21 September – 2 October 2023

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The Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action take place from 21 September (International Day of Peace) until 2 October (International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday). These days, people worldwide are encouraged to come together in solidarity to promote and celebrate nonviolence. Aligned with Campaign Nonviolence, the Week of Prayer for Peace in Palestine and Israel, and the Season of Creation, this event provides an opportunity to recognise the power of nonviolence in our faith and around the globe.

Blessed are the feet of those who bring nonviolence

This year’s theme is ‘Blessed are the feet of those who bring nonviolence’. It calls for embracing the work of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and the Vow of Nonviolence. You can learn about their initiatives and use the Vow of Nonviolence individually or with your parish community on 2 October, the International Day of Nonviolence.

Interested in a closer look into the Vow of Nonviolence?
It is available in no less than 7 languages here.

Take part

The Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action offer various resources and activities to engage in. You can:

• Share your thoughts on the Vow of Nonviolence on social media.
  Post a photo or a video of what the Vow means to you, use #VowofNonviolence and tag @CathNonviolence.
• Use this outline to create your own prayer service on 2 October.
• View Pope Francis’ video on nonviolence. 
• Promote the event on social media and repost the daily action ideas between 21 September and 2 October. Keep an eye out on the following pages: 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter/X
  • Instagram

Additionally, discover inspiring stories from nonviolent social movements and express support for organisations bringing about nonviolent change in their respective contexts. For example: 

• Waging Nonviolence
• Nonviolent Peace Force
• Front Line Defenders
• Community  Peacemaker Teams

Share hope and solidarity during the days

These Pax Christi partner organisations are all working to bring about nonviolent change in their own context.  Alone or with a group, find out more about them and send an email of support and encouragement to one or more. 

• South Sudan Council of Churches: www. sscchurches.org/ and email
  Fr James Oyet Latansio, oyet62@gmail.com
• Serpaj Mexico: www.serpajmx.org and email Pietro Ameglio serpajc@lanete.apc.org
• Pax Christi Germany, this year celebrating 75 years of peace-work. 
  http://www.paxchristi.de/ and www.aktivgewaltfrei.de/ and email sekretariat@paxchristi.de 
• DHUMA, Human Rights and Environmental Organisations, Peru
  http://www.derechoshumanospuno.org.pe/ and
  email derechoshumanospuno@yahoo.es
• Miriam College, Centre for Peace Education, Philippines
  www.mc.edu.ph/cpe/  and email Loreta Castro lcastro@mc.edu.ph

Discover all resources

Discover the resources that are new in 2023:

• the readings and prayers for service for the Vow of Nonviolence
• the Outline Service for sharing the Vow of Nonviolence
• the video ‘Blessed Voices’ from the Rome gathering in 2022
• the Vow of Nonviolence in multiple languages
• the Season of Creation liturgical guide in English, Spanish, and French

View the tools & resources guide ‘Making Active Nonviolence Our Way of Life in the Church and the World‘. 

Read more about the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action in 2022, 2021 and 2020