The two founders of Pax Christi International are pictured to the left and right of this paragraph. The Pax Christi movement
began in 1945 by a group of French and German Catholics to begin the
process of healing and forgiveness of two nations who had fought three wars over
the course of seventy years. The movements founding is credited to two
individuals: Pierre-Marie Theas, Bishop of Montauban France and Marthe
Dortel-Claudot a teacher who also lived in the south of France. The movement
spread rapidly and is now in sixty countries throughout the world. For a detailed history of Pax Christi International click on the following link: Pax Christi Internaional .
Pax Christi USA is a section of Pax Christi International, the
Catholic peace movement.
Gordon Zahn (Top Left) and
Eileen Egan (Top Right) founded Pax Christi USA in 1972 with the
help of Bishop Thomas J.
Gumbleton of Detroit (Bottom Right) and Bishop Carroll Dozier of Memphis (Bottom Left). The group's spirit is expressed in the Pax Christi USA Mission Statement:
"Pax Christi USA strives to create a world
that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to
the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and
extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of
society. Pax Christi USA ejects war, preparations for war, and every form of
violence and
domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and
social justice, and respect for creation. Pax Christi USA commits itself to
peace education and, with the help of its bishop members, promotes the gospel
imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the Catholic Church in the United
States. Through the efforts of all its members and in cooperation with other
groups, Pax Christi USA works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable
world." There are additional resources at the Pax Christi USA website: Pax Christi USA .
Pax Christi Massachusetts is a region of Pax Christi USA
