Pax Sustainers' Circle General Membership The Work of Pax Christi USA for Peace with Justice Contribution PCUSA uses a model of prayer, study, and action Christi to work for justice and peace and promotes the More than ever, Pax Christi USA needs people I believe that “peace is possible” and want to join Pax Christi USA: importance of understanding the root causes of USA who believe in our work for peace with justice injustice and violence. and are willing to help sustain our efforts. By Name ______joining our “Sustainers Circle” you commit to PCUSA members work in many ways: Address ______providing Pax Christi USA with essential support • implementing conflict resolution program in on which we can rely. A monthly donation helps City ______State ______local high schools us plan and build a base that reaches more Zip ______Phone ______• holding prayer vigils outside a prison where emergent constituencies, making our mission Email ______executions are taking place more visionary and effective. • preparing action alerts calling for the abolition of torture and illegal detention The regular membership fee for Pax Christi • hosting parish programs on the "war on Use the form below or go to our website to set USA is $40 a year. We rely on the generosity up a monthly contribution by credit card. immigrants" of our members. Please consider enclosing an • writing letters to elected officials on human additional contribution to PCUSA for: Please select a monthly donation amount: rights issues in the U.S. and abroad $10 $20 $50 $100 $ other $40 $50 $100 $500 $ other • holding anti-racism workshops • participating in events to lift up the call to “Peacemaking is not an This payment will repeat monthly on an ongoing MC/Visa ______Christian nonviolence basis. You may cancel at any time. Exp. Date ______• working in partnerships with organizations on optional commitment. It is a peace and justice initiatives. MC/Visa ______CVN # / Security Code ______requirement of our faith.” Exp. Date ______Signature ______Peace Education Resources ~ The Challenge of Peace: CVN # / Security Code ______Check any of the following: PCUSA offers many resources for prayer, study, God’s Promise and Our Response, Signature ______I would like more information about joining or and action. Through resources like our Peace U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1983 starting a local group in my area or school Current newsletter and our website, members Name ______I would like more information about the can get a glimpse of the Pax Christi network. We Address ______Parish Sponsorship Program also publish an e-mail digest of action alerts and ___ I would like information on making a will or a information on domestic and global issues. We City ______State ______bequest produce pamphlets, resource packets, and other Zip ______Phone ______Please do not give my e-mail or phone number materials for personal and group use. Email______to local Pax Christi group leaders. To view current campaigns and initiatives or to find out how you can take action, please visit our Web site at www.paxchristiusa.org. Send this form to: Pax Christi USA Our online store offers a variety of resources, 1225 Otis Street NE including prayer cards, books, brochures, and Washington, D.C. 20017 Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter resources. National Catholic Please visit us at www.paxchristiusa.org/store or [email protected] contact [email protected]. Peace Movement www.paxchristiusa.org www.paxchristiusa.org Our History Who We Are Brothers and Sisters All "Peace, however, is not merely a gift to In 1945, a small group of people in France met be received: it is also a task to be under- Pax Christi USA is a national Catholic peace and Begun in 1999, Brothers and Sisters All is a 20-year regularly to pray for peace. What kept them com- taken. In order to be true peacemakers, justice movement reaching over one half-million initiative to transform Pax Christi USA into an ing together was their experience of an agonizing we must educate ourselves U.S. Catholics. Our membership includes: religious anti-racist, multicultural Catholic peace and justice in compassion, solidarity, communities; parishes; bishops; over 250 Pax movement and to elevate and celebrate the fact: French and German Catholics, who professed working together, fraternity, the same faith and celebrated the same Eucharist, in being active within the community Christi local and campus groups in 105 dioceses in rich, diverse membership of the Catholic Church. had killed one another by the millions in the 20th and concerned to raise awareness about 41 states; 20 regions that coordinate activities in Pax Christi USA seeks to embrace an anti-racist century. That situation could hardly be the will of national and international issues." their geographic areas; and tens of thousands of identity and to do all its work from an anti- God. So they prayed for forgiveness, reconcilia- individual members. racist perspective, in the conviction that personal tion, and peace. ~ Pope Benedict XVI and systemic racism perpetuates violence in our Message for World Day of Peace 2012 Our Priorities communities and results in deep spiritual and social brokenness. After the war, Pax Christi centers were established • Spirituality of Nonviolence and in France and Germany; by the 1950s the movement Statement of Purpose Peacemaking This transformation is accomplished through had spread to Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that • Disarmament, Demilitarization, and intentional relationships and full participation Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. Pax Christi reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, Reconciliation with Justice across cultural communities by: began in the United States in 1972, at the initiative articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian • Economic and Interracial Justice in the of a small group of prominent U.S. Catholics, nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and United States • Organizational structures that foster mutual mostly lay people. extends to communities of reflection and action • Human Rights and Global Restoration respect and dialogue and which create to transform structures of society. Pax Christi USA accountability to people of color rejects war, preparations for war, and every form • Policies which affirm the dignity and utilize the of violence and domination. It advocates primacy talents of every person of conscience, economic and social justice, and • Practices which hold multiple and at times respect for creation. conflicting perspectives in creative tension • Decision-making processes which depend on Pax Christi USA commits itself to peace education and incorporate the multi-cultural identity that and, with the help of its bishop members, is the Church, the Body of Christ. promotes the gospel imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the Catholic Church in the U.S. Through the efforts of all its members & in Local and Regional Groups partnership with other groups, PCUSA works Pax Christi local groups offer opportunities to join toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable with others in a community setting to deepen world. PCUSA is committed to becoming an anti- their understanding of the gospel call to peace racist, multicultural Catholic peace and justice and justice. movement. Pax Christi USA’s 250 local chapters are located in Pax Christi USA is a section of Pax Christi 105 dioceses in 41 states. The groups meet regularly International, which has representation status at in neighborhoods, parishes, religious communities the UN in New York and Vienna, the UN Human high schools, and on college campuses to pray, Pax Christi USA Rights Commission and Sub–Commission in study, and act for peace with justice on local, National Catholic Peace Movement Geneva, UNESCO in Paris, and UNICEF in New national, and global issues. York. Visit our website at www.paxchristiusa.org