This year, 27 nominees were put forward for consideration for the Pax Christi USA 2023 Teacher of Peace Award.
Each year (with the exception of a four year hiatus between 2017-2020), Pax Christi USA honors an outstanding peacemaker in the tradition of Sr. Thea Bowman, Fr. Dan Berrigan, Cesar Chávez, Sr. Dianna Ortiz, Dorothy Day, Fr. Ray East, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Fr. Bryan Massingale, and others. Last year’s recipient was Marie Dennis.
The award recognizes women and men whose lives and work exemplify the theme of Pope Paul VI’s World Day of Peace message, “To reach peace, teach peace.”
“It is a highlight every year to intentionally name and recognize so many incredible people who demonstrate by their lives what it means to ‘teach peace,'” stated Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Executive Director. “The Teacher of Peace Award, and each of these people who are nominees this year, is meant to lift up the vocation of peacemaking which is at the heart of the gospel, at the heart of what it means to follow the nonviolent Jesus.”
The Pax Christi USA National Council, following consultation with the Teacher of Peace Committee, makes the final decision regarding this year’s recipient. Next month, the 2023 Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace will be announced with this year’s recipient receiving the award at a time and place to be determined this fall.
Following is a list of this year’s nominees (listed randomly):
- Fr. Harry Bury
- Sr. Margaret Sikora
- Dr. Rosemarie Pace
- Andrew Bacevich
- Sr. Florence Steichen, CSJ
- Jack Gilroy
- Dr. Craig Ford Jr.
- National Black Sisters Conference
- Sr. Rosemarie Milazzo
- Sr. Carol Gilbert, OP
- Bob Cooke
- Pope Francis
- Sr. Jan Cebula, OSF
- Fr. Joseph Nangle, ofm
- Kim Redigan
- Archbishop John C. Wester
- Tom Wannemuehler
- Robert Ellsberg
- Fr. John Dear
- Mary Hanna
- Dan Misleh
- Dolores Huerta
- Robert Keeler
- Sr. Paulette Schroeder, OSF
- Catherine Morris and Jeff Dietrich
- Molly Rush
- Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv
Pax Christi USA congratulates each of the nominees and gives thanks for their work on behalf of peace with justice. We encourage our members and others to send notes of congratulations to those you know among the nominees and to thank them for their commitment!