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By Priscilla Greear
Staff Writer
ATLANTA-At the archdiocesan 16th annual prayer service honoring Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., Archbishop John F. Donoghue challenged Catholics to look
beyond the legend of the slain Civil Rights leader and really study his radical
Christian life in order to share his Gospel quest for social justice and
equality for all.
"If there is an ultimate value to his life, or to the life of any
saintly person, it is that through their lives and words, we can come to know
Christ with greater clarity and depth, and we can come to the point of letting
Christ truly rule in our own lives," he said.
"If Dr. King is read and studied and appreciated, not for his fame, but
for what he believed and preached, then, we-black, white, European, African or
anything else-we can discover anew a sense of direction for our times, and a
knowledge of the purpose and meaning of life-of community, of truth, of good
conscience, and of the holiness of God watching and guiding it all."
Archbishop Donoghue presided at the event sponsored by the Office for Black
Catholic Ministry held on Jan. 15 at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,
Atlanta's oldest Catholic church located on Martin Luther King Drive.
Approximately 300 people honored the Baptist minister named after the father of
the Protestant Reformation.
Yet lightly coloring this service in quiet protest, a third to a half of the
congregation wore red armbands indicating support of Civil Rights activist,
U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-Ga.), whose invitation to address the
gathering was rescinded in December because of his stance favoring abortion
rights. Many also signed a petition in favor of organizing a forum to discuss
why the invitation was rescinded. A representative from the Office for Black
Catholic Ministry had invited the congressman last summer.
The Archbishop James P. Lyke Memorial Mass Choir, the combined choirs of
African-American churches in the archdiocese, opened the event with "This
Is the Day" and then led the congregation of young and old in songs
including "Keep the Dream Alive" and "A City Called
Heaven." Members of the Knights of St. Peter Claver processed into the
church along with members of the ladies' auxiliary, who wore white dresses,
hats and gloves.
Howard Brown, director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministry, read from
King's "Where Do We Go From Here" speech. He read "most
understood by those who have it not ... Birthright of every child of God,
freedom is the heart's pulse, the life's breath, the spirit's joy ... the
foundation of law and love." Representing the African-American, Anglo and
Hispanic communities, readers spoke on justice and freedom, racism and peace,
reading from Scripture, a U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter on racism and other
sources.
Rudy Cadney, a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta,
proclaimed King's words, "When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good
men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to
perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real
order of justice."
The archbishop spoke of King as a man of great virtue and faith who rose
above his sins through Christ. He spoke of how King believed any complete
person must have love of self, neighbor and God working harmoniously together.
Brilliantly practicing what he preached, he said King was a great scholar
"with an incredible mind," as well as a devoted family man and
leader.
"For his life became one long embrace of the human family. Many times,
in speeches and articles and interviews, to old, middle-aged, and to very young
people, he said: 'If I can help somebody, then my living will not be in
vain!'"
The archbishop said that King's faith fashioned his life's design.
"His faith was not in a passive, but in an active God, one who
intervenes, and one who tests the words of men and women. He believed that the
Creator of man endows every human being with a mission, and, in the end, asks
each of us for an account of what we have done with our lives," he said.
"Dr. King also believed that God helps us-reaches down to inspire us, to
sustain us, to satisfy our restless natures by giving us the power to
change--to become better and to become whole."
He urged Catholics to follow King's example.
"By combining a life of study and work and service to human beings, and
by submitting all to the watchful eye of a strong and active God-by doing these
things religiously, Martin Luther King completed the triangle of his
life," he concluded. "Martin Luther King challenges us to meditate on
and to accept these three dimensions of life. We must know ourselves, we must
live for others, and we must lift our souls to a keen awareness of God on high.
To accomplish this, Dr. King consciously became an imitator of Christ."
Peace and Justice Awards were then presented to those who in the past year
gave outstanding service to their parishes and communities.
