June 22, 2022, Brussels
At the Annual General Meeting held online on June 22, 2022, Pax Christi International reelected its co-presidents and welcomed four new members to its International Board.
Sister Wamũyũ Wachira IBVM and Bishop Emeritus Marc Stenger (pictured right) continue in the joint leadership role for a second four-year term. They were first elected in 2019.
Msgr. Stenger was bishop of Troyes (France) for more than 20 years until his retirement in late 2020. He is especially dedicated to a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, strongly appeals for the abolition of nuclear weapons and is outspoken in condemning human rights violations and promoting nonviolence and proactive citizenship in response to conflicts and violence
Sr Wamũyũ (Kenya) is an educator, leader, and member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters. She is a theologian, specializing in peace and justice studies and researching experiences of violence in Kenyan schools. She is actively involved in training young women for peacemaking and reconciliation work in the Greater Horn region of Africa.
Four new members were elected to the International Board, with two coming from Europe and two from Asia-Pacific.
Sr. Adina Balan
Adina Balan (Romania) of the Congregatio Jesu is currently the coordinator for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation for her congregation. She was one of the leaders of the RENATE (Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation) has and has built strong connections throughout the countries in central and eastern Europe.
Caesar D’Mello
Caesar D’Mello is a long-time active member of Pax Christi in Australia and a lifelong ecumenist. He works extensively in advocacy and with civil society on a broad range of issues including challenging militarism, nonviolence, climate change, sustainable development, and the impact of Asia Pacific in the broader world.
Dr. Jasmin Nario-Galace
Jasmin Nario-Galace has been an active Pax Christi Philippines leader and now active within the regional Pax Christi Asia Pacific facilitation team. She is the past executive director of the Center for Peace Education (Miriam College) and a lifelong educator for peace. She works with several Philippine educational associations and is involved in many networks to increase women’s participation in decision-making matters of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
Martin Pilgram
Martin Pilgram has been a member of Pax Christi Germany since 1981. He has worked with Pax Christi International for many years, most recently through the working group on nuclear disarmament, and strongly promotes cooperation across Europe. He is especially familiar with Middle East policy, arms trade, nuclear disarmament, and the automatisation of war.
The following International Board members were elected for a second term: Sr. Elena Balatti (South Sudan), Nora Carmi (Palestine), Fr. Paul Lansu (Belgium), Fr. Godefroid Mombula (DR Congo), Sr. Pat Ryan (Peru), and Pax Christi USA’s own Mary Yelenick.