Host Fr. John Dear on his 2024 Speaking Tour for his Forthcoming Orbis Book:
“The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence.”

On December 1st, Orbis Books will publish Fr. John Dear’s new 500-page book, “The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence.” It is the first ever commentary on the Synoptic Gospels from the perspective of active nonviolence, in the tradition of Gandhi and Dr. King. In it, he goes through every line of the three synoptic Gospels to point out Jesus’ practice and teachings of nonviolence to inspire us to practice creative nonviolence like Jesus.

Next year, Fr. John Dear will embark on a national book tour to talk about “The Gospel of Peace” all over the country, from January-April, 2024. Please consider inviting him and hosting him to speak in your church, college or local community group sometime in early 2024.

If you are interested in receiving more information about his upcoming book tour and how you can help organize a book reading and signing event, please send me an email with your location, and all your contact info to john@beatitudescenter.org

Here below is a little more information about the book. Thank you!

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“The Gospel of Peace” starts with Matthew, and focuses on the Sermon on the Mount as the centerpiece and basis for everything that Jesus does. John Dear calls it the greatest teaching on nonviolence in history, and proposes we use it as a how-to manual as Gandhi did.

Then we move on to Mark as an action thriller of nonviolence, where Jesus engages in non-stop nonviolent resistance to systemic injustice and empire.

Next in Luke, we hear a call to service, compassion and solidarity with the poor, as Jesus acts like a classic movement organizer like Gandhi and King. He launches a grassroots campaign of nonviolence to Jerusalem, by sending out 72 nonviolence trained disciples as “lambs into the midst of wolves” until he arrives in Jerusalem and engages in civil disobedience in the Temple. Not only is Jesus meticulously nonviolent through his action, arrest, trial, torture and execution, but in his resurrection, he returns to his friends as gentle and nonviolent as ever, and sends them forth to carry on his global grassroots campaign of nonviolence to the ends of the earth.

John Dear’s Jesus is like Gandhi and Dr. King—nonviolent to the core, a disarming, healing presence toward those in need and a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo and a political threat to the ruling authorities who succeed in killing him, only to push Jesus to the heights of nonviolence through his death and resurrection. This original commentary brings a fresh new approach to the Gospels that will help all those who preach and engage in social ministries, and inspire everyone in this time of permanent warfare, gun violence, racism, poverty, nuclear threat and climate change to join Jesus’ ongoing global movement for justice, disarmament and creation.

Available from Orbis Books, Dec. 1, 2023

John Dear’s 2024 Speaking Schedule:

Thursday, Jan. 11th
Monterey, CA
San Carlos Cathedral Parish hall
7:00 p.m.
www.Sancarloscathedral.org
Contact: Andrew Bear

1andrewbear@gmail.com 
408-341-5461

 

Saturday, Jan. 13th
Corte Madera, Marin, CA
Book Passage Bookstore
4:00 p.m.
Contact: Cheryl Bronstein
events@bookpassage.com
415-927-0960

Thursday, Jan. 18th
Portland, OR
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
www.trinity-episcopal.org
Contact: Fumi Tosu
fumi@dandelionhouse.org
ftosu@me.com
ftosu@mac.com
408-910-7074

Friday, Jan. 19th
Bellevue, WA
St. Mary on the Lake Spirituality and Peace Center
www.csjp.org/ministries/peace-and-spirituality-center
1663 Killarney Way,
Bellevue, WA
6:00 p.m.
Contact: Sarah Bailey
sbailey@csjp-olp.org
425-635-3600

 

Sunday, Jan. 21st
San Francisco, CA
Grace Cathedral with Dean Malcolm Young
10 a.m.
1100 California St.
Contact: Rebecca
Rebeccan@gracecathedral.org
415-749-6355

Saturday, Jan. 27th
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish
2700 Dwight Way
Pax Christi event: 9:30 a.m.-noon
Contact: Dennise Burgess
denniseburgess@gmail.com
510-303-9767

 –

Monday, Jan. 29th
San Luis Obispo, CA
Rotary Club Luncheon
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Rd.
noon
www.slorotary.org  

– 

Wednesday, Jan. 31st
Palm Desert, CA
St. Margaret’s Church
47535 Hwy. 74
Contact:  7:00 pm
Dave Berghof
dewi1944@gmail.com

– 

Thursday, Feb. 1st
Phoenix, AZ
Franciscan Renewal Center
www.thecasa.org
5802 E. Lincoln Dr.
Scottsdale
7:00 p.m.
Contact: Charlie Brown
charlie@thecasa.org
480-948-7460
Also, Mark Klym
602-799-4572

