Pax Christi USA National Conference July 25 - 27 in Detroit
2025-07-25 - 2025-07-27 | Detroit Marriot, Detroit, United States
Reclaiming the power of nonviolence in a broken world
In a time of global challenges, Pax Christi USA invites you to join us in Detroit for a transformative weekend of hope and action!
Use this link to learn more and to register to attend in person or virtually.
Scholarships are available for people who cannot pay the full cost.
Pax Christi USA holds national conference in Detroit July 25-27, 2025

Bread Not Bombs
2025-08-06 13:30 - 15:00 UTC | Davenport Park, 245 Main Street, Bangor, ME, 04401, United States
Pax Christi Maine and the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine invite you and your community to gather as people of faith and conscience to share prayers, reflections, music and periods of silence to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the horrific atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States.
Our grave concern about the use of nuclear weapons continues today. Given the recent bombings in Iran and Israel, the genocide in Gaza and so many other atrocities, the threat of nuclear war currently weighs heavily on our hearts and minds. The times in which we live, call us to raise our collective voices for peace, for justice and for the implementation of nonviolent strategies that build a culture of life and a sustainable environment in which all living beings may flourish.

Remembrance and Reflection - 80th Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
2025-08-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Friends Meeting House, 1837 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME, 04103, United States

Pax Community Conversations
2025-08-28 19:00 - 20:15
Join us to discuss current issues from the perspective of the Gospel of Peace.
This will be an open discussion led by long-term Pax Christi Maine member Denny Dreher.
Topic to be announced.
For a copy of the Zoom link, contact Mary Ellen at memquinn@peoplepc.com

September Pax Community Conversation
2025-09-25 19:00 - 20:15
“O wad some pow’r the giftie gi’e us, tae see oorsel as ithers see us!” (original Scottish)
“Oh would some power only give us, the gift to see ourselves as others see us!” (English translation)
Was it the famous poet Bobbie Burns who wrote those words? I’m not sure, but they rose from my memory as I began to write this invitation to our upcoming PAX Community Conversation. I’ll leave those words dangling before us as you think about joining us next week. Mike Murphy will be our discussion leader as we probe the role of humility in our lives and the struggles we might each have with living in true humility. Some questions to ponder… how does humility factor into the way we look at ourselves in relationship to others? What is the role of humility in seeking empathy for others? How does humility factor into our desire or ability to judge others? What role does humility play in our ability to offer forgiveness to others? We encourage you to reflect and share your experiences, challenges and hard earned insights.
For a copy of the Zoom link, contact Mary Ellen at memquinn@peoplepc.com

October PAX Community Conversation
2025-10-30 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
PAX COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Thursday, October 30, 2025
7:00-8:15 p.m. (Zoom)
JOIN US!
We are very pleased to be welcoming Jessica Sun to our next community conversation!
Jessica serves in a leadership role with the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus and is an
active member with Christians for a Free Palestine.
This is an excellent opportunity to hear about Jessica’s faith journey and to deepen our
understanding of some of the challenges that today’s world pose for young people.
Jessica will share her experience with the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus (PCYAC), an
active faith community dedicated to Jesus’ way of love, compassion and nonviolence.
We will explore the following questions and more… what are young adult spiritual
seekers looking for? How do young adults view our Catholic Church and the growing
traditionalist movement? What factors draw young adults to be interested in the Catholic
peace and justice movement?
Please bring your own questions and reflections to this exciting opportunity for dialogue.
This is just the beginning of our efforts to engage more effectively with young adults.

Jessica Sun (she/they) is a 2nd generation Chinese U.S.- a zillennial from Virginia with a passion for community organizing. An adult convert to Christianity, she is an experienced local volunteer community advocate. Christians for a Free Palestine and Pax Christi USA are her organizing homes, and served two terms on the leadership team for the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus. She is currently in the discernment process with the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Prior to her religious formation, she was a full-time backend software engineer for years as a Computer Science graduate of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.
This will be an open discussion led by Pax Christi Maine co-coordinator Mary Ellen Quinn.
Please rsvp to Mary Ellen at memquinn@peoplepc.com by October 29th to receive the zoom link. We look forward to your participation in this important dialogue!

