Pray-Study-Act: Sixth week of Lent April 13-19

PRAYER - STUDY - ACTION

Sixth week of Lent, April 13-19

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Dear Judy,

“As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26)

As we enter this Holy Week, these words from the gospel of Luke challenge us in light of our political climate that fears and demonizes migrants and immigrants. Simon was not Jewish or Roman and not from Palestine, and yet the Roman soldiers forced him to assist with the state-sanctioned execution of Jesus. Consider the trauma inflicted on Simon, a foreigner. Did he want to resist? Did he search for a way to prevent this violence to himself and Jesus? Did he fear for his life?

These words from Palm Sunday’s gospel reading resonate for us as we near the end of our Lenten fast for gun violence prevention. This Lent, Nuns Against Gun Violence and our partners fasted to raise awareness of the connections between gun violence and the root causes of migration. Simon’s role in this narrative mirrors that of many migrants who travel to another land and encounter hostility and distrust. How do we continue to lay crosses on others? How are we complicit in violence done to others, including those in other countries?

In relation to gun violence, it is clear that we, as a nation, are complicit in the on-going violence in Central America and the Caribbean. Guns from the United States are routinely trafficked in countries where gang violence exacerbates poverty, and people feel compelled to leave their home for the safety of another country, often the United States. Our lax gun laws add to this cycle of violence and migration. Because of this, we, as a nation, are responsible for finding solutions to this on-going violence and enabling all people to live in safety, without fear for their lives or the lives of their family and friends.

Throughout Palm Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus chooses the path of peace while those around him struggle with individuals and societal structures that do violence to him and others. We invite you to join us as we call ourselves and our nation to address the connection between gun violence and the root causes of migration. May God guide us to the paths of peace and give us courage to challenge institutional violence in all forms.

In peace,

Jennifer Kryszak, Nuns Against Gun Violence and Franciscan Peace Center

Angela Howard-McParland, Nuns Against Gun Violence and Sisters of Mercy

Mike Walsh, Pax Christi USA Gun Violence Prevention Working Group

PRAYER

Novena against gun violence

by Sr. Michele Bisaillon, Daughters of the Holy Spirit

Loving God, You created for us a world of beauty, order and endless possibilities. But today ours is a world often in chaos: war, famine, drought, so many “isms,” lack of respect for life and for one another. In this country we face these issues day after day. One of these is uppermost in our minds these days—the horror of gun violence which continues to ravage our nation, our society, our people, even the youngest of our children.

Spirit God, we give you all names: Holy, Sanctifier, Paraclete, Advocate. Yet you are so much more: Challenger, Nudger, whirling Wind and engulfing Fire, Mover, Enabler, Lover, Breath of Life.

Be that for us, we pray. Instill in us your gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, reverence and awe. Pentecost us. Enable us to be as daring as the newly inspired apostles—to be bold in our defense of the right of all persons to feel safe wherever we are, unafraid of being forever silenced by those who are armed with weapons and anger and sometimes even hatred.

Give us the courage to speak the Word. Give us the audacity to take the actions needed to end this needless violence.

In the name of our Creator God, in the name of the Word of Life, and in the name of the Fire of Love. Amen.

Use this link to find this prayer as a prayer card on the Nuns Against Gun Violence website.

Use this link to watch the recording of the Nuns Against Gun Violence Ash Wednesday and monthly prayer services.

Icon of Our Lady of Ferguson by Mark Doox

STUDY

Read about the real effects of gun trafficking in Haiti in ‘People can’t live in Haiti safely’: Sisters struggle to serve surrounded by gangs, National Catholic Reporter, February 2025

Haiti doesn’t make guns. So how are gangs awash in them?, New York Times, March 30, 2025

To learn about the connections between gun trafficking and immigration, watch this webinar, “US border: Understanding guns and immigration link,” from the Forum on the Arms Trade and Global Exchange.

No shelter from the storm: Update on iron river of guns, a January 2025 report from Stop US Arms to Mexico, analyzes data on the US origin of firearms recovered in six Caribbean countries since 2015, the trafficking of US guns in the Caribbean, and the use of these guns in violence.

ACTION

Use this link to sign the Haiti Weapons Trafficking Coalition’s petition to the Secretary of Homeland Security to stem crisis in Haiti.

Use this link to find PDF letters provided by Nuns Against Gun Violence to contact our federal legislators to urge them to support gun violence prevention legislation in the United States and address the root causes of migration.

Use this link to respond to an action alert from the Sisters of Mercy in support S. 367/H.R. 923, the Stop Arming Cartels Act.

Use this link to visit the Pax Christi USA Lent 2025 page to find resources for Holy Week and Good Friday. Check the list of resources to see links to NETWORK and other organizations to plan a Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Please share with us any plans for Holy Week and Good Friday so we can add them to the list.

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