Pray • Study • Act

for nonviolent and fair elections

Greetings!

The midterm Congressional elections are almost here; jurisdictions across the country are also voting for city council members, sheriffs, mayors, and many other political positions. In fact, many of you have probably already voted. Voting is a critical part of our rights as citizens, and careful consideration of the issues and the candidates is an important way to express our commitment to the common good and care for our neighbors.

Pax Christi USA urges all of our members and supporters who are eligible to vote to do so. If you don't already have a plan to vote, take a moment today to create one. Use this voting plan worksheet from our friends at NETWORK to make sure you have what you need to cast your vote this year.

We offer the following resources for prayer, study, and action for this year's election season:

Prayer

• Participate in the Pax Christi USA 24-hour prayer vigil from Monday, November 2, 12 PM until Tuesday, November 3, 12 PM. Use this form to choose one or more half hour slots to pray.

• Pax Christi USA is cosponsoring the evening online prayer service with Franciscan Action Network on Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 PM Eastern/4:30 PM Pacific. Use this link to register.

• Catholics in Communion is hosting an online novena for the elections, starting Nov. 1 through Nov. 9, starting at 7:30 PM Eastern/4:30 PM Pacific each evening. These services will include prayers from the USCCB's Novena for Faithful Citizenship, prayers of the faithful, check ins with local communities holding vigil across the country, and updates about the latest election related news. Use this link to register for the novena.

A prayer for election season by Dianna Ortiz, OSU, Pax Christi USA 2000 Teacher of Peace

God, Promise Keeper of the new creation, in this election season guide us to be Gospel-informed voters, who stand on the side of justice and truth.

As a community of conscience, we recognize our shared responsibility in righting the wrongs that dishonor and dehumanize the dignity of the most vulnerable among us.

As a community of conscience, we acknowledge the harm that has been done to the environment and the urgency to work collectively to care for the Earth, our common home.

We see our country in turmoil-experiencing a time of chaos that not only impacts every person of this nation, but peoples from across the globe.

As individuals and a faith community, we recognize that we bear a privilege and a burden to vote our conscience and to make choices that will and do affect the future of everyone.

As we ready ourselves to go to the polls this November, may our time of discernment be rooted in the teachings of our faith and our common life together.

May our faith guide us to vote for genuine servant leaders, who, like Jeus, will welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, embrace the sick and dying, and promote peace and nonviolence.

Send your Spirit to be with us as we cast votes for the common good, and , regardless of the outcome, may we continue to work for a more just, sustainable world.

May we always stand on the side of Justice and truth. Amen

>>Click here to buy the prayer card in packs of 50; use the coupon code "Election2026" to take 25 percent off your order.

Study

• How Christians can protect the midterms from Trump's interference, by Adam Russell Taylor, Sojourners. "[T]here is a great risk that the Trump administration and its allies will attempt to disrupt or deny the election results; these attempts could very well succeed if we don’t act — or if they create enough chaos and fear to deter people from voting. It’s critical that Christians commit to pushing back on these attempts with faith-inspired activism — not just up to Election Day, but all the way through the seating of a new Congress on Jan. 3." Use this link to read the article.
• How the Catholic Church has protected elections around the world, by Dr. Maria Stephan, published in America magazine
• Reflection: Maybe it is not the economy, by Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro
• Reflection: Voting and human dignity, by Pax Christi USA National Field Organizer Stephen Niamke
• Voting as a practice of faith, a letter to the editor of the Hawaii Catholic Herald from Pax Christi USA member Dawn Morais Webster

Action

Catholics in Communion offers a “Protecting Participation in Civic Life” toolkit to prepare Catholics to uphold voting rights by engaging them in theological reflection and analysis, moving them along a pathway of engagement making sure their people feel ready to vote, have safe access to the polls, and can act to ensure their vote is counted. The toolkit offers resources for organizing neighbors to meet with their local election officials and share their support for safe and fair elections, as well as other ideas for local action before, during, and after election day.

>>Use this link to access the toolkit. 

Nonviolent Communication and De-escalation Training

offered by Franciscan Action Network

TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 20, 7 PM Eastern/4 PM Pacific

Open to all, not just poll chaplains and poll workers but all voters and anyone wanting to learn how to be a peaceful presence during the upcoming elections

>>Use this link to register.

Thank you for your support of Pax Christi USA! You can give quickly and securely online by clicking here or clicking the box on the left.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps build and sustain this movement for a nonviolent peace with justice.