Triangle Pax Christi Group
May 5th, 2008
History | Actions | Current Activities | Contact Person
History
St. Francis of Assisi - Pax Christi was formed in 1998 as a parish based group, affiliated with St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle, Virginia. The group held meetings once a month to pray and study the ways of peace. Some of the topics the group has focused on include the death penalty, a study of the Bishop’s document, The Challenge of Peace, the issue of “affluenza,” and non-violence as a way of living.
Actions
The group’s first initiative was to bring a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty to the Pastoral Council of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. After study and education, the resolution was passed in December of 1999 and forwarded to the Bishop, and leaders at the state and Federal level.
As part of the effort to raise awareness regarding the death penalty, the group sponsored a prayer vigil in the front of the church, on the First Friday of the month calling for an end to the death penalty.
Taking on the task of educating parish members of the way of non-violence, the group sponsored a six-week series titled A Force More Powerful, based on public television series chronically historic examples of non-violent actions, which resulted in major social change.
Members of the group have done presentations for the CYM on the death penalty and “affluenza.”
In the fall of 2002, the group hosted an Interfaith gathering of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity to pray for peace. The event was a collaborative effort with the Warrenton and Northern Virginia Pax Christi groups.
In 2004, working with the parish, the Pax Christi group planted a peace pole on the parish grounds, which has become a gathering place for various prayer events.
Current Activities
While the group does not meet on a regular basis, several of the members have been participants and group leaders for the Just Faith program conducted at the parish for the last two years.
St. Francis Pax Christi works closely with Pax Christi Warrenton, Pax Christi Pentagon Area, and Pax Christi Bristow to pool resources, plan activities, and publicize events for the members of Pax Christi in the Northern Virginia area. The most recent effort has been to design a peace pole for the St. Anthony of Padua Peace Garden.
Contact Person
Jeanne Mitcho
rmitcho@comcast.net
703-670-8039