One Church One Family - Catholic Public Witness for Migrants
2025-11-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Cumberland County Jail, 50 County Way, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Please join us for a public witness in support of our immigrant sisters and brothers!
Pax Christi Maine is organizing a prayer vigil as part of a nationwide campaign titled “One Church One Family – Catholic Public Witness for Migrants”, initiated by the Ignatian Solidarity Network. The vigil will held on Thursday November 13, 2025 at 2:00pm outside of the Cumberland County Jail in Portland. Under a contract with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, this facility continues to be used by I.C.E. for immigrant detention in Maine.
The One Church One Family campaign invites Catholics across our country to participate in a public witness on November13th, to stand in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers who are currently experiencing increasing levels of fear, cruelty, displacement and incarceration at the hands of government agents in our cities and towns.
You can find more details on this campaign at this link https://1family.us/
Your support and participation is very much needed!
In accord with Jesus’ teachings and Catholic Social Teaching, we know we are called to treat all people with dignity and respect; to welcome the stranger; to lift up those suffering; to speak up for the most vulnerable among us.
These are unprecedented times of great turmoil in our country. As followers of the nonviolent Jesus, we are called to stand with our migrant sisters and brothers as they experience so much violence due to mass deportations and are forced to endure the crisis of displacement and family separation.
Pope Leo XIV has been outspoken about the Catholic Church’s obligation to pray and to act in support of the immigrant community. His Holiness has sent a clear message, “The Church cannot stay silent before injustice. You stand with me, and I stand with you.”
Please join us on Thursday November 13th at 2:00pm. We will pray together. Signs that reflect Jesus’ teachings, express solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers and concern for their mistreatment are welcome. Contact Mary Ellen if any questions. memquinn@peoplepc.com
If you are unable to be present with us in Portland on November 13th, we urge you to join us in prayer for our immigrant sisters and brothers; to pray for an end to violence and all cruel and unjust systems that inflict harm.
Blessings of hope and possibility,
Mary Ellen Quinn and Denise Dreher
Co-Coordinators, Pax Christi Maine

PAX Community Conversation - November
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
“To Walk in Humility-Lessons Learned in Indian Country”

‘Critical encounters’ in education and health care are experiences that drop from the head to the heart and change us. They can result from an encounter with a book (as in scripture) , a significant event, or another most importantly, a person different from ourselves. This evening Pax Christi Maine member John Yasenchak will share a few such encounters I had over twenty years that deepened my conviction that mental health and social justice are two sides of the same coin.
John’s sharing will lead us into discussion of our own experiences in learning about humility. John suggests we read the attached articles in preparation for our discussion. Feel free to invite others who may be interested.
PLEASE RSVP to receive the zoom link and suggested articles which will be sent Thursday morning.
THANK YOU!
Blessings of hope and possibility, Mary Ellen memquinn@peoplepc.com

The Way to Peace Mini-Retreat
2026-01-11 14:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Pope Leo XIV wrote to Pax Christi USA for their 2025 National assembly saying, “…efforts to promote nonviolence are all the more necessary.” In that spirit, Pax Christi Maine is developing a series of mini retreats, to promote living the nonviolent life, based on John Dear’s book The Nonviolent Life, with scripture reading, reflection, sharing our stories and song.
The Way to Peace, the first mini retreat on the Nonviolent Life will be offered by Pax Christi Maine Sunday January 11, 2026, from 2 -5 PM on ZOOM.
Our retreat will focus on the participants developing a closer connection to God, to help us know who we are, more fully, as beloved children of God.
email Mary Ellen Quinn for more details and to receive a link to the retreat. memquinn@peoplepc.com

January Pax Community Conversation
2026-01-29 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
PAX COMMUNIT Y CONVERSATION
Thursday, January 29, 2026
7:00-8:15 p.m. (Zoom)
JOIN US!

We are very pleased to be welcoming Michelle Sherman and Camila Perez to our next community conversation! Both Michelle and Camila are an integral part of the PCUSA staff and active members of the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus (PCYAC).
Since one of our primary goals for this year is to increase our connection with young adults, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more from two young women who are committed to following Jesus’ way of nonviolence. We will learn about their spiritual journeys and what attracts young people to our Catholic peace and justice movement.
As part of their mission and ministry, both Michelle and Camila provide outreach and engagement to young adults on high school and college campuses.
They will share some of their insights related to their outreach efforts and help to deepen our understanding of the challenges that today’s world poses for young people.
As a community, we will discuss ideas for outreach to young adults here in Maine and outline next steps to address our goal. Hope you will participate with us in this important conversation!
Please RSVP to Mary Ellen at memquinn@peoplepc.com by January 28th to receive the zoom link.

