Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.
~ Joel 2:12-15
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.
It is time again for deep reflection and prayer as we prepare ourselves for the agony of Good Friday and the joy of Easter.
Our prayers continue for a conversion of hearts and minds to nonviolence. We pray for all who live in war: for all those in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and across the Middle East; for everyone affected by the war in Ukraine; for the people of Yemen, who have been bombarded for years; for the people of the Great Lakes region of Africa; for those around the world who endure constant threat from state or paramilitary actors. We lament the continued loss of life and health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, from the continued threats of white nationalism and racial injustice to the intractable issues of poverty and unequal access to healthcare.
The season of Lent allows us to root ourselves ever more deeply in discipleship to the nonviolent Jesus, to demonstrate the unbreakable bond that exists between an authentic spirituality and our commitment to social justice, between the proclamation of the gospel and the call to practice peacemaking, fortifying us to address injustice, violence, and oppression as we have for more than 50 years.
We hope the resources below for prayer, study and action will be helpful to you as we journey through Lent together, walking the way of discipleship with Jesus toward the Cross by challenging systems which dominate and oppress in our world today.
REFLECTIONS FOR SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS
On this page throughout the season, we will feature reflections from this year’s Pax Christi USA Lenten reflection booklet and other excerpts from past booklets (based on Cycle B of the liturgical year.) We’ll also send our weekly Lenten emails directly to your inbox if you’re subscribed to our free email service. (Click here to sign up if you are not already subscribed.)
- Ash Wednesday, February 14, by Joyce Hollyday, 1991
- First Sunday of Lent, February 18, by M. Shawn Copeland, PhD., 2003
- Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, by Dorothy Stoner, OSB, 2000
- Third Sunday of Lent, March 3, by Colleen Kelly, 2012
- Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 10, by Suzanne Belote Shanley and Brayton Shanley, 2018
- Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, by Mary Schneiders, OP, 1994
- Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, by Michael Howard, 2023
- Palm Sunday, March 24, by Mary Carter Waren, 2006
- Since the Solemnity of the Annunciation, usually commemorated on March 25, falls during Holy Week in 2024, it will be celebrated on April 8 this year.
- Holy Thursday, March 28, by Nancy Small, 2016
- Good Friday, March 29, by Charlene Howard, 2023
- Holy Saturday-Easter vigil, March 30, by Beatrice Parwatikar, 2008
- Easter Sunday, March 31, by Frida Berrigan, 2024
PRAY-STUDY-ACT EACH WEEK OF LENT
Each week, we’ll be crafting a special Pray-Study-Act e-bulletin (PSA) with resources for us all to use and to act on in common. Each PSA will be sent out a few days prior to the week to which it refers; links will be made available closer to the dates.
- First week of Lent, February 18-24
- Second week of Lent, February 25-March 2
- Third week of Lent, March 3-9
- Fourth week of Lent, March 10-16
- Fifth week of Lent, March 17-March 23
- Holy Week, March 24-March 30
OTHER LENTEN RESOURCES
- Through the desert God leads us to freedom, Pope Francis’s message for Lent 2024
- Lenten calendar: 40 days of reflection and renewal from Pax Christi International
- The Lent 2024 reflection guide from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- A Lenten calendar from the Laudato Si’ Movement
- Lenten resources from Nuns Against Gun Violence
- Lenten resources from the Kairos Center
- A prayer for peace in Ukraine by Sr. Pegge Boehm, PBVM (in MSWord and as a PDF)
- Litany of Peace: A prayer from Pax Christi USA to use daily throughout Lent (pdf)
- An Examination of Conscience (pdf)
- The Risk of the Cross: Living Gospel nonviolence in the nuclear age: This book by Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Art Laffin is organized into five study sessions, each of which focuses on Jesus’ call to discipleship in Mark’s gospel. It includes links to information and inspiration for embracing the way of Gospel nonviolence and taking action to avert nuclear annihilation and abolish nuclear weapons. Recommended for parish study groups during Lent.
- Find resources from last year’s Lenten program at this link.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND DAYS OF OBSERVANCE
>> Use this link to let us know about any Lenten events which your group is planning.
Continue to check this page for announcements of additional events and opportunities…
Special events
- February 15: The Daniel Berrigan Collective welcomes Frida Berrigan, author of “A Fast that Matters,” the Pax Christi USA 2024 Lenten reflection booklet. Use this link to watch the recording on YouTube.
- February 21, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17: The Pax Christi USA Young Adult Caucus (PCYAC) will hold a bi-weekly Literary Circle for Liberation (study circle) with Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, by Kaitlin Curtice.
- February 21, 28 and March 6: Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear is offering a three-week class on Wednesday afternoons on his new book, The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence, for those who would like to go a bit deeper into this work.
- March 21: As part of the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign, a prayer service and public witness was held on Capitol Hill, Washington DC. 12 people, including Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Art Laffin and Ambassadors of Peace Jean Stokan and Scott Wright, were arrested after a nonviolent civil disobedience action in the Russell Senate Office Building.
