What do space photos from the Webb telescope, the meanings of flowers, church history and Einstein’s messy desk have in common?  They are some elements Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS used to draw us into a day of “Peacemaking Through Turbulent Times; Art, Passion and Purpose,” the Pax Christi Massachusetts Annual Assembly on Oct. 18, 2025.  Thirty-some peacemakers sacrificed a beautiful fall Saturday to attend the event, in-person and virtually.

Bro. Mickey is an experience more than an instructor.  He developed his conviction that art is a means of prayerful contemplation intertwined with social justice principles.  He quoted many saints and spiritual writers from Francis of Assisi (“great saints are both courageous and creative”), Francis DeSales (“ignore the barking of the dogs and keep going”) and Pope Leo XIII (“peace is built on the foundation of justice”) to Ilia Delio (“all creation is oozing God”) and many more … always accompanied by his art.  Albert Einstein, Marian Anderson, St. Oscar Romero, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, and Servants of God Dorothy Day and Thea Bowman were modern spiritual leaders he focused on.

As part of our participation in “No Kings” day—our event date set before the multiple national actions were scheduled—we took a group photo to share.  Pat Ferrone also distributed colorful paper clips with an explanation of how they have become a mark of resistance to authoritarianism.  After lunch we held our annual business meeting with a summary of the year’s activities, treasurer’s report, and reports from our two working groups: PCAN and Palestine Action Group.  Board elections were held, recognizing Phil Harak, Sister Rita Raboin and Ann Cappocia who are ending their service, introducing new Board nominees Linden Jenkins, Bob Shine and Nancy Sosnowski, and approving the slate of new and returning members.  

Our Peacemaker Awards were special, with Bob Tyer of Springfield receiving the Annual Peacemaker Award posthumously, and a brief photo show of his life of service for justice and peace.  “From time to time” we recognize someone with a Lifetime Peacemaker Award, and this third-ever award was bestowed on Mike Moran for all he’s done in the service of peace from being a conscientious objector in the 60’s and an intern at Pax Christi UK as he earned his MA in Peace Studies, to many years of service on the Board, and being our newsletter editor and stalwart member of PCAN.