Hilary Topp introduces Pax Christi (23 Aug 2008)

My name is Hilary Topp and I am the Peace Education Worker at Pax Christi.  Pax Christi is the International Catholic movement for Peace. 

Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace and without fear of violence, in all its forms. We believe in the power of prayer, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and nonviolence and of the right to live in a culture which promotes these values and treats the whole of God's creation in a respectful and just manner.

Our work

Pax Christi works within the Church and wider community to bring about a culture of peace.  Some examples of our work over the last year are:

• Pax Christi, along with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, organised the Youth Programme at the National Justice and Peace Network Conference 2007.  Through talks, workshops, music and art we explored the theme of the conference 'Called to be Peacemakers - who me?'
• Pax Christi worked with other members of the Network of Christian Peace Organisations to run the very successful PeaceZone at the Greenbelt music and arts festival.
• Pax Christi ran a European Schools Contest.  The winning team enjoyed a fantastic trip to Brussels along with teams from France and Portugal.  The group visited the European Parliament and Pax Christi International offices, as well as seeing the sites of Belgium and sharing their thoughts and ideas on peace.
• Pax Christi organises a service and actions each year on Ash Wednesday outside the Ministry of Defence (pictured above).

Pax Christi and livesimply

Pax Christi is part of the livesimply network because we want to bring life to the message of Populorum Progressio in today's world. 

40 years after Populorum Progressio, money spent on arms continues to be a 'theft from the poor'.  Armed conflict blocks development and human progress; wars make sure that poor people stay poor. 

The themes of livesimply reflect our approach to peacemaking - looking hard at our lifestyles and the choices we make, and choosing to live in a way that promotes true human progress.

Get involved

• When you look at the world around you, what issue really gets to you?  Bullying? The environment? The arms trade?  Nuclear weapons? Gun crime? Find out more about it, and whether there is anything happening in your church, youth group or school that you can get involved in. 
• If you are aged 15-18, enter the Pax Christi European Schools Contest.
• Get involved with the Justice and Peace group in your school.  If there isn't one, why not start one?
• Check out the Young People as Peacemakers section of our website for ideas of how you can get involved, and news on what other young people are doing for peace.