Weekly events
- Every Monday in Lent: Pax Christi USA Community Weekly Lenten Prayer Service – Pax Christi USA invites all to join in a 30-minute prayer service, 8:30-9 PM Eastern, each Monday in Lent: February 19, February 26, March 4, March 11, March 18, and March 25. Click on this link to register with Zoom — you only need to register once in order to participate each week. Click here to see videos and programs of prayer services from past weeks, to be added after each service.
- Online Lenten Worship Series with the Kairos Center’s Freedom Church of the Poor — including Bible study with Black Christians for Palestine on Wednesdays (until March 27), Sunday services (until March 31), and services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday (March 28, 29).
Good Friday observances, March 29
Traditionally, many Pax Christi USA local groups plan and stage a Way of the Cross event on Good Friday, connecting the sufferings of Christ during his passion with the suffering of our brothers and sisters at the hands of violence, greed, poverty, sickness and war.
>> Let us know if you have a Way of the Cross planned in your community by FILLING OUT THIS FORM.
- Philadelphia, PA, Tuesday, March 26, 5-7 PM: Various peace and justice groups in Philadelphia are hosting a Social Justice Way of the Cross. 1001 S 47th Street, then going to Clark Park. Contact Annie at 856-390-3298 for information.
- North Eastham, MA, starting Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday: St. Joan d’Arc parish will hold Stations of the Cross and Novena of Grace, 61 Canal Rd, Orleans, MA. Contact Brian Earley for more information, nicoearley@gmail.com.
- GOOD FRIDAY EVENTS:
- ONLINE, 12 PM Eastern: The Way of the Cross organized by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC). Use this link to learn more and register on the MOGC website. (Live-streamed on the MOGC YouTube page.)
- New York City, starting at 8:30 AM: Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) will hold its annual Good Friday Way of the Cross starting at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (East 47th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue). This year’s theme is “Walking with Jesus, how do we live our lives?” Contact PCMNY for more details: 212-420-0250, paxchristimetronewyork@gmail.com, or visit the website or Facebook page.
- Pittsburgh, PA, 9-10:30 AM: Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi and Sunday’s Bread will hold a Way of the Cross/Way ofCompassion, starting at Morningstar Baptist Church, 5524 Second Ave, Hazelwood, with multiple stops along the way. Contact pghpaxchristi@gmail.com for more information.
- Harrisburg, PA, 10-11:30 AM: Pax Christi Harrisburg will hold a Way of the Cross, starting at Front and Market Streets, Harrisburg (Dauphin County Courthouse)
- Sioux Falls, SD, 12-1 PM: Pax Christi South Dakota will hold its 27th annual Good Friday vigil and service of hope to end the use of the death penalty, on the grounds of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, Sioux Falls, SD. Contact Sr. Pegge Boehm, pboehm@presentationsisters.org, for more information.
- Chicago, IL, 12-3 PM: Mennonite Action Chicago and Pax Christi Illinois will hold a memorial vigil for Gaza, Federal Building Plaza, Chicago, IL. Contact Nancy Oetter, nloetter@comcast.net, for more information.
- North Kingstown, RI, 3-3:30 PM: Pax Christi Rhode Island will hold a rosary for peace and the TPNW. Quonset Shopping Plaza, 84 Gate Road. Ceremony will be held near the edge of Route 1 (Post Road). Contact Tom Hobin for more information, twhobin1023@gmail.com.
Below are resources for groups interested in undertaking a Way of the Cross in their community on Good Friday, March 29.
- From the Gainesville Catholic Worker/Pax Christi-Gainesville, Way of the Cross template and sample script (MSWord, free download)
- An Earth Day Eco Stations of the Cross (MSWord, free download)
- The Stations of Justice (MSWord, free download)
Ash Wednesday observances, February 14
- Newark, NJ: “Christians against genocide.” Pax Christi New Jersey invites all to a day of prayer, song and fasting, in witness to our country’s role in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and to pray for peace, justice and understanding. Ashes will be distributed to any who wish to receive. 11-43 Raymond Plaza West, Newark, NJ.
- Elizabeth, NJ: “Free them all.” The fight to shut down New Jersey’s last immigration detention center continues. As our leaders continue to throw immigrant communities under the bus, it’s more important than ever for us remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a fair and welcoming society. Please join the annual Ash Wednesday vigil outside the Elizabeth Detention Center, 625 Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ.
- Washington, DC: Use this link to read about the Ash Wednesday gathering organized by Pax Christi USA, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, and many other groups in Lafayette Park outside the White House.
- New York City: Members of Pax Christi New York State and Pax Christi Metro New York distributed 600 Lenten reflections outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City to a receptive group of faithful. Use this link to read the reflection posted on Facebook.
2024 LENTEN REFLECTION BOOKLET
Purchase and download this year’s Lenten reflection booklet, A Fast That Matters: Reflections for Lent 2024, which includes reflections based on the daily liturgical readings for the entire season of Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Easter.
>> Purchase and download the e-version for your e-reader at this link. The digital version of the booklet is $1.00.
>> We have a few copies of the print version left, now for only $1.00. Order the print version at this link.