 

Saturday, Feb. 3rd
Albuquerque, NM
St. John XXIII Catholic church, with Archbishop John Wester
10 a.m.
www.johnxxiiicc.org
4831 Tramway Ridge Dr., NE
Albuquerque, NM
Contact: Judy Trager
judyetraeger@gmail.com
505-974-1248

Sunday, Feb. 4th
Santa Fe, NM
First Presbyterian church
208 Grant Ave.
(off the plaza)
www.fpcsantafe.org
preach at 10 a.m. worship service, followed by book event at 1:00 pm.
Contact: Rev. Harry Eberts
harry@fpcsantafe.org
505-982-8544

Thursday, Feb. 29th
Tulsa/Edmond, OK
Disciples of Christ Church
www.edmondtrinity.org
contact: Don Heath
donheathjr@sbcglobal.net
405-348-8019

Saturday, March 2nd
Kansas City, MO
Location, TBA.
Contact: Mike Matteuzzi
mmatteuzzi@ma2zlaw.com

– 

Sunday, March 3rd
Coralville, Iowa (near Iowa City)
St. Thomas More Church
3000 12th Ave.
6:00 pm social, 7:00 event
Contact: Fr. Church Adams
adamc@diodav.org
and Lee Mickey
evalee@southslope.net

 –

Thursday, March 7th
Hickory Hills
South Chicago, IL
St. Patricia Catholic Church
9080 S. 86th Ave.
6:30 p.m.
Contact: Fr. Mike Meany
frmeany@stpatriciaparish.com
708-710-8271

Saturday, March 9th
Chicago, IL
Cenacle Sisters Retreat Center
3800 West Peterson Ave.
1:00 p.m.
www.cenaclesisters.org/ministry/retreats-programs
Contact: Mark Piper
mpiper@cenaclesisters.org
773-343-9131.

Sunday, March 10th
Chicago, IL
Saint Sabina Catholic church, with Fr. Mike Pfleger
1210 West 78th Place
www.saintsabina.org
preach at 10 a.m. Mass, followed by book event.
Contact church:
773-483-4300

Tuesday, March 12th
San Antonio, Texas
University of the Incarnate Word
Contacts: Sr. Martha Ann Kirk
kirk@uiwtx.ed
and Arthur Dawes
arthurdawes@att.net
210-213-5919

Wednesday, March 13th
Austin, Texas
St. James Episcopal Church
1941 Webberville Rd.
www.stjamesaustin.org
Contact: Rev. Eileen O’Brien
rector@stjamesaustin.org
202-716-9055

Saturday, March 16th
Biloxi, Mississippi
Our Lady of Fatima Parish
www.olfatima-biloxi.com
2090 Pass Rd.
10 a.m.
Contact: Fr. Greg Barras
gregmbarras@gmail.com
228-297-2482

Wednesday, April 3rd
Springfield, MA
Springfield College
263 Alden Road
www.springfield.edu
Contact: David McMahon
dmcmahon@springfieldcollege.edu
413-748-3210

Thursday April 4th
Binghamton, NY
St. Francis of Assisi Church
1049 Chenango St.
www.stfrancisbing.org
Rev. Tim Taugher
taughertim@hotmail.com
607-722-4388

Friday, April 5th
Erie, PA
Mt. St. Benedict
Benedictine Sisters
6101 East Lake Rd.
www.eriebenedictines.org
Contact: Sr. Anne McCarthy
annemcc@benetvision.org
814-899-0614

Sunday, April 7th
Harlem, New York City
St. Charles Borromeo Church
211 West 141st St.
Harlem
www.scbrchurch.org
10 am Mass, preach, followed by book event
Contact: Fr. Willem Klaver
wilhelmus1960@gmail.com
914-770-0697

Tuesday, April 9th
Lexington, KY
Holy Spirit Catholic Newman Center
Univ. of Kentucky, with Bishop John Stowe, President of Pax Christi USA
320 Rose Lane
www.uknewman.com
Contact: Rev. Anthony McLaughlin
amclaughlin@cdlex.org
855-255-8566
and Sr. Ellen Kehoe
ekehoe@cdlex.org

Wednesday, April 10th
Nashville, TN
Christ the King Catholic Church
3001 Belmont Blvd
www.ctk.org
Contact: Jon Stotts
Jon.stotts@ctk-nashville.org
615-777-8910

Thursday, April 11th
Louisville, KY
Cathedral of the Assumption
433 S. 5th St., #101
www.cathedraloftheassumption.org
sponsored by The Thomas Merton Center
www.merton.org
contact: Mark Meade
mmeade@bellarmine.edu
502-272-8099

