Justice Sunday this year falls on August 20, 2017. Taking into accout the worldwide situation of conflicts, wars, aggression, and gross human right violations, the CBCI Office for Justice, Peace and Development has chosen as its theme "Peace building through Active and Creative Non-violence", a theme that is very dear to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who emphasised this in his 50th Message for the World Day of Peace.
The Holy Father believes that engaging in creative non-violence is the only way to combat violence. Pope John XXIII, in his encyclical, Paem in Terris, quotes Pope Pius XII, "Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war." As Christians, we are called to be messengers of peace. Peace and justice go hand in hand. The Church, through its various social teachings, has always spearheaded the work for Peace and Justice.
The Justice and Peace commission is inviting you to attend workshops on "Viiolence: Our Response", held at three venues across Mumbai, namely at Sacred Heart Church, Vashi; St John the Baptist Church, Thane; and Our Lady of Salvation Church, Dadar on August 19, 2017 from 4:30 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. I urge all of you to be part of this process of reflection, and to attend, if possible, these workshops which would help us to come out with creative responses to violence and hate messages that are destroying peace.
August 14, 2017
Oswald Cardinal Gracias Archbishop of Bombay