Peace Day Info

Peace Day and the October Season of Peace and Justice at the University of the Incarnate Word

See the 2024 Schedule for information on this year's events.

Concepts of peace and justice are central in the Bible. From their very first days the founders of the university, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, have promoted the human dignity of all people.

In 1986, Incarnate Word began hosting annual Peace Fairs with educational content and planted the first “peace pole” monument to mark the beginning of its new Master of Arts degree in Peace and Justice. This degree was based on the words of Pope Paul VI: “If you want peace, work for justice.”

On October 30, 1992, tragedy came to the Incarnate Word community. Dr. Bernard C. O’Halloran, an English Professor, was murdered by a homeless man he had invited into his home.  The Incarnate Word community dedicated the fountain outside of the Administration Building in honor of Dr. O’Halloran and remembers him by working towards a less-violent world through programs of justice and peace.

The ideas and concepts of peace as the fruit of justice that began as a “Peace Fair ” in 1986, have expanded into many educational, prayerful, and celebrative events throughout the whole month of October with special emphasis on the last Wednesday of October near the anniversary of Dr. O'Halloran's death.

Please join us for this year's events and learn of many aspects of building peace through justice by reading the history and many events over the years.