Pax Christi International Reelects Co-Presidents, Welcomes New Board Members

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At the Annual General Meeting held online on 22 June 2022, Pax Christi International reelected its co-presidents and welcomed four new members to its International Board.  

Bishop Emeritus Marc Stenger and Sister Wamũyũ Wachira IBVM continue in the joint leadership role for a second four-year term. They were first elected in 2019.

Bishop Emeritus 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, specialising 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), Mary Yelenick (USA).