Fact Sheets

 

FEBRUARY 23, 2018 DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR PEACE FOR SOUTH SUDAN AND THE DRC

Print and share our handout. Pope Francis designated the First Friday of Lent, February 23, 2018, to be a day of prayer and fasting for peace for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Overwhelming violence and political turmoil in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all the ingredients for a humanitarian catastrophe: violence, hunger, disease, and homelessness. In response, Pope Francis invited all people of faith to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace dedicated to the two African countries on February 23.

JANUARY 2018 WORLD DAY OF PEACE MESSAGE

Download our two-pager Pope Francis’ message for the World Day Peace calls on the world to view global migration not as a threat but as an opportunity to build peace. 

JANUARY 2017 WORLD DAY OF PEACE MESSAGE

 Download our two-page summary. Pope Francis selected active nonviolence as his theme for this 50th World Day of Peace Message at the request of participants of the conference. It is the first significant teaching of a pope on nonviolence, which he names as a priority of the Church: “I pledge the assistance of the Church in every effort to build peace through active and creative nonviolence.”

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2015 PARIS CLIMATE TALKS

Nearly 200 nations will join the UN Climate Summit in Paris, starting November 30. We need them to take bold action and solve the current climate crisis. To help you join the millions of people worldwide praying and acting for the care for the earth, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns will offer a weekly series, Path to Paris. Each week, a two-page prayer-study-action guide will examine the devastating impacts of climate change and what we can do, leading up to the UN Climate Summit in Paris. 

Download the first issue of Path to Paris: Rising sea levels are the cry of the earth

The first issue of Path to Paris examines the impact of rising sea levels, especially on the people of Bangladesh. It also offers ideas for making a personal commitment to lifestyle changes, for taking action locally and globally, and for prayer. 

Download the second issue of Path to Paris: Extreme weather and the cry of the poor

The second issue of Path to Paris examines the impact of extreme weather, especially on the people of the Philippines. And it offers ideas for making a personal commitment to lifestyle changes, for taking action, and for meditation.

Download the third issue of Path to Paris: Climate change threatens food security 

The third issue of Path to Paris examines the impact of climate change on food security, especially on smallholder "family" farmers in Peru. And it offers ideas for making a personal commitment to lifestyle changes, for taking action, and for meditation.

Download the fourth issue of Path to Paris: Climate justice is a movement toward lasting peace

The fourth and final issue of Path to Paris examines the impact of climate change on migration and social unrest, especially in Tanzania. And it offers ideas for making a personal commitment to lifestyle changes, for taking action, and for meditation.

Download our summary of the outcomes: Path from Paris. 

Share each issue of Path to Paris plus the Path from Paris with your parish and friends; and use it for personal reflection.

OCTOBER 2019 SYNOD ON THE AMAZON IN ROME

The Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region is scheduled to meet in Rome from October 6-27. Pope Francis announced in 2017 that it would work to "identify new paths for the evangelization of God's people in that region," specifically the indigenous peoples who are experiencing the destruction and exploitation of their natural environment and live "often forgoteen and without the prospect of a serene future." The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is publishing a series of two-page bulletins called One Amazon, Many Voices, which examine topics to be discussed at the Synod in October and their connections to the lived experiences of Maryknoll Missioners. 

Download the first issue: Indigenous Wisdom

Download the second issue: Biodiversity

Download the third issue: Extractive Industries