Peace Within
God's Peace Within and Justice Around Me
Peace Within is a book study and action group focused on fostering peace within our selves, families, communities, Church, country, and world. Are you feeling a call for more than just external achievement? Do the challenges of our families, communities, and the world leave you searching for a more profound and sustainable peace?
Join us as we explore movements towards authentic inner peace, and fostering a “Peace Within Me” to become more compassionate, less judgmental, and more effectively able to contribute to...
Peace in our families through deeper understanding and forgiveness,
Peace in our communities by fostering true solidarity and belonging,
Peace in our Church by embracing unity amidst diversity,
Peace in our country by working together to achieve common good,
Peace and the world by working for justice from a place of wisdom and love, not merely reaction.
We meet one Monday a month from 7:00 - 8:30pm in the Assisi Center. To register and for a list of meeting dates, click the button below.
Suggested Reading and Discussion Questions
Peace Within Me | Justice Within Me
Key Topics
- Inner peace arises when we live in right relationship with God, ourselves, and others. That means confronting our own sin, healing past wounds, and embracing integrity.
- Without justice (self-honesty, repentance, moral alignment), we experience inner conflict.
- A person who lies or harbors resentment cannot experience full peace until they make things right.
Recommended Resources
Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Podcasts from Scepter Publishers - Listen
here
Discussion Questions
- What disrupts my inner peace most often?
- How does my relationship with God affect my sense of peace?
- Am I honest with myself and living in integrity?
- How do prayer, silence, or the sacraments restore peace in my heart?
- What role does forgiveness—of myself or others—play in healing?
Peace In My Family | Justice In My Family
Key Topics
- A peaceful home requires fair treatment of each member—children heard, elders respected, roles shared with equity.
- Justice in the family means reconciliation, forgiveness, and ensuring no one dominates or is neglected.
- A peaceful household isn’t just quiet—it’s one where each person is valued and seen.
Recommended Resources
Familiaris consortio by St. John Paul II - Read
here
Discussion Questions
- Are there unresolved tensions or hurts in my family that need attention?
- How do we practice love and fairness in everyday family life?
- How can I be a peacemaker without becoming passive or avoiding conflict?
- What spiritual or practical tools can strengthen peace at home?
- Do we make room for prayer, shared meals, or Sabbath time together?
Peace In My Community | Justice In My Community
Key Topics
- Communities flourish when there is fairness—access to housing, education, healthcare, and safety for all.
- Peace is impossible when some are oppressed, ignored, or denied dignity.
- A neighborhood where violence and poverty persist cannot be at peace until those causes are addressed.
Recommended Resources
The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's writings on Ubuntu and the possibility of hope
Discussion Questions
- How can my community foster a culture of peace?
- Who in my community is marginalized or unseen—and how can I respond?
- Are there local injustices I’m ignoring or accepting as “normal”?
- What would it look like to bring peace to my neighborhood or workplace?
- Do I know my neighbors’ needs and gifts?
Peace In My Church | Justice In My Church
Key Topics
- The Church is called to be both a spiritual sanctuary and a witness to justice.
- This includes addressing inequality within the parish (e.g., welcoming the poor, diverse cultures) and advocating justice beyond its walls.
- A peaceful parish must also be just in leadership, finances, and inclusion.
Recommended Resources
The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Healing From the Ground Up by William T. Cavanaugh
(Optional) Silent Schism by Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, and Sister Cynthia Nienhaus, CSA
Discussion Questions
- Are all people truly welcome in our Church community?
- Does our parish reflect the diversity of our city or region?
- Are conflicts in our Church handled with humility and love?
- Do we speak up when we witness injustice or exclusion in the Church?
- How does the Eucharist shape how we live out peace and justice?
Peace In My Country | Justice In My Country
Key Topics
- National peace is not merely the absence of extremism—it requires social justice:
fair laws, equal rights, economic equity. - Unjust systems (racism, corruption, exclusion) breed unrest and division.
- True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.
Recommended Resources
The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace from the USCCB - Read here
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship from the USCCB - Read here
Discussion Questions
- Do I see the connection between my faith and civic responsibility?
- What injustices in my country conflict with Catholic social teaching?
- Am I informed about laws or policies that affect the vulnerable?
- How do I balance patriotism with Gospel values?
- Can I engage in political or social dialogue with charity and truth?
Peace In the World | Justice In the World
Key Topics
- Global peace requires fair treatment of all nations, cultures, and peoples— sharing resources, respecting sovereignty, and honoring human rights.
- Peace treaties without justice often collapse.
- Sustainable peace in conflict zones comes only when root injustices are addressed.
Recommended Resources
Caritas in veritate by Pope Benedict XVI - Read here
Discussion Questions
- What global issues break my heart—and how can I respond as a Catholic Christian?
- Do I pray for peace in places of war and crisis?
- How are my consumption habits connected to global injustice?
- What can I learn from Catholics or others working for peace globally?
- Do I see every person—regardless of nationality—as made in God’s image?
