2024 Speaking Tour
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.” For more info, click here
September 21, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #91, John Dear with Robert Jonas on Henri Nouwen!
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with his friend Robert Jonas about the legendary spiritual writer Henri Nouwen, who died 30th years ago on September 26, 1996.“Henri lived in the in-between spaces of academia and the spiritual life,” Jonas says. “He was like a spelunker: he wanted to dig down deep beneath the psyche and the soul. He was convinced that we cannot help other people unless we accept our own woundedness. When we spoke, we could be honest with each other about our woundedness; we could actually name the wounds to each other… He wanted us to take responsibility for the things that are hurting us, to let the spirit come with us, to know that the spirit is with us, that we are never alone, that we are infinitely loved, that we are God’s beloved.”
Robert Jonas, a longtime friend of Henri’s, is the editor of The Essential Henri Nouwen, and Henri Nouwen: Spiritual Master. Henri Nouwen wrote many best-sellers on the spiritual life, including: The Wounded Healer; Out of Solitude: Reaching Out; In the Name of Jesus; Return of the Prodigal Son; Can You Drink the Cup; Life of the Beloved; Our Greatest Gift; and The Inner Voice of Love. Listen in to these reflections on Henri’s teachings and be inspired! God bless you.Next week…
The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast welcomes Dennis Kucinich! For more information, visit here.
This Week, 2 Special Episodes of the Nonviolent Jesus Podcast to Mark 9/11:
September 7, 2026
Episode #88 (Part 1 of 2), John Dear with Colleen Kelley, co-founder of Sept. 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
On Sept. 7th, in Part 1 of 2, John Dear speaks with Colleen Kelley who lost who brother in the Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. A few years earlier, John had baptized Colleen’s daughter at a happy family event. On 9/11, Colleen’s brother Bill was at a one day conference at Windows on the World, on the top of the World Trade Center. In the days afterwards, she met with other family members to seek nonviolent alternatives to the cycles of violence. They formed “September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows,” which has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. These days, she continues to work with Peaceful Tomorrows in a variety of ways, including numerous visits to observe the military commissions at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Visit: www.peacefultomorrows.orgSeptember 10, 2026
Episode #89 (Part 2 of 2), John Dear’s Personal Experience at 9/11
On Sept. 10th, Part 2 of 2, we post Fr. John’s stories of being the Red Cross coordinator of chaplains after 9/11. He had been scheduled to have breakfast with his parents that morning in the restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center, but they changed their plans at the last minute. When he walked to help, the Red Cross asked him to become the local coordinator of the 550 chaplains at the Family Assistance Center where they served some 50,000 direct relatives of those who died in the two towers over the next three months. John also worked once or twice a week at Ground Zero, praying with and counseling rescue workers. He concludes with reflections about his work organizing protests against the Afghanistan war, and where we are 25 years later. Thank you for listening.
Next week…
The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast welcomes Fr. Greg Boyle! For more information, visit here.
John Dear’s new book now available!
“The Gospel of Peace:
Reading Matthew, Mark & Luke
from the Perspective of Nonviolence”
For info, click here
To order, call Orbis Books at 1-800-258-5838
To invite John Dear to speak in your city, write to: john@beatitudescenter.org
National Catholic Reporter Review of “The Gospel of Peace,” click here
To watch Fr. John’s interview with Dean Young of Grace Cathedral about the book, click here
To watch Fr. John’s sermon at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, on Jan. 21, 2024, (at the 30 minute mark) click here
The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast, a free weekly podcast with John Dear
click here
click here
John Dear’s New Book
Universal Love:
Surrendering to the God of Peace
By John Dear
For more information, click here
Available from www.orbisbooks.com or call 1-800-258-5838, or Amazon.com
“One of the people I respect most on this earth and whose winsome company I enjoy most is Fr. John Dear. In this short, valuable, and practical book, John shares his conversations with a young spiritual seeker named Will who came to him seeking spiritual guidance. As I read each chapter, I felt like I was meeting with John for coffee, sharing my struggles, and receiving his wisdom and encouragement.
This book is a treasure.”
This book is a treasure.”
— Brian McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt and The Last Voyage
Recent Books
“The Sacrament of Civil Disobedience”
Revised 2022 Edition, with new foreword by Shane Claiborne,
Available on amazon, in the U.K. To order, visit: https://labora.press/product/the-sacrament-of-civil-disobedience/
Recent Articles
My Long Lost Conversation with John Lewis
Last summer, after Congressman John Lewis died, I posted a photo on social media of me and John from a memorable afternoon we spent together in his congressional office. It was 26 years ago. We had talked for a while, and then filmed a formal conversation on nonviolence.
Needless to say, it was one of the greatest days of my exciting life.
Recent News
“Nonviolence,” a new 147 page special edition
of Richard Rohr’s journal Oneing, now available from www.cac.org
John Dear on “Democracy Now” talking about Thich Nhat Hanh and Archbishop Tutu
“Jesus was totally nonviolent and calls us to practice and teach Gospel nonviolence and welcome God’s reign of peace and nonviolence, which means from now on, we work for the abolition of war, poverty, racism, gun violence, the death penalty, nuclear weapons, environmental destruction, and all violence.” – Fr. John Dear
Visit Fr. John Dear’s Work at:
The Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus
Sign Up Here to receive John Dear’s Free eblast newsletter with news of upcoming podcasts, zooms and speaking events!
Free, weekly podcast: “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast“
Contact Fr. John Dear via the email or mailing address at: www.beatitudescenter.org