Johnny Zokovitch to leave Pax Christi USA this summer; new ED search underway

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Washington, D.C.–It is with a bittersweet combination of profound gratitude, understanding and sadness that Pax Christi USA announces that executive director Johnny Zokovitch will be leaving Pax Christi USA later this summer after five remarkable years in the position.

“For many of us, Johnny Zokovitch is Pax Christi USA,” said National Council Chair Charlene Howard. “His infectious commitment to this work has drawn us all closer to the mission. We have been inspired and motivated by his vision, his leadership, his creativity, and his compassion. As my predecessor Bob Shine said in 2019 when Johnny started in this position, ‘Johnny’s commitment to Pax Christi is true love, manifest in the many deeds and deep gift of self he has given to this movement for nearly three decades.’ Today, in 2024, this organization is extraordinarily stronger thanks to him and the love he has given it.”

Johnny first became involved with Pax Christi in the early 1990s as a young campus minister under the mentorship of Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro. After several years of engagement with Pax Christi Florida and as an integral member of what was then the Pax Christi Young Adult Forum, Johnny started doing contract work for Pax Christi USA in the late 1990s, eventually joining the national staff full-time in 2001 and serving in several positions, including communications and organizing. From 2016-2019, Johnny served as the senior communications officer with Pax Christi International before returning to Pax Christi USA. All told, Johnny will have spent the past 25 years in the employ of Pax Christi. 

Under Johnny’s leadership, Pax Christi USA has increased both its membership numbers and its long-term financial stability. In 2022, the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary with a wildly successful year-long celebration (including the first in-person national conference in several years). Pax Christi has re-animated its commitment to young people, expanded its capacity and reach, and launched the next phase of its ongoing organizational commitment to becoming an anti-racist, multicultural Catholic movement for peace with justice.

“Johnny has done a tremendous job over these past few years and has navigated some incredibly challenging moments,” said Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., Pax Christi USA’s bishop president, “including framing our response and transitioning our programming to online during the pandemic, handling tragic losses such as the death of our beloved deputy director, Sr. Dianna Ortiz, and responding to the expectations and hopes of our members as they experienced so much social and political turmoil in recent years. It will be hard to imagine the national office without Johnny’s leadership, but we send him on his way with our blessing, our sincere wish for his happiness, and with our heartfelt thanks.”

For press inquiries, contact Judy Coode at jcoode@paxchristiusa.org.

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NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH

Applications for executive director will be received until April 22, with the hope that the incoming executive director will start in June 2024 in order to work with Johnny during a transition period. Those interested in applying for the position can find the job description and other relevant information at this link. Applicants can send cover letters with resumes to Sherry Simon, National Council Vice Chair, at sherrysimon0320@gmail.com. Please include “Executive Director Inquiry” in the subject line.