21 September – 2 October
Making active nonviolence our way of life
in the Church and the world
Every year, we encourage solidarity actions around the globe to promote and celebrate nonviolence between 21 September (International Day of Peace) and 2 October (International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday). These dates align with the Season of Creation, which extends from 1 September (Day of Prayer for creation) until 4 October (feast of St. Francis of Assisi.)
Read about 2022 Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action.
Read more about the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action in 2021 and in 2020.
Following are a range of tools and resources that can be adapted for use in your own community; also review this list.
→Making active nonviolence our way of life in the Church and the world, a preparatory guide and questionnaire. This resource has been produced primarily as a tool and secondly as means of gathering information.
→Making the vow of nonviolence: We offer this as a focus for prayer and reflection to help individuals and communities affirm their intention and commitment to live a nonviolent life.
It was created in the United States by Eileen Egan and Rev. John Dear. It can be used privately, with a local peace community, as part of a parish liturgy, or any other way that suits you. Many have used the prayer at the start of each year as part of their New Year observance. It is available here in English, French, Arabic, Italian, Korean, German, Spanish and Swahili.
Le Vœu de Non-Violence
نذر التعهد بالالعنف
Voto di Nonviolenza
한국어 비폭력 서약
Eid zur Gewaltfreiheit
Voto de Noviolencia
Kiapo
→Framework to celebrate nonviolence: In our effort to encourage solidarity actions around the globe to promote and celebrate nonviolence, we offer this document which offers a range of approaches that can be adapted for use in your own context.
Categories include prayer resources, suggestions for public witness, tools to make nonviolence a way of life, creating a nonviolent parish or community, and celebrating nonviolent heroes.
Un marco y recursos para celebrar la no violencia
→Cultivating a life of respect and nonviolence within creation, our common home is a 3-page resource offered by the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of UISG/USG.
Cultiver une Vie de Respect et de Nonviolence au sein de la Création, notre Maison commune (ressource de 3 pages pour la réflexion et l’action)
→Listen to the voice of Creation, a Catholic liturgical guide from the Laudato Si’ International Tertiary Education Network (LISTEN, listen.mn.co)
→An invitation to see, judge, act, a leaflet from Pax Christi England & Wales
Many thanks to the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s People of God committee which has created and compiled the preparatory guide, the vow of nonviolence, and the framework.