Responses from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Leadership In Memoriam of Father Drew Christiansen, S.J. I am deeply saddened by this news and personally indebted to Father Drew’s investment in my life and ministry. His leadership on behalf of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) will continue to have a lasting impact in the decades to come. – Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Co-leading a USCCB pilgrimage of Catholic peace & justice coordinators, we paused atop Mount Tabor, leaning on huge ancient stones, after the notable climb up, looking out over the Jezreel Plains in near-sacred silence… Drew leaned into me amidst the hilltop heat with sun shining breezes and said: 'THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE. This is why we bring our friends/colleagues with us - to hear, to see, to know all that God has given us through Jesus Christ, his Son...not so we can possess it as a pilgrim treasure but so we can all share the peace justice and love he pours into us." In numerous theological, academic & pastoral ways, Drew was persistent shining the Light of Christ for true paths to peace for all everywhere. May his light shine strong & steadfast now as we, his friends continue carrying the gift he was for us. – Joseph Cornelius Donnelly, CMEP Catholic Advisory Council (CAC) Member and emeritus Permanent Delegate to the United Nations for Caritas International We are truly diminished. May he rest in peace and may we rise to carry on his legacy of love and compassion. – Susan Gunn, CMEP Board Chair and Director of Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Fr. Christiansen was a valued colleague and friend of so many. His memory will be a blessing to them, and to the continued work he did to bring peace and understanding. May his memory be eternal! – Tony Kireopoulos, CMEP Board Member and Sr. Program Director for Faith & Order and Interfaith Relations at National Council of Churches USA Father Christiansen was a national legend truly devoted to core Jesuit values. – David Maloof, CMEP Leadership Council Member and Attorney at Law I am deeply saddened by the news of Drew's passing to God. He was a voice for reason and justice in the Middle East and a living icon of the much overlooked Social Teaching of the Catholic Church. He leaves a vacancy that will neither soon nor easily be filled. – Father Elias Mallon, SA, CMEP Catholic Advisory Council (CAC) Member and Director of External Affairs for Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Fr. Drew personified the Jesuit mission of finding God in all things. I'm grateful for having known Fr. Drew and learning so much about the Church in the Middle East from him. – Dr. Mary Moran, CMEP Catholic Advisory Council (CAC) Member I'm so sorry to hear this. Holding his spirit and all who knew him in the Light. – Bridget Moix, General Secretary, of CMEP Member Communion Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) We all share the grief for the loss of a colleague but rejoice in the belief that he has gone on to a better--indeed, perfect--world. – Bill Zartman, CMEP Leadership Council Member and Professor Emeritus at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University The words that come to mind are "Well done thy good and faithful servant." We will miss him on this earth. - Sir Jeff Abood, Chair of the CMEP Catholic Advisory Council (CAC) and CMEP Leadership Council Member, and Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre We all have lost a dear friend, mentor, and pastor. No doubt he is in the arms of the Lord he served with such love and courage. Our grief is consolable, but the people of the Holy Land have lost a passionate crusader for justice and peace, a man who without fear took on this pursuit in the face of great power. Their loss is tremendous, and let us keep alive his memory for their sake. Requiescat in Pace, Andreus. - Michael J. L. La Civita, Member of the CMEP Catholic Advisory Council (CAC), Director of Communications for Catholic NearEast Welfare Association (CNEWA), and chancellor of the Eastern Lieutenancy of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Drew is a great man, always present for others and their needs, truly an example of a leader of the people of God. In the Hope of Peace. - Russ Testa, CMEP Board Member and Director of the Office for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) of the Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor Truly a saint among the saints! He always cared about peace and justice in the Holy Land. A real gift to just have known him. God rest his soul! - CMEP Leadership Council Member Mary Kay Turner I had the distinct honor of collaborating with Fr. Drew on issues related to the Middle East and nuclear disarmament. He introduced me to CMEP. I learned a lot from his unfailingly kind leadership and insightful work for international justice and peace. -- Dr. Stephen M. Colecchi, Former Director, Office of International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops |