Reflection Monday, March 9, 2026
A Message of Peace
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
In moments when the world trembles under the weight of war, the University of the Incarnate Word cannot remain indifferent. Our mission has always been more than the pursuit of knowledge; it is the pursuit of truth, justice, and the dignity of every human person.
War reminds us with painful clarity that the human family is fragile. Lives are lost, families are displaced, and entire communities are wounded. As a Catholic academic community rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must ask ourselves: What does our faith demand of us at this moment—and especially during this Lenten season?
First, we must pray. Prayer is not a retreat from reality but a way of placing the suffering of the world before God. Let us pray for peace, for the protection of innocent lives, for those forced to flee their homes, and for leaders who carry the responsibility of decisions that affect millions.
Second, we must learn and seek truth. The University of the Incarnate Word is a place where complex realities are examined with intellectual honesty. We are called to engage the realities of war with clarity, moral reflection, and a commitment to the principles of Catholic social teaching, namely, human dignity, solidarity, and the common good.
Third, we must act in solidarity. Our concern must move beyond words. As members of the University of the Incarnate Word, we are called to support humanitarian efforts, assist those affected by conflict, and advocate for peace and justice wherever possible.
The Gospel reminds us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Today, that calling belongs to each of us—students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Let us commit ourselves to forming minds that seek truth, hearts that refuse indifference, and lives that work tirelessly for peace.
Now is the time for our Catholic identity to shine most clearly.
Now, is the time to pray.
Now is the time to learn.
Now is the time to act together for peace.
As a first step, I invite you to join me in praying Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace:
Lord God of Peace, hear our prayer!
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!” “With war everything is lost.” Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman.
Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother,” and our way of life will always be that of Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen!
Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI
VP of Mission and Ministry