On Friday, September 9, 2016, the Church in the United States will observe a special day of prayer dedicated to peace and justice in our communities and in our nation.
In announcing the Day of Prayer, USCCB president Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz said that the event was intended to help the faithful “look toward additional ways of nurturing an open, honest and civil dialogue on issues of race relations, restorative justice, mental health, economic opportunity, and addressing the question of pervasive gun violence.”
I compiled the following list to help the faithful participate in this Day of Prayer by coming together as families, parishes, and disciples to unite our hearts and minds with those of Jesus Christ.
Suggested Activities
Liturgy and Prayer
- Celebrate the Memorial of St. Peter Claver
- Recommended use of Common of Holy Men and Women: For Those Who Practiced Works of Mercy
- Celebrate the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice
- Readings in the Lectionary for Mass nos. 887-891
- Use USCCB’s “Prayer of the Faithful for the Day of Prayer For Peace in Our Communities”: bit.ly/PrayerOfTheFaithful-PeaceInOurCommunities
- Use a “Prayer Service to be Disciples on Mission”: bit.ly/DisciplesOnMissionPrayer
- Especially appropriate for parish councils, school boards, and other parish meetings on or near the Day of Prayer
- Host a Holy Hour or Rosary for the intentions of the Day of Prayer
- Pray St. John Paul II’s Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe: bit.ly/JP2GuadalupePrayer
Adult Faith Formation
- Insert the two page “Disciples on Mission in the World” in the parish bulletin: bit.ly/DisciplesOnMissionInTheWorld
- Host an adult faith formation series utilizing Bishop Edward K. Braxton’s pastoral letter “The Racial Divide in the United States”
- Text and study guide: bit.ly/BraxtonReflection
- Host an adult faith formation series utilizing “Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples”
- Text and discussion questions: bit.ly/SacramentsSocialMission
- Distribute prayer cards promoting peace and reconciliation
- Start a book discussion connected to themes of justice and mercy (see bibliography below)
Catholic Schools and Youth Catechesis
- Design a prayer collage containing images related to peace and social justice
- Hang the collage in the classroom and remember these issues in prayer
- Create a prayer chain or prayer tree with a different petition written on each link or leaf; pray for these intentions
- Promote the Works of Mercy by distributing the Missionary Childhood Association’s handout “The Works of Mercy for Kids”: bit.ly/WorksOfMercy4Kids
- Discuss the life and ministry of notable saints who worked for peace and justice, such as St. Peter Claver, St. Katherine Drexel, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta (to be canonized on September 4), or St. Damien of Molokai
- Learn about St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Thomas Aquinas, or another saint who loved to pray
- Learn and pray Pope Francis’ “Five Finger Prayer”: youtu.be/DKppAKOZPgg
- Invite a deacon to come and talk about the charitable ministries of the Church
- Incorporate special activities into youth and teen formation events
- “The Stack of the Deck” (teens): bit.ly/StackOfTheDeck
- Ending Poverty In Community Toolkit (teens): bit.ly/EPICToolkit
- Poverty USA Student Action Project (K-8): bit.ly/PovertyUSAActionProject
- Collect food, clothes, toiletries, and other items to benefit a local charitable organization
- Discuss with students how our acts of charity are a response to our faith in Jesus
- Pray over the items before they are sent to the organization
Ecumenical Activities
- Hold an ecumenical prayer service for justice and peace
- Suggested scripture: readings from Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice (Lectionary for Mass nos. 887-891)
- Organize and publicize ringing of church bells on September 9 at 3:00pm EST as a sign of solidarity
- Organize a panel discussion on ways to promote economic welfare, racial justice, and peace
- Consider inviting local civic officials, leaders from other Christian traditions, and administrators in Catholic education and healthcare
Bibliography
Church Documents and Statements
- Pacem in Terris (“On Establishing Universal Peace”) by Pope John XXIII (1963): bit.ly/PacemTerris
- Brothers and Sisters to Us: U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism (1979): bit.ly/USRacismPastoral
- Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (1986): bit.ly/EconomicJustice4All
- The Catholic Church’s Role in Combatting Racism by the Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Illinois (2001): bit.ly/ChurchsRoleCombatRacism
- Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”) by Pope Benedict XVI (2009): bit.ly/CaritasInVeritate
- Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2011): bit.ly/CompendiumSocialDoctrine
- The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015 by the Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, PhD, STD, Bishop of Belleville, Illinois (2015): bit.ly/BraxtonReflection
- Poverty at the Crossroads: The Church’s Response to Poverty in Indiana by the Catholic Bishops of Indiana (2015): bit.ly/PovertyAtTheCrossroads; en Español: bit.ly/PobrezaEnLaEncrucijadama
Books
- Father Augustus Tolton: The First Recognized Black Catholic Priest in America (Liturgical Training Publications, 2015)
- You Did It to Me: A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action by Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC (Marian Press, 2014)
- Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World by Brandon Vogt (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014)
- Mercy in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the Imprisoned, and Keep Your Day Job by Kerry Weber (Loyola Press, 2014)
- The Work of Mercy: Being the Hands and Heart of Christ by Mark Shea (Servant Books, 2011)
Web Resources
- Missionary Childhood Association: www.propfaith.net/onefamilyinmission
- USCCB Resources
- “We Are Salt and Light” Website: www.wearesaltandlight.org
- Caritas in Veritate Small Group Study Guide: bit.ly/CaritasInVeritateStudyGuide
- Prayers for the Church and the World: bit.ly/Prayers4ChurchAndWorld
- Handout on Civil Dialogue: bit.ly/USCCBCivilDialogue
- Process for Group Discernment: bit.ly/GroupDiscernmentProcess
- Fr. Augustus Tolton: Cause for Canonization: www.toltoncanonization.org
- Pope Francis Videos:
- Prayer at the Roots of Peace: youtu.be/gexdC47gV0Q
- Pray to Gods, Always: youtu.be/fpIiZ7UuTw8
- Prayer Changes Hearts: youtu.be/0Yav_LQGGj8
- Bishop Robert Barron Videos:
- Daniel Berrigan and Non-Violence: youtu.be/Y-0z2m_NtS8
- The Canonization of Junípero Serra: youtu.be/mksLv7S83-Y
- Violence in the Bible: youtu.be/1A65Wfr2is0
- Pope Francis and Catholic Social Teaching: youtu.be/iGCcDH9Mp4w