Greetings,
As the National Council of Pax Christi USA, we share with you the following update from our meeting this past weekend (July 18-21, 2019) in Washington, D.C.
The meeting informally began Thursday when Pax Christi USA members participated in the Catholic Day of Action against child detention. Our members were among the 70 Catholics who committed civil disobedience at the U.S. Capitol in an effort to rouse the faithful’s consciences against inhumane policies. Our Bishop President, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, was one of seven bishops who sent formal messages of support. The National Council urges Pax Christi USA’s members to engage in the ongoing campaign, which we have helped organize with other faith-based groups. More information will be forthcoming. See some of the news coverage here and here.
A central aspect of this past weekend’s meeting was the time spent with Pax Christi USA’s regional leadership. We shared meals and prayer together, in addition to periods of structured dialogue about the challenges and opportunities present before our Pax Christi USA movement today. This time was joyous and rejuvenating as we explored what it means to be a movement that is united in diversity. We intend for greater communication and collaboration between the various constituencies in Pax Christi USA. We are committed to a bright future for the Catholic peace movement as we share the spirituality of Gospel nonviolence.
The National Council acknowledged this weekend that 2019 is the conclusion of the original “Brothers and Sisters All,” Pax Christi USA’s twenty-year commitment to being an anti-racist and multicultural organization. We affirmed the Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team’s ongoing efforts to help us become the movement we seek to be. We reaffirmed, too, the need to explore and to deepen what this commitment to anti-racism means going forward.
The search for a new executive director is well underway. Many of the candidates who have applied are quite talented and have a vision of growing Pax Christi USA. There should be more information on the search in the coming weeks.
Finally, we thank you, our grassroots members and supporters, for the multitude of ways you support Pax Christi USA and help advance peace with justice. If you ever have concerns or comments about our work, please contact the National Council chair, Robert Shine, at contact@robertgshine.com.
In Christ’s peace,
The Pax Christi USA National Council
P.S. Support us in our continued efforts to end the detention of immigrant children and donate any amount you can today!
Congratulations! Pax Christi must play an energizing role that will become a light of faith & hope for all. Keep up and Grow wll you are doing! Jean Fallon
A few members of Pax Christi – Beverly MA, and Pax Christi Boston, MA will be participating in the Pilgrimage in Solidarity for Immigrant Justice August 19 – 24, 2019 that will begin at the John F. Kennedy Building, Boston at 10:00 a.m. and converge in Dover, NH at the Strafford County Immigrant Detention Center around noon. This Pilgrimage is being sponsored by Essex County Community Organization (ECCO). It will also be joined by other pilgrimages in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. We hope to draw attention to the racial violence perpetrated against immigrants of color in our country is a moral crisis, and needs to change:
https://www.eccoaction.org/about#/solidarity-pilgrimage/
– Sister Linda Bessom SND de N.. Pax Christi Beverly, MA Co-chair.