Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore has chosen Susan Gunn, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, as its 2023 Peacemaker of the Year.
We hope all Pax Christi members and supporters in the greater DC area are able to attend the award ceremony on Saturday, November 4, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 206 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC. All are welcome to join the parish’s vigil Mass at 5:30 PM; the dinner and award ceremony will start at 6:30 PM.
>>To attend, use this link to register at the Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore website. A $25 donation is suggested but not required to attend.
Susan is a longtime friend and colleague of Pax Christi, both the national and DC-regional offices. As director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, she has taken a leading role in Catholic peace advocacy, with a strong focus on just peace, care for those who are poor, environmental stewardship, and gospel nonviolence.
She has traveled extensively in her role with Maryknoll, most recently to the Philippines and El Salvador, and has shared her experiences in conferences and webinars. She has spoken at Fire Drill Friday climate rallies alongside Jane Fonda and has accompanied refugees in meetings with Congress members. Her visionary leadership empowers her team to prioritize listening to affected voices, to challenge prevailing policy narratives, and to advocate for nonviolence, racial equity, economic justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
To get to peace, to turn our swords in to ploughshares, we need to listen to the PeaceMakers. Thich Nhat Hahn said “Making Tea, we stop the war.” We have to be peaceful, not shouting and not angry. We need to listen to the marginalized. The Benedictine monastery had a bumper sticker I got, which said “Peace begins when the hungry are fed.” In my house, that is true. The voices shouting for more billions for weapons need to be quiet. Congress needs to say NO. We need to put money into diplomatic solutions which give people “bread not stones.” Working with FCNL and other peace-making organizations, and trying to get the AMerican Bishops to sign on to advocate for the Bread not Stones approach, is a great goal.