As Gun Violence Awareness Month unfolds, eight Congregations of Catholic Sisters in the Baltimore area have launched a bold and timely campaign to address the epidemic of gun violence: “Put the Guns Down. Let Peace Begin with Us.” The initiative transforms city buses and subway cars into moving billboards for peace, calling on Baltimore residents to break the cycle of violence and imagine a more compassionate future.

A Message on the Move

Throughout June, commuters across Baltimore will encounter striking visuals and messages both inside and outside public buses and subway cars. At the heart of the campaign is a clear and urgent call: “Put the Guns Down. Let Peace Begin with Us.”

The campaign’s design aims to reach as many people as possible through public transit. “You get more impressions on buses and subways than with stationary billboards,” explained Sister Simone Blanchard, director of the Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Sisters of Bon Secours USA. “It’s not just a statement. It’s a visible presence of faith calling for peace.”

The eye-catching visuals serve as both a lament and a call to hope, confronting Baltimore’s residents with a reality many know too well.

Faith on the Frontlines

The campaign is the fruit of collaboration among eight Catholic women’s religious Congregations. Led by the Sisters of Bon Secours, the coalition includes:

• Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore Emmanuel Monastery
• Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul – Province of St. Louise
• Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart
• Oblate Sisters of Providence
• School Sisters of Notre Dame – Atlantic Midwest Province
• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
• Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur – U.S. East-West Province

These Congregations are deeply rooted in Baltimore’s neighborhoods and bring decades—sometimes centuries—of mission and ministry to underserved communities. “We are women of prayer and service,” said Sister Elaine Davia, area leader for the Sisters of Bon Secours. “Through this campaign, we hope to be a visible and vocal presence in the city, calling for an end to the senseless violence that takes so many lives, especially young lives.”

The initiative is not only a public call for change, but also a deeply personal act of witness. Sister Pat Dowling, a Bon Secours Sister who lives in West Baltimore, shared: “Hearing gunshots is part of my life. I have heard people being shot. I have seen the impact. I have sat with families who lost children. This is not an abstract issue for us—it is happening outside our doors.”

Baltimore-area Catholic congregations join the Sisters of Bon Secours, who organized an ad campaign, “Put the Guns Down. Let Peace Begin with Us.” From left: Br. Ryan Roberts, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; Sr. Judy Waldt and Sr. Marilyn Dunphy, Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart; Kathryn Yanik, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Sr. Nancy Glynn, Sisters of Bon Secours; Sr. Mary Jo Stein, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Province of St. Louise; Sr. Pat Dowling, Sisters of Bon Secours; Sr. Patricia Kirk and Sr. Jo-El McLaughlin, Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore Emmanuel Monastery; Sr. Elaine Davia, Sisters of Bon Secours; Sr. Patricia Phillips and Sr. Jacinta Fernandes, Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore Emmanuel Monastery; Simone Blanchard, director of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation director, Sisters of Bon Secours. (Courtesy of Sisters of Bon Secours)

A City Still Healing

Baltimore has seen some encouraging signs this year. During the first five months of 2025, the city reported a nearly 24% decrease in homicides and 40 fewer nonfatal shootings compared to the same period in 2024. Still, the sisters say progress is fragile—and in danger of unraveling.

One concern is the potential expiration of federal grants that fund vital violence-prevention programs. Another is the push in Congress to enforce national “permitless carry” laws, which would undermine state-level gun safety measures.

“Our concern is not just about the numbers,” said Sister Mary Jo Stein, a Daughter of Charity. “It is about the trauma these numbers represent—the lost lives, the broken families, the neighborhoods held hostage by fear.”

A Gospel Response

The Sisters say the campaign is grounded in Catholic social teaching and their shared commitment to the dignity of every human person. “We believe in the sacredness of life,” said Sister Simone Blanchard. “As Catholic Sisters, our faith compels us to speak out. We cannot be silent when our children are dying.”

The message of peace does not stop at the visual level. Each bus ad features a QR code linking to an online landing page that includes prayers for victims, practical suggestions for community engagement, and ways to advocate for policy reform through the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace.

Hoping for Just One

The Sisters are clear: they are not expecting overnight change. But they do believe in the ripple effects of simple actions. “If even one person sees this and decides not to pick up a gun… if one family talks about nonviolence at the dinner table… if one city leader feels supported to take action—we have already succeeded,” said Sister Pat Dowling.

Their message is both a plea and a promise: that peace is possible, and it begins with each of us.

Standing Together for Peace

What makes this campaign particularly powerful is its unity. In a time of social fragmentation and political division, eight distinct Congregations have come together to proclaim one clear message: enough is enough.

“This is not about politics. It is about life,” said Sister Elaine Davia. “Our collaboration shows that when we come together across differences, we can amplify each other’s voices and become a force for real, lasting change.”

The “Put the Guns Down” campaign is more than a marketing initiative—it is a prayer on wheels, a public act of lament, and a challenge to the city’s conscience. Through bold imagery, clear messaging, and a unified witness, these Catholic Sisters are showing what it means to live the Gospel in action.

In their collective voice resounds a deep hope: that by raising awareness, sparking dialogue, and calling for compassion, this campaign might help heal wounds, save lives, and build a Baltimore where peace is not the exception, but the norm.

As the buses move through the streets of Baltimore, so too does a simple but radical truth: “Let peace begin with us.”