Kathleen Kozlowski Okray | Special to The Michigan Catholic

Detroit — While the papacy of Blessed John XXIII ended more than 50 years ago, the memories of the beloved pontiff’s call to action still inspire the faithful, especially in perhaps his best-known encyclical, “Pacem in Terris” (“Peace on Earth”).

“One of Pope John’s greatest gifts to the Church is his Pacem in Terris,” said Michael McCarthy, a member of Blue Water Pax Christi, an activist group working for peace and justice causes. “The whole spirit it fostered, about doing mission work and reaching out to the world with our faith, was and is such an important message. It is often said that Pope John ‘opened the doors and the windows of the Church’ and that is what it felt like.”

McCarthy, who has been involved in the peace movement since the 1960s, recently retired and has since turned to writing to spread the message of peace, with the soon-to-be St. John XXIII serving as an inspiration. McCarthy said his blog at mccarthysweekly-paxvobiscum.blogspot.com is his way to continue mission work. “I want to do some healing of the body politic; you might call it faith healing.”

McCarthy takes his cues from the encyclical. “We need to inform and help each other; writing about the political things and how the Gospels reflect on that is important. The heart of the Gospels is what ‘Pacem in Terris’ was and is about.

“Many of the things the Church has been evangelizing about, is about encouraging us to get out and start a dialogue. You don’t hide the Gospel under a bushel basket,” he said.

The teachings and humility of the new saint have inspired McCarthy not only to write, but the message of combining prayer with action struck a personal chord as well. He has spent decades helping migrant workers, eventually becoming a physician’s assistant to help address the physical needs of those living in migrant camps while lobbying for better conditions.

Long after he first read the writings of Blessed John XXIII, McCarthy still finds inspiration in his message, finding it just as pertinent today as it was a half-century ago. “His message about human rights, and how, if we really worked together, we would solve all the big problems, is still a realistic goal.”

Sr. Peggy Schmidt, IHM, found inspiration in Blessed John’s earlier works.

“I remember reading his encyclical ‘Mater et Magistra,’ which to me defined the role of the Church in the entire world,” she said. “As an economics major, I was aware of it, as it was about the need for economic balance, and that there should be justice for everybody.”

A student at Marygrove College when it was published in 1961, its message resonated on a personal level for Sr. Schmidt. “I don’t think Pope John was against economic development; rather, he encouraged it, but reminded us that we also have the ability to have justice play a role.”

His other writings also provided the fledgling nun spiritual food for thought. “Pope John’s ‘Journal of a Soul,’ which I first read as a novitiate, had a great influence on me. In addition to learning about his challenges and how he addressed them, I remember it teaching to me the importance of journaling and reflection. I still journal, as many of us do, as a mode of reflection.”

Celebrating her golden jubilee, Sr. Schmidt continues the mission of the Servants, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to work for peace, leading retreats for both sisters and laity. And Blessed John continues to inspire her work. “His desire was to open the windows to let the Spirit in — and out. I believe he wanted to renew the beauty in the Church, and I think he was successful. He polished the diamond, so we could see what was in there.”