PCUSA PEACE AMBASSADORS IN MICHIGAN
Congratulations to the
2025 Additions
Ambassadors of Peace
Over the last 50 years, Pax Christi USA has identified and honored extraordinary and experienced leaders within the Pax Christi USA community and commissioned them to represent our movement through ongoing outreach efforts.
These “Ambassadors of Peace” are chosen for the contributions they have made in preaching and practicing gospel nonviolence, peacemaking, reconciliation and justice.
Ambassadors of Peace promote the mission of Pax Christi USA through word and witness, sharing Pax Christi's programs and campaigns with new audiences, serving as representatives in coalitions, and generally carrying the message of Pax Christi USA wherever they go. They serve as living embodiments to our community and beyond of what it means to live a life rooted in the “peace of Christ.”
Our new recipients of this recogntion include Fr. Tom Lumpkin, joan Tirak, and Patricia Valaer. ❤️
(From left to right)
Joan Tirak, Patricia Valaer, and Fr. Tom Lumpkin
Pax Christi Michigan is very grateful for these new additions to the PCUSA roster. They join our current Ambassadors of Peace living in Michigan:
Bill (deceased) and Mary Carry of Sylvan Lake, Michigan: Mary served on the National Council of Pax Christi USA from 1980 to 1983 and Bill served in the early 1990s, including two years as Treasurer. Bill retired from his position as an engineer for Chrysler to devote himself to full-time peace work, and Mary is well-known throughout Michigan for her work teaching conflict resolution in schools.
Helen Casey (deceased): Helen served as co-coordinator for Pax Christi Michigan for six years. She was also a past member of the Pax
Christi USA National Council. Helen was the first woman appointed to the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors and also served as a member of the United States Catholic Conference’s Campaign for Human Development. Helen participated in nonviolent civil disobedience actions resulting in numerous arrests and three jail terms. Helen also served as a consultant to the US Catholic Conference committee that resulted in the original Call to Action conference in 1976.
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton (deceased) of Detroit, Michigan was the founding Bishop President of Pax Christi USA (and named Bishop President Emeritus in 2020). The longtime pastor of Detroit’s St. Leo’s Parish, he served as president of Bread for the World from 1976-84 and co-founded the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights. He served as board member of the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, New Ways Ministry, Witness for Peace, and Fellowship of Reconciliation. He was named Pax Christi USA’s 1991 Teacher of Peace.
Mary Hanna of Lansing, MI has been the Operations Manager for Meta Peace Team (MPT) since 2005, where she coordinates both MPT’s
Violence De-escalation Skills Training program and their Internship program. She has served on both international (Palestine/Israel, US/Mexico Border) and domestic peace teams (those within the US). A member of the Pax Christi Michigan State Council since 1989, she became the State Coordinator in 2015. Mary is committed to compassionate, assertive nonviolence, social justice, creative peacemaking, and the spiritual underpinnings that make it all possible.
