Monday, July 7, 2014

PCUSA MOURNS THE PASSING OF SR. MARY EVELYN JEGEN, SND

 

Jegen instrumental in founding of Pax Christi USA; served as first National Coordinator

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Pax Christi USA is mourning the loss of Sr. Mary Evelyn Jegen, SND, one of the early leaders of Pax Christi USA who helped to shape and mold the organization into what it has become today. Sr. Jegen served as Pax Christi USA's first National Coordinator on January 1, 1979 and would continue in that role through December 1982. She passed away on Friday, July 4, 2014 after a long illness.

 

"We have lost a true peacemaker and advocate within Pax Christi USA and the religious community of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur," stated Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA. "I am proud to stand on her shoulders as Pax Christi USA continues its witness as the National Catholic Justice and Peace Movement."

 

Sr. Jegen served in a variety of positions during the founding and early years of Pax Christi USA. In May 1975, she was one of the original members of the "Executive Committee," the forerunner of the present National Council. Sr. Jegen had come to know of the work of Pax Christi International while she was in Rome in 1971 where she had been teaching women religious from developing nations and doing research for the Pontifical Justice and Peace Commission. Sr. Jegen would attend committee meetings of the U.S. Bishops and numerous other gatherings as a representative of Pax Christi USA. In 1978, Sr. Jegen would be elected to the new position of Chair of the National Council; a few months later, she would be hired as Pax Christi USA's first national staff member, becoming also the first National Coordinator...

 

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Click here to see our memorial page for Sr. Mary Evelyn Jegen, SND. We invite you to share your comments, memories, reflections, etc. in the comments section on the memorial page. We'll be adding more reflections, articles, and photos to the page as they come in during the days ahead.

In peace,

 

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA