As violence tears through countries across the globe — from Gaza and Ukraine to Haiti and Sudan — a powerful appeal for peace is rising, not from political podiums, but from convents, mission stations, and religious houses worldwide.
The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) has announced a global Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace on August 14, 2025, the eve of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. Other groups, including Aid to the Church in Need, have joined in.
Rooted in faith and fueled by urgency, this initiative asks individuals and communities — Catholics and all people of goodwill — to unite in spiritual and concrete solidarity against the backdrop of relentless conflict.
“As women of peace, present in the peripheries of the world and immersed in the suffering of humanity,” the UISG sisters declare, “we feel the urgent need to raise our voices, unite our hearts, pray and take action.”
Women on the frontlines
As explained by Linda Bordoni in her article for Vatican News, the UISG’s call is not abstract or symbolic. It stems from lived experience.
Their members are embedded in some of the world’s most troubled regions, walking daily with displaced families, victims of war, and broken communities.
Their appeal is shaped around three key actions:
- Prayer and Scripture, in light of the wars and humanitarian crises shaking our time.
- A call for justice, urging both Church and civic leaders to prioritize peace, disarmament, and the dignity of every person.
- Concrete solidarity, through humanitarian outreach and compassionate welcome to those who suffer.
“In so many places,” the UISG statement reads, “faces are marked by pain, homes are destroyed, communities are torn apart. Women and children are often those who suffer most.”
Regina Lynch, the executive president of the global charity Aid to the Church in Need, reflected:
ACN is happy to add its voice to the many which are responding to their brave call.
“Mary is the Queen of Peace. Let us pray that she may touch the hearts of decision-makers all over the world, that they may yearn for the peace of her son, Jesus Christ. On this feast of her Assumption into Heaven, we recall that there is a woman, in body and spirit, at the side of Our Lord. No doubt she will be sympathetic to the pain and anguish that the women religious are witnessing and shall intercede for an end to the conflicts.”
Our help
The date, August 14, is not incidental. The Solemnity of the Assumption, celebrated the next day, commemorates Mary’s full participation in God’s promise of life beyond suffering.
For Catholics, Mary remains a symbol of both strength and maternal care — especially in times of anguish. Her feast reminds us, as the Catechism teaches, that “the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix” (CCC 969).
“We cannot wait,” the UISG urges. “Peace must be built — and it must be built together.”
In this spirit, the day invites participation in a global movement of hope. Whether through fasting, attending a vigil, donating to humanitarian efforts, or simply pausing to pray with others, this moment becomes a bridge between contemplation and action.
Materials for participation, including prayer guides and resources for communities, are available through UISG’s official channels.
