetown University and a contributor to the book. Questions for break-out discussion sessions will revolve around participants’ decisions to join the study circles. (See video from March 3rd below.)
  • March 17: “Rediscovering Nonviolence, Reading the Signs of the Times”. In preparation for this session, read Part I: Returning to Nonviolence. Our panelists with include Ken Butigan, one of the co-editors of the book, a professor of peace, justice and conflict studies at DePaul University, and executive director of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service; Pat Gaffney, former Coordinator for Pax Christi England & Wales, a member of the Executive Committee of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, and convener of the working groups and round-tables which contributed to the book; and Jean Baptiste Talla, Technical Advisor for Peacebuilding and Justice in Africa with Catholic Relief Services and formerly the coordinator for the Justice and Peace Commission of the Association of Episcopal Conferences in the Central Africa Region. Break-out discussions will revolve around what was read in Part I. (See video from March 17th below.)
  • March 31: “Building on the Foundations of Nonviolence”. In preparation for this session, read Part II: Foundations of Nonviolence. Our panelists will include Jeanette Rodriguez, professor of theology at Seattle University, Director of the Institute for Thought and Culture, and author of several books and articles concentrated in the areas of U.S. Hispanic theology, theologies of liberation, peacebuilding, and women’s spirituality; Marc Tumeinski, professor of theology at Anna Maria College, concentrating on biblical and theological understandings of peacemaking, war and nonviolence, and addressing violence that occurs in healthcare and social service settings; and Dr. Terrence Rynne, the founder, with his wife Sally, of the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University, who teaches Peace Studies at Marquette and is the author of Gandhi and Jesus: The Saving Power of Nonviolence and Jesus Christ Peacemaker: A New Theology of Peace from Orbis Books. Break-out discussions will revolve around what was read in Part II. (See video from March 31st below.)
  • April 14: “The Power of Nonviolence – Action and Resistance”. In preparation for this session, read Part III: The Practice and Power of Nonviolence. Our panelists will include Rose Berger, senior editor of Sojourners Magazine, poet, and one of the co-editors of the book; Jean Stokan, a member of the Institute Justice Team for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, former Pax Christi USA Policy Director and a contributor to the book; and Scott Wright, director of the Columban Center for Outreach and Advocacy, author, and contributor to the book. Break-out discussions will revolve around what was read in Part III. (See video from April 14th below.)
  • April 28: “Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World – Next Steps”. In preparation for this session, read Part IV, Embracing Nonviolence. Our panelist will include Marie Dennis, former Co-President of Pax Christi International and one of the book’s co-editors; Eli McCarthy, professor of peace studies at Georgetown University and a contributor to the book; and Judy Coode, Project Coordinator for the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and one of the book’s co-editors. Break-out discussions will revolve around what was read in Part IV and the appendices and include pledges of commitment for next steps. (See the video from April 28th below.)

Watch previous panel discussions below…

BONUS OPPORTUNITIES

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pax Christi International and its Catholic Nonviolence Initiative are pleased to announce the publication of Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World, the culmination of a three-year global conversation among church leaders, community organizers, activists, social scientists and theologians about how the Catholic Church might return to its Gospel nonviolence roots and transform the world.

The book shares the experiences of on-the-ground nonviolent interventions, explores the scriptural, theological and historical foundations of nonviolence, reviews the most current social science on how nonviolence has been effectively employed, and outlines a vision for how the Church might embrace active nonviolence into every aspect of its life.

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace is a biblical, theological, ethical, pastoral and strategic resource for anyone seeking to understand or expand Catholic thinking on nonviolence. It answers commonly asked questions about active nonviolence and Catholic social teaching, including:

  • Does nonviolence work to resolve conflict?
  • What did Jesus and the Bible say about nonviolence?
  • What has the Church taught about nonviolence?
  • Is nonviolence the same as pacifism? How are they different?

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace explores the foundations of Catholic thinking about nonviolence. It includes reviews of papal statements and church documents, a survey of the biblical teaching from the Hebrew Bible and Christian scriptures, a review of contemporary theological research on nonviolence, and dozens of recommendations for further discernment on how the Church might live into its Gospel nonviolence mandate. This is an essential resource for moving forward the dialogue on how the Church can lead, teach and respond to conflict in the world. Order today and consider adding an extra to share with your bishop or other church leaders.

Available now in English in paperback. Stay tuned for more information about an e-book in English and an e-book in Spanish.

When ordering, Pax Christi USA members can get a special 15% discount by using the code PCM15! Click here to order now.

7 thoughts on “Advancing Nonviolence Study Circles”

    1. Hi, for groups who are studying together, they can arrange whatever schedule suits them. For individuals reading on their own, Pax Christi USA will schedule 4-6 sessions for people to come together for a presentation and discussion as they proceed through the book. The first online session will be the week of March 1 and subsequent sessions will take place every 2 weeks until the last week of April. More info will be posted later this week on exact dates…

      Reply

  2. Rather than organizing my own group is previously indicated in my registration. may I just join an already organized group?

    Reply

    1. Hi Joyce, we’re not matching people up with groups but when we do the Zoom sessions, individuals will get to join breakout rooms to discuss the book together with others who are reading.

      Reply

  3. So if our group wants to study together we will not have access to Pax Christi USA ‘s discussion leaders?

    Reply

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