Bishop George J. Lucas will celebrate a Mass for Peace at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield. The Mass is in observance of the 25th anniversary of the publication of the U.S. bishops pastoral letter The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response.

In 1983, the bishops published the letter, in part, as a response to the dangers of the buildup of nuclear weapons. Soon after its release, the Springfield diocese sponsored study sessions at parishes throughout the diocese. The document promoted peace through the recognition of the impact of poverty, hunger and insecurity throughout the world, and response of faithful Catholics to take personal and community responsibility for building a more peaceful world. 

The document said: "Order in human society must be shaped on the basis of respect for the transcendence of God and the unique dignity of each person, understood in terms of freedom, justice, truth and love. To avoid war in our day we must be intent on building peace in an increasingly interdependent world."

The Mass is sponsored by Pax Christi of Springfield and the public is welcome. For more information, contact Sister Maureen Irvin, OSF, at (217) 698-9045.