Canadian Jesuit Fr. Michael Czerny, S.J., has been named personal assistant to the newly appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana.

Fr. Czerny had previously served as an adiutor and contributed to the work of the Synod of African Bishops held in Rome in October 2009. He will assist Cardinal Turkson to implement the mission of the Pontifical Council, which is to promote justice and peace in the world, in the light of the Gospel and the social teaching of the Church.

Michael brings a lifelong commitment in social justice ministries, as founding director of the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice in Toronto (1979-1989); as director, at the University of Central America (UCA) in San Salvador, of its Human Rights Institute (1990-1991) and as Vice-Rector of the UCA (1991); as Secretary for Social Justice at the Jesuit General Curia, Rome (1992-2002); and most recently as founding coordinator of AJAN (2002-2010).

On February 2, Fr. Paterne Mombé, S.J., of the West Africa Province, arrived at AJAN House in Nairobi as associate coordinator and will be replacing Fr. Czerny as coordinator. Fr. Mombé is the founding director of the Centre Espérance Loyola in Lomé, Togo and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AJAN.

Canadian Jesuits International sends them both blessings and best wishes as they take on these important assignments.