PEACE AND JUSTICE PRAYER CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2020 Child Abuse Prevention Month (U.S./USCCB) National Poetry Month Genocide and Human Rights Violations Awareness Month April 1 Pray for poets and for those who have suffered from genocide and human-rights violations. April 2 • Feast of Blessed Vilmos Apor, Hungarian martyr (1945), protector of refugees • World Autism Awareness Day (UN) ▪ Pray for refugees and immigrants who have fled their homes because of war, violence, poverty and environmental crisis. ▪ Pray for those who have autism and those who love and care for them. April 3 First Friday Pray and Action Against the Death Penalty ▪ Pray for those who are affected by the coronavirus. ▪ Pray for the health personnel and researchers who are working on a vaccine and testing. Page 1 of 7 April 4 • Martin Luther King, Jr. martyred in 1968 • Feast of St. Isidore of Seville • International Day of Landmine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (UN) ▪ Pray for the end of racism and the safety of peacemakers and justice seekers. ▪ Pray that the internet is used responsibly. ▪ Pray for the elimination of landmines in the 30 countries where they are planted. April 5 • Palm Sunday • Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer • Bosnia genocide, 1995 ▪ Pray for unity of Christian churches, which St. Vincent worked to unite. ▪ Pray for the survivors of genocide. April 6 • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (UN) • Last Mercy Meatless Monday is observed Pray for the healing of all those who have been abused as children. Page 2 of 7 April 7 • Feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle • World Health Day (World Health Organization) • Remembrance of the Rwanda genocide, 1994 ▪ Pray for teachers and students. ▪ Pray that all people have access to adequate health care. April 8 • Feast of St. Julie Billiart, co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur • Buddha born in 536 BC ▪ Pray for all those who carry on the charism of St. Julie. ▪ Pray for religious tolerance. April 9 • Holy Thursday • Dietrich Bonhoeffer martyred in 1945 Pray for healing in the church. April 9 – 15 Passover begins at sundown on April 8 and ends at sundown on April 15. Pray for Orthodox, Hasidic and other Jews in the Diaspora as they celebrate this feast. April 10 Good Friday Pray for those who have been imprisoned or condemned to death unjustly. Page 3 of 7 April 11 • Holy Saturday • Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) encyclical by Pope John XXIII, 1963 Pray for peace in the world, especially in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Honduras, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, El Salvador and Bolivia. April 12 • Blessed Easter! • International Day for Street Children ▪ Let us be Easter people, bringers of peace to our war-torn world. ▪ Pray for the children without homes. April 13 Pray “that those suffering from addiction may be helped and accompanied.” —Pope Francis’ Monthly Intention April 14 – 16 Pray for the success of the Virtual National Catholic Education Association Convention. April 14 Pray for the safety and well-being of those seeking public offices in the U.S. April 15 World Art Day (UN) Pray that the government passes a budget that considers the common good. Page 4 of 7 April 16 Virginia Tech shooting, 2008 Pray for the repose of the souls of Nicholas Todd Sutton, executed in February, and Nathanial Woods, executed in March, in the United States. April 17 Pray for victims of abuse, especially women and children. April 18 Pray for refugees, immigrants and migrants and for compassionate, comprehensive immigration laws. April 19 • Divine Mercy Sunday • Orthodox Easter Pray for unity among Christian churches. April 20 – 25 Genocide Awareness Week Theme: Not on Our Watch (Most events are canceled because of coronavirus precautions.) April 20 Shooting at Columbine High School (1999) Pray for the end of gun violence and passage of appropriate gun regulations April 21 Sri Lanka Easter bombings (2019) Pray for peace in Israel. April 22 Earth Day – 50th anniversary (UN) Theme: Climate Action Pray that governments, communities and individuals work to conserve Mother Earth’s resources. Page 5 of 7 April 23 • Cesar Chavez, National Farm Workers Union founder, died in 1993 • International Book and Copyright Day (UN) ▪ Pray for those on death row, especially Fabian Hernandez, scheduled for execution in Texas, the victims and their families. ▪ Pray for farm workers. April 24 • Ramadan begins at sundown on April 24 and ends at sundown on May 23. • International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (UN) • Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (1915 – 1923): 1.5 million Armenians killed by Ottoman Turkey government • Arbor Day ▪ Pray for our Muslim neighbors and for the end of Islamophobia. ▪ Pray for a spirit of cooperation and use of diplomacy to settle disputes among countries, communities and individuals. ▪ Pray in gratitude for the trees. Spend some time with your favorite tree praying. April 25 • International Girls in ICT Day (Information, Telecommunications, Technologies) (UN) • World Malaria Day (World Health Organization) • Feast of St. Mark ▪ Pray for more women in information technology. ▪ Pray for eradication of malaria. Page 6 of 7 April 26 • Chernobyl disaster (1986) Remembrance Day (UN) • First free multiparty, nonracial election in South Africa, 1994 • Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi martyred in 1998, Guatemalan human rights defender ▪ Pray for the people of South Africa. ▪ Pray for the people of Central America. April 27 Pray for the end of homophobia. April 28 World Day for Safety and Health at Work (UN) Pray that all workers have a safe working environment and adequate health care. April 29 • Feast of St. Catherine of Siena • Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (UN) ▪ Pray for more women in leadership roles in church and society. ▪ Pray for the end of the use of chemicals in war, especially in Syria, and for all the victims of chemical warfare. ▪ Pray for Billy Wardlow, scheduled for execution in Texas, and for the victims and their families. April 30 Vietnam War ends, 1975 Pray for peace in the Middle East. Thank you to Sister Jean Murin, RSM (New York, Pennsylvania West), for sharing this monthly justice calendar Page 7 of 7 .