“Leap of Faith” screening May 6 in Springfield

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Film: “Leap of Faith,” directed by Nicholas Ma

When: Wednesday, May 6, 6:00pm

Where: Pope Francis Preparatory School, 99 Wendover Road, Springfield

Pax Christi Massachusetts is sponsoring a showing of Nicholas Ma’s film, “Leap of Faith” on Wednesday, May 6th @ 6:30 PM in the auditorium of Pope Francis Preparatory School, 99 Wendover Road in Springfield. Director Nicholas Ma, the son of violinist YoYo Ma, is best known for his award-winning documentary, “Won’t you be my Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers.

The film documents 12 diverse Christian leaders who find hope and fellowship at a series of boundary-breaking retreats in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brought together by Michael Gulker of the Colossian Forum, five women and seven men struggle with some of today’s most contentious issues. The divisions between them become apparent and test both their common belief in the universal importance of love and kindness and the bonds they build over the course of a year.

Inspiring and provocative, “Leap of Faith” explores whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world.

All are welcome!

Check out the latest issue of the Pax Christi Massachusetts newsletter!

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PCMA Newsletter Winter-Spring 2026

Features in this issue:

  • Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x., PCMA Coordinator, covers the “depth and wisdom” of Pope Leo’s most recent messages on peace.
  • Mike Moran outlines the initiatives of the Pax Christi New England Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (PCAN), including the publication of their recent survey on a Vatican webpage.
  • Drawing on her recent pilgrimage to Palestine, Linden Jenkins connects parallels of colonial violence and displacement in the treatment of the Palestinian people and United States indigenous peoples.
  • Pat Ferrone reflects on various responses to the 2025 Christmas Creche message at St. Susanna’s Parish, Dedham.
  • Jeanne Allen recaps the PCMA Assembly, held in October at St. Susanna’s Parish.

The issue also features coverage of Greater Springfield Nonviolence’s MLK Day Program, a letter to USCCB President Archbishop Coakley from Priests Against Genocide, the 36th Annual St. Francis Day gathering of the Agape Community, book reviews, a poem by Peter Kakos, updates from local chapters, introductions to our new BOD members, the nomination form for the 2026 PCMA Peacemaker Awards AND the flyer for the PCMA Spring Retreat, featuring Marie Dennis of Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.

The retreat is coming right up on April 11! For details and online registration, click here.

Pax Christi Massachusetts 2026 Spring Retreat, April 11: Gospel Nonviolence in a Perilous Time, with Marie Dennis

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Pax Christi Massachusetts welcomes Marie Dennis to return to us and lead us in our Spring Retreat entitled “Gospel Nonviolence in a Perilous Time.”

Marie is the senior program director of Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. She was a member of the Pax Christi International board from 1999 to 2019 and co-president from 2007 to 2019. She is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and was named a Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace in 2022.

Marie worked for the Maryknoll Missioners from 1989 to 2012, including 15 years as director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. She holds a master’s degree in moral theology from Washington Theological Union and honorary doctorates from Trinity Washington University and Alvernia University. She is a Secular Franciscan and author or co-author of seven books, including Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings and St. Francis and the Foolishness of God; editor of Choosing Peace: The Catholic Church Returns to Gospel Nonviolence; and co-editor of Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World. She is a lay woman, a mother of six, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

She is a board member of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners and was the National Catholic Reporter’s Person of the Year in 2016.

We could not have found a better person to lead us in this very timely topic. Come and Join us!

Details below

Printable PDF and Registration Opportunities on the Upcoming Events Page

Direct link to Online Registration