 

Friday, April 12th
Cincinnati, OH
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
100 Miami Ave.
Terrace Park
7:00 p.m.
www.stthomasepiscopal.org
contact: Rev. Darren Elin
513-448-7999
darren@stthomasepiscopal.org

Sunday, April 14th
Bridgeport, West Virginia
All Saints Catholic Church
317 East Main St.
10 a.m. mass, preach, then book event.
Contact: Fr. Walter Jagela
Drfrjags18@gmail.com
304-842-2283

Tuesday, April 16th
Guelph, Canada
All Saints Lutheran Anglican church
210 Silvercreek Parkway N.
Guelph
Rev. Brian Wilker
519-830-8084
7:00 p.m.
Contact: Jon Fogleman
jonanddianne@rogers.com
519-836-2946

 

Thursday, April 18th
Syracuse, NY
St. Lucy’s Church
432 Gifford St.
www.saintlucys.org
contact: Corrine Driscoll
cdriscoll61@icloud.com

Friday, April 19th
Pittsburgh, PA
Duquense University
600 Forbes Ave.
www.duq.edu
contact: Sr. Barbara Finch
b.a.finch@att.net
AND sisterpeace@yahoo.com
412-716-9750

Sunday, April 21st
Nashville, TN
Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral
3:30 in the afternoon
900 Broadway
616-255-7729
www.christcathedral.org
Contact: Christina Isbell
christinaisbell22@yahoo.com
615-479-0229

Saturday, April 27th
Palo Alto, CA
Thomas Merton Center
2:00 pm
Location TBA
Contact: Barbara Kent
bakent@earthlink.net
650-704-1495

 

Wednesday, May 1st
Lancaster, PA
Community Mennonite Church
328 West Orange St.
www.communitymennonite.org
Contact: Brad Wolf
bradwolf1310@gmail.com
717-468-8101

Thursday, May 2nd
Litchfield, CT
Wisdom House
229 East Litchfield Road
7:00 p.m
www.wisdomhouse.org
Contact: Patricia Torre
patricia@wisdomhouse.org
860-567-3163

Friday May 3rd-Sunday, May 5th
East Stroudsburg, PA
Kirkridge Retreat Center
Weekend Retreat on the Gospel of Peace
www.kirkridge.org
2495 Fox Gap Rd.
Bangor, PA
Contact: Lydia
lydiawk@kirkridge.org
610-588-1793

Tuesday, May 7th
Watchung, NJ
Mount St. Mary House of Prayer
1651 US-22
Watchung
7:00 pm
www.msmhope.org
Contact: Sr. Laura Arvin
908-753-2091
Sr.laura@msmhope.org

Wednesday, May 8th
Boston, MA
Sacred Heart Parish
169 Cummins Highway
Roslindale, MA
Contact: Fr. Brian Clary
revbmc@gmail.com
617-325-3322

Thursday, May 9th
Newburyport, MA
Central Congregational Church
14 Titcomb St.
Contact: Rev. Chris Nye
chris@centralnewburyport.org
978-465-0533

 

Fri, May 10th
New York City, NY
Maryhouse Catholic Worker
55 East Third St.
7:00 pm
Friday night mtg

Thursday, May 16th
Charlottesville, VA
Church of the Incarnation
1465 Incarnation Drive
7:00 p.m.
www.incarnationparish.org
Contact: Jim Burns
jburns@avitage.com
508-397-7059

July 17-21
Mariottsville, MD (near Baltimore)
Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center
1525 Mariottsville Rd.
www.bonsecoursrcc.org
5 day retreat: “Following the Nonviolent Jesus: Living the Gospel of Peace, Love & Nonviolence Today”
Contact: Jennifer Murphy
Jennifer_Murphy@RCCBonSecours.com
410-442-3146

Wednesday, August 28th
Santa Fe, NM
Upaya Zen Center
Wed. night dharma talk
5:30 pm
www.upaya.org

 

Saturday, September 28th
Standish, Maine
St. Joseph College
278 Whites Bridge Rd.
www.sjcme.edu
day-long workshop on nonviolence, Jesus, Gospels, Gandhi, & King
Contact: Chris Fuller
cfuller@sjcme.edu
207-893-7705

Sunday, Sept. 29th
Windham, Maine
Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, with Rev. Pat Bessey.
Preach at Sunday service, followed by book event
54 River Rd., Windham
Contact: Pat Bessey
revpatbessey@gmail.com
757-636-8241