PAX Community Conversation - February 2026
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
PAX COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Thursday, February 26, 2025
7:00-8:15 p.m. (Zoom)
JOIN US!
BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH SONGS OF PRAISE AND PROTEST
Join us for a time to explore our memories, thoughts and personal connections
about and through music as inspiration and expression of our personal and
collective efforts toward peace and justice in our world.
I am not a musician, no longer much of a singer, but the music, the songs, still
evoke something deep within my spirit that reaches out to connect and resonate
with my response to what is happening in our world today.
Does this strike a familiar chord for you? Is music still an important way for you
to participate in working for peace and justice?
Hoping you will share in this conversation,
Denny
Please rsvp to Mary Ellen Quinn memquinn@peoplepc.com by February 25th to receive the Zoom link

Singing Our Solidarity
2026-03-07 15:00 - 17:00 | St John’s Episcopal Church, 225 French St, Bangor, ME, 04401, United States

Mini-Retreat: Nonviolence Towards Self and Others
2026-03-22 14:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Please join us for the second retreat in our series on Living the Nonviolent Life, inspired by Fr. John Dear’s book. This retreat will focus on “Practicing Nonviolence Toward Ourselves”.
Through prayer, scripture (Luke 4:1-13), meditation, reflection, music and sharing, we will take the time to explore how we cope with all the thoughts and feelings that can draw us away from remembering our true identity, that we are beloved daughters and sons of our God of Peace.
Please register before March 20th by contacting Martha Brodeur. Zoom link will be sent on March 20th.

Pax Community Conversation
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
Pax Community Conversation
Thursday, March 26 7:00 – 8:15

For Zoom link, contact Fred Brodeur at fredsnonviolencework@myfairpoint.net

April PAX Community Conversation
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
PAX COMMUNIT Y CONVERSATION
Thursday, April 30, 2026
7:00-8:15 p.m. (Zoom)
JOIN US!
“Finding Authentic Community in our Church”
We invite you to join a conversation about your experience of community in your local
parish or faith tradition.
Authentic community provides a sense of belonging; brings people together; offers
mutual support; often reflects a common vision; is intentionally inclusive and welcoming,
demonstrates respect for all people and their views and more…
In his public life and in his writings, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shared his vision of
a Beloved Community, one that recognizes and honors the image of God in every human
being.
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How/where do we find that in our parishes? How can we create community given the
clustering of churches within our diocese? How do we navigate the divisions which exist
due to different understandings of Christian discipleship? What opportunities exist to
strengthen collaboration between clergy and laity?
Please RSVP to Mary Ellen at memquinn@peoplepc.com by April 29th
to receive the zoom link.

Pax Christi Maine Retreat - PRACTICING NONVIOLENCE TOWARD ALL OTHERS
2026-05-17 14:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Join us for the third retreat in our series on Living the Nonviolent Life
PRACTICING NONVIOLENCE TOWARD ALL OTHERS
Sunday May 17, 2026 from 2:00-5:00 pm (zoom)
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Through prayer, meditation, scripture, reflection, music and sharing, we will explore the various ways we can practice nonviolence toward all others in our everyday lives.
Anchored in our identities as beloved children of God … How can we become more nonviolent to those we know and meet? Who challenges our practice of nonviolence most? How do we find the God of Peace in these relationships?
How can small day-to-day encounters help us strengthen our commitment to nonviolence so that we will be better able to be nonviolent toward others in our places of employment, in tense situations, toward creation and all creatures?
Register by 5/16/26: Contact Martha Brodeur msim.brodeur@gmail.com /207.333.1236
There is no fee for retreat. Donations to Pax Christi Maine can be sent
c/o Mary Ellen Quinn 91 Baker Rd. Winterport, ME 04496

Pax Christi Maine Spring Assembly
2026-05-30 15:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
Join us at our spring assembly annual meeting from 3:00 – 6:30.

At 4:30, we will welcome Paul K. Chappell of the Peace Literacy Institute. Paul will speak on the theme of “Empowering Ourselves and Others for the Journey Toward Peace”. All are welcome!
Watch for more information to come!
