For those of us in Pax, 1972 was an exhilarating year. After ten years of witnessing to gospel-peacemaking through annual study weekends, vigils, publishing the magazine PEACE, and booklets on “Catholics, Conscience and the Draft,” we saw a new and very evident way opening up, a way leading to a wider peace witness among the Catholic community in the most powerful warmaking nation in the history of humankind.
- Eileen Egan, co-founder of Pax Christi USA
This year, Pax Christi USA celebrates 35 years of working for peace with justice. Members, friends, partners, and all conference participants are invited to join Pax Christi USA in commemorating 35 years of witness in prayer, study and action.
From its beginning, Pax Christi USA has been rooted in the call to Christian nonviolence, the practice of prophetic criticism, and the primacy of conscience, seeking to be peacemakers and justice-seekers in a world that worships the power of war-making, violence and domination. Members of Pax Christi USA have dreamed of and worked for a world that is more just, peaceful and sustainable. Today Pax Christi USA is committed to transforming this movement into a truly anti-racist, multicultural Catholic movement for peace with justice.
During this anniversary celebration, we will tell the stories of Pax Christi USA’s beginnings, remember those witnesses who set us on the “road to peace” and showed us how to be “lights in the darkness” of a culture consumed by violence. Long-time members and newfound friends will gather to pray and sing together, making a joyful noise to drive out the demons of materialism, racism and militarism. And we will share our hopes for that day when all swords shall become ploughshares and war shall be no more.
Confirmed special guests for our anniversary celebration, to take place on Saturday evening and during Sunday's morning plenary, include:
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, founding bishop-president of Pax Christi USA
Sr. Mary Evelyn Jegen, SND, former PCUSA National Coordinator
Joseph Fahey, first general-secretary of the Pax Christi USA Executive Committee (forerunner of the PCUSA National Council)
and more!
Join us for this weekend of celebration!
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