PEACE AND JUSTICE PRAYER CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 2018 Poverty Awareness Month (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) Human Trafficking Awareness Month (U.S.) January 1 Feast of the Solemnity of Mary World Day of Prayer for Peace Theme Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in Search of Peace I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide of whom 22.5 are refugees In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger or forced by discrimination, persecution and environmental degradation to leave their homelands. Pope Francis Peace Message 2018 Pray for migrants and refugees. January 2 Mahayana Buddhist New Year Pray for tolerance among people of differing beliefs. January 3 Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Pray for the Spirit s guidance on the U.S. Congress when it convenes and for all legislative groups in the U.S. January 4 Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Pray in gratitude for the contribution of Catholic schools in the U.S. and for the Sisters of Charity and those who carry on St. Elizabeth Ann s charism. Page 1 of 6
January 5 Feasts of St. John Neumann, immigrant priest, and St. Syncletica, desert mother Pray for women in leadership roles in church and society and for immigrants. January 6 January 7 Pray for those who are recovering from disasters, especially in California, Puerto Rico and places hit by hurricanes, fires, flooding, drought. Feast of the Epiphany Orthodox Christmas May the gift of unity come to all families of the world, and may they experience peace. Pray for all Orthodox Christians. January 7-13 January 8 National Migrant Week (USCCB) Theme: Many Journey, One Family Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Pray that all newborns receive the love and care they need, especially those in detention or refugee camps. January 9 Rigoberta Menchú Tum born in 1959, Guatemalan indigenous human-rights activist, Nobel Prize (1972) Pray for peace in Central America, especially Honduras. Page 2 of 6
January 10 League of Nations founded in 1920 Pray that the members of the United Nations work toward a nuclear weapons-free world and environmentally friendly world. January 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day (U.S.) Pray for the 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across international borders yearly (U.S. State Department). January 12 Southern Leadership Conference founded in 1957 Pray for the end of racism. January 13 January 14 January 15 Pray for all Catholics, that God inspire them to take action in their local communities to support and protect migrants and to advocate on their behalf. National Migrant Week Petition Pray for migrants, refugees and all other strangers in our midst, that they may find strength in our concern for justice and feel the warmth of our love. National Migrant Week Petition Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Religious Freedom Day (UN) Feast of the Black Christ of Esquipulas Pray for peace for the people of Central America. Pray to end racism and religious discrimination. January 16 Pray that the UN reaches its Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty by 2030. Page 3 of 6
January 17 21 January 17 January 18 25 January 18 No Name Calling Week (U.S.) Pray for the end of bullying in all forms. Pray for the end of the drought in countries suffering from hunger. Prayer for Church Unity Octave Theme: Reconciliation: The Love of Christ compels us National Prayer Vigil for Life in Washington 9 Days for Life Novena begins Pray for all those on death row and for Anthony Shore, scheduled for execution in Texas, for the victims and their families. January 19 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Pray for the safety of the marchers and the Spirit s guidance of the participants. January 20 January 21 Pray for the repose of the souls of the 23 people executed in the U.S. last year. Pray for the end of the violence in the Philippines and the repose of the souls of Father Marcelito Paez and the Rev. Lavelito Quinones, murdered activists. Page 4 of 6
January 22 Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision (1973) National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn Child. Pray for expectant mothers, especially for women who are dealing with unwanted pregnancies. January 23 Feast of St. Marianne Cope Pray in gratitude for those willing to risk their lives to care for those abandoned or shunned by society. January 24 January 25 Pray for reconciliation and unity among Christians. Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul Pray for the end of the death penalty and for Vernon Madison, scheduled for execution in Alabama, for the victims and their families. January 26 January 27 Pray for all victims of violence and for their loved ones. Feast of St. Angela Merici International Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust (UN) Pray for the Ursulines and those who carry on the Ursuline charism. Pray for the victims of the Holocaust and their loved ones. January 28 - February 3 Celebrate Catholic Schools Week Learn, Serve, Lead, Succeed Page 5 of 6
January 28 January 29 Pray for the success of Catholic schools and for teachers, students, staff, benefactors, and parents. Pray in gratitude for all of creation and for the will to care for it tenderly. January 30 Gandhi died in 1948 U.S. State of the Union Address Pray for the grace to practice nonviolence in word and deed toward all creation. Pray for the end of the death penalty and for William Rayford, scheduled for execution in Texas, and for the victims and their families. January 31 Feast of St. John Bosco Thomas Merton born in 1915 Jewish Feast Tu Bishvat (celebration of the trees) Pray for President Trump and the U.S. Congress. May they find ways to work for the common good in their decisions. Thank you to Sister Jean Murin, RSM, justice coordinator, New York Pennsylvania West, for sharing this monthly justice calendar. Page 6 of 6