Brian-Allen Baytop, president of the Newman Club at Atlanta University
Center, received an award for recently coordinating the program "Talented
Tenth," a scholarship-based essay program for high school black males. He
also coordinates mentors for youth in the Students Seeking Excellence Program
(STEPS). Spelman College student Janelle Layne, also with the AUC Newman Club,
was recognized for her work as president and coordinator of STEPS, which she
has been involved with for four years. Another Spelman College student and
Newman Center member, Mercedes Harris, was honored for her work with its
Service Saturday Program to feed the homeless and hungry and tutor youth in
computers at Friendship Baptist Church.
Ruth Reams, a parishioner at St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Atlanta, received
an award for her service as parish president of the St. Vincent de Paul
Society, while Sal Messina accepted an award on behalf of SVDP at St. George
Church, Newnan. Janice Griffin of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Atlanta, was
honored for work as organizer of the parish's AIDS ministry and the late Bernie
Bourdon was recognized for beginning a Meals on Wheels program in Rockdale
County. Also known as Santa Claus, for years he collected toys and gave them to
children through various charity organizations at Christmas.
Curt Kedley, of Christ Our King and Savior Church, Greensboro, and its
mission church in Sparta, was recognized for his outreach of "The Helping
Hands" of Hancock County.
Brenda Kelly, a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta, was
honored for her volunteer work with the Office for Black Catholic Ministry,
Habitat for Humanity and several programs for the homeless. She's an altar
server coordinator, recording secretary of the Knights of Peter Claver,
eucharistic minister, religious education teacher and has crafted banners for
various parish programs and made altar linens, choir robes and costumes for
parish children.
Following the service, Kelly said softly when asked about the recognition,
"I do things just to do them. I like to help with what I do quietly. It's
a surprise. There are more people that do (more) things than I do."
Kelly said the service, which she attends yearly, was a deeply meaningful
celebration of freedom, and that she easily recalled darker high school days
during the Civil Rights Movement when she lacked freedom to try on clothes at
stores, go to certain restaurants and travel to certain areas of town.
"I've seen a lot of changes in my day. I don't have to go through the
same things I had to go through. Each day you can do more and more and
contribute more and more and you can fulfill your dreams as long as you stick
to it," she said. The service "is like a renewal of hope that it
(King's message)-hasn't stopped. It's not something from the 60's. It's
something that continues each day."
At a reception following the Mass, attendees spoke about King's influence on
them. Brown said he frequently reads King's writings and most deeply admires
his nonviolent approach. He often remembers his teachings in facing situations
in his ministry.
"'If I can help somebody then my life shall not be in vain.' That's my
perspective on life and that (King) quote continues to inspire me in the
ministry and in my work every day," he said. "When we serve people in
need I think it's God's face we see."
Brown said he hopes more people will read King's teachings on peace and
social justice in order to educate their children, as well as studying pastoral
documents on racism, a sin caused by ignorance. He hopes church leaders will
also work to educate their parishioners.
Jenny Karns, St. Pius X High School campus minister, noted the importance of
King's legacy to all.
"I don't believe the work he (King) did was just for the black
community but it was for the people of faith who desire to see God's kingdom
reign. It's just great to be here with the black Catholic community, to
celebrate with them."
St. Pius is having an assembly next week to honor King, Karns said, and that
she will take students to silent marches in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., to
protest abortion, which reflects King's belief in nonviolent protest and equal
rights for all.
Cadney, who works in an employee mediation intervention program for the
government, said King's message of nonviolence and love of community influences
his work as he helps people work out conflicts peacefully and empower
themselves.
"The spiritually-guided life that (King lived) is an inspiration-his
belief that God's power and the Holy Spirit provide the guidance that we need,
whatever the circumstance, and his embodiment of that spiritual guidance and
strength of spirit ... My sense is everything that I do is bringing that
sensitivity of equal rights, equal justice, that righting of wrong wherever it
exists" and living his message of universal peace.
When people can work through their differences, it empowers all and embraces
King's nonviolent theme, Cadney said.
"It speaks about the love of community that Dr. King speaks
about."
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