Christian peace groups are gearing up to focus on peace for Ash Wednesday on 22 February. This year it comes just two days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pax Christi England and Wales and Christian CND have organised an online peace witness by Zoom on Ash Wednesday evening.
Earlier in the day, Pax Christi Merseyside is meeting at St Luke’s Church in Liverpool, distributing ashes and processing through the city, finishing at the Town Hall, calling on the UK government to sign up to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
It is the first international treaty that comprehensively prohibits any activities related to nuclear weapons, that includes developing, testing, producing, and manufacturing.
Despite the treaty entering into force two years ago, it has been shunned by nuclear-armed states, including the UK.
Pax Christi Scotland’s prayer for February is for “a world committed to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
The Scottish Laity Network’s Lenten online programme focuses on “The Common Good”. Christian CND has included in its prayers for February “advocates of disarmament” and a new resource, “Peace Be With You”, has been produced to help young people learn peacemaking.
Nearly a year into the war in Ukraine, Pax Christi internationally is heeding the warning of Pope Francis in October 2022 about the threat of nuclear disaster in Ukraine.
It is a leading member of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative which promotes a peaceful approach to being in relationship with eachother and with the planet.
During Lent, Pax Christi England and Wales is offering weekly online mediations focusing on its Icon of Peace.
The icon, made in the Monastery of St John in the Desert, near Jerusalem, illustrates people and stories from Eastern and Western Christian traditions and from scripture demonstrating forgiveness and reconciliation as part of making peace.
Pax Christi's Icon of Peace.
The central image is Esau and Jacob embracing and reconciling after conflict between them. The meditations will include reflections on stories from the Icon and prayers for specific conflicts.
The National Justice and Peace Network has announced that its 45th annual national conference in July will focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with the theme “Sustainability? Survival or Shutdown”.
Goal 16 urges governments, civil society and communities to work together to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity.
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