Easter wishes from Pax Christi USA!
In the introduction to this year’s Lenten reflection booklet, Everything is Grace: Reflections for Lent 2016, Pax Christi USA Executive Director Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, writes:
“We need to immerse ourselves in the Peace of Christ that is offered and lived out during this Lenten season even in the midst of the hate, racist and violent language, attitudes and behaviors that the media and politicians are feeding us. This is a time to both pray and act on the conviction that the exclusion of one individual or group of people is the exclusion of all of us.
“The Peace of Christ is a gift to all of us and it is our responsibility to open our minds, hearts and lives so that this gift finds a home in us, both individually and collectively. The Beloved Community we so wish to be to each other has no room for exclusion and privilege; rather it is a place where ALL are welcome.”
We hope the resources below inspire and encourage you in your own journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving this season, as we immerse ourselves in the “Peace of Christ”.
REFLECTIONS FOR SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS
On this page throughout the season, we’ll be featuring reflections from a variety of authors of our current and past Lenten booklets. We’ll also be sending 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 to our free email service.)
- Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, by Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN
- First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 14, by B. Kwame Assenyoh, SVD
- Second Sunday of Lent, Feb. 21, by Cathy Crayton, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
- Third Sunday of Lent, Feb. 28, by Eric LeCompte, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
- Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 6, by Allison Blay
- Fourth Tuesday of Lent, March 8, International Women’s Day, by M. Shawn Copeland, Ph.D
- Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 13, by Antonia Malone, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
- Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, by Jeannine Gramick, SL
- Palm/Passion Sunday, March 20, by Megan McKenna, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
- Holy Thursday, March 24, by Jean Stokan and Scott Wright
- Good Friday, March 25, by Tom Cordaro, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
- Holy Saturday, March 26, by Johnny Zokovitch
- Easter Sunday, March 27, by Nancy Small, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
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.
- First Week of Lent, Feb. 14-20
- Second Week of Lent, Feb. 21-27
- Third Week of Lent, Feb. 29-Mar. 5
- Fourth Week of Lent, Mar. 6-12
- Fifth Week of Lent, Mar. 13-19
- Holy Week, Mar. 20-27
LENTEN RESOURCES
- Everything is Grace: Reflections for Lent 2016, available for immediate purchase and download for your e-reader
- Lenten resources available in the Pax Christi USA Store
- Lenten Reflection Leaflet from Pax Christi Metro New York in MSWord and PDF (from 2015)
- Eleven Lenten reflections on peace and nonviolence by PCUSA Ambassador of Peace John Dear, from Education for Justice
- Lead Us from War to Peace: A Service of Repentance (free download, MSWord)
- Litany for Peace: A prayer from Pax Christi USA to use daily throughout Lent (pdf)
- Litany of Repentance from the Fruits of War (pdf)
- An Examination of Conscience (pdf)
- Resources from the USCCB for Lent
- For all posts related to Lent 2016, click here
SPECIAL EVENTS AND DAYS OF OBSERVANCE
Good Friday Observances
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. Below are resources for groups interested in undertaking a Way of the Cross in their community on Good Friday. Also please let us know if you have a Way of the Cross planned in your community. We will list below the names of groups, with contact information, which will be staging a Way of the Cross this year.