Guantanamo Vigils
Guantanamo vigils continue outside the main branch of the New York (City) Public Library on Fifth Avenue at 41stStreet the first Wednesday of each month at 4 PM EST and 5 PM EDT. As we are drawn to other critical issues, we must not forget the men still being held at the Guantanamo Detention Center despite either not being tried or not being found guilty of any crime and being designated eligible for release. These men have been tortured. Their lives have been stolen from them for over 20 years. Promises of closing the Detention Center since President Barak Obama have never been kept. And now the Center is being used to detain undocumented migrants, as well. Stand with us to shut this torture camp down!
Ceasefire Vigils
Ceasefires in Gaza are but a hope and a promise while the violence continues; hence, ceasefire vigils continue across the state in multiple locations. You can find out what’s happening near you from groups like Jewish Voice for Peace or, if you’re in or near New York City, join a regular vigil outside the U.S. Mission to the United Nations on First Avenue at 45th Street in New York City every Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.
Campaign Nonviolence/Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action, September 21st to October 2nd, 2025
September 21st, the first of these 12 days of action for peace, is the UN International Peace Day. October 2nd, the last of these 12 days, is the International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday. During these 12 days, the world is invited to plan actions to spread the message of peace. You can read more about it at these two websites:
https://paceebene.org/action-days
https://paxchristi.net/2025-catholic-nonviolence-days-of-action/
Here in New York City, Pax Christi New York State is planning three events. All are invited to join any or all of them.
1. A silent vigil outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday morning, September 21st, the UN International Peace Day and the first day of Campaign Nonviolence and the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action, from 10 AM to noon, holding signs with messages of peace and distributing leaflets informing passersby of the significance of the day and suggesting actions, as well as introducing people to the new Ben Salmon No Just War Catholic Conscientious Objector Registry, initiated by Pax Christi New York State with the support of Pax Christi USA. The leaflet will be provided to distribute, but people are invited to make signs with simple messages of peace. You might take a quote from scripture on peace, a quote from one of our recent popes, or some other peace message like the succinct and to-the-point sign, “Stop Killing.”
2. On the UN International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Friday, September 26th, people of all faiths are invited to come to the Gazebo at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, E. 47th Street off Second Avenue at 12:30 PM, to offer a prayer, reflection, poem, or song calling for peace or the abolition of nuclear weapons. (If you have a group that would like to co-sponsor, please contact: [email protected]. Thank you.)
3. We will join the weekly silent vigil at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations on First Avenue and the corner of E. 45th Street at 10 AM, Thursday, October 2nd to say a prayer, process in silence to the Isaiah Wall and back to the U.S. Mission where we will stand in silent vigil holding signs for such things as a ceasefire, an arms embargo, and humanitarian aid to Gaza and all of Palestine, and ending with a prayer for peace.
Also check the Pax Christi USA events page (https://paxchristiusa.org/events/) for other events and keep checking back here for updates.