Peace has always felt more than an idea to me – it feels personal. In a world where so much seems uncertain and under threat, the word “peace” can sometimes sound distant or idealistic. But for many of us, it is deeply real, shaped by family stories, memories, and lived experience.
Coming from a Lebanese and Serbian background, I have grown up with an awareness of conflict that is not abstract. My family has known the reality of war and destruction – realities not unlike what we continue to witness in parts of our world today. For them, and for so many others who carry similar histories, watching current events unfold is not just heartbreaking; it is deeply unsettling, stirring memories and fears that never fully disappear.
It is from this place that my understanding of peace is formed. Peace is not passive, nor is it something we can afford to take for granted. It is something we are called to actively choose to build, both globally and within communities we are part of each day. As people shaped by the Josephite spirit, this call feels especially urgent. We are invited to be people who do not turn away from the realities of our world, but who respond with compassion, courage and a commitment to justice.
At the same time, peace should not only be something we long for on a global scale. Peace is something we are responsible for nurturing in our local contexts. It is found in the way we speak to one another, in how we include or exclude, in how we respond to difference and disagreement. In our schools, our ministries, and our communities, peace takes shape through everyday actions: choosing understanding over judgement, presence over indifference, and dialogue over division. These small, intentional acts matter. They are where peace begins.
This is why Fold for Peace, an initiative of the Justice and Peace Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney, feels so significant. The invitation is simple: to fold an origami dove, capture a photo of yourself or your community with their doves in a place that is ‘peaceful’ to you, and to share that moment with others on social media. Behind the simplicity of this task is something much deeper. It is a reminder that peace is something we create with our own hands. It is fragile, yes – but it is also something we can shape, nurture and offer to the world.
As Fold for Peace launches across social media on 22 April, it offers a way for each of us to participate in a collective act of hope. For me, it is also a moment of connection – to my own story, to my family, and to all those who continue to long for peace in places marked by conflict. It is a quiet but powerful reminder that while we may not be able to change the whole world at once, we can stand together in solidarity and be people of peace within it.
Peace begins close to home. It begins with us. In a world that so deeply needs peace, this calling could not be more important.
Emilia Nicholas
Josephite Justice Network
Read more about the Josephite Justice Network and access links to follow them on Facebook and Instagram here. Share your dove photos on social media using the hashtags #FoldForPeace and #PicinicForPeace.
