The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
sponsored an Ecumenical Prayer Service in Commemoration of the 50thAnniversary of the Assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 23
at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, Ga.
The presiding minister was The
Most Reverend Dr. Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta. Guest speakers also included Bishop H. Julian Gordy,
D.D.; Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, Ph.D; The Right Rev. Don A. Wimberly, D.D.; and
The Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a native son of Atlanta. The speeches made by the clergy for the special occasion were informative and persuasive. All in all, the event was very
inspiring except for some references to “dark” being synonymous with "bad" and
"dreary" which some consider a negative connotation when referring to people of
color.
Each speech was prefaced by musical selections from the AMA Choir, Our Lady of Mercy High School; Choir of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and the Cathedral Choir of Christ the King. A reception followed in Kenny Hall.
Something to consider: We are looking for new leaders to carry out King's message and God's promise who are protected and not used as targets. We need to change the old Negro spiritual to, "We shall overcome TODAY."
Some key points from event:
Deeper issues of race plague our country, but King had the gift of forgiveness and a realistic hope. Keep hope
alive.
MLK was a servant leader who shattered the southern system of segregation and provided a new dimension of dignity for Black Americans. Gwendolyn Brooks said he was a "prose poem."
"Martin Luther King Jr."
By Gwendolyn Brooks
By Gwendolyn Brooks
A man went forth with gifts.
He was a prose poem.
He was a prose poem.
He was a tragic grace.
He was a warm music.
He was a warm music.
He tried to heal the vivid volcanoes.
His ashes are
reading the world.
His Dream still wishes to anoint
the barricades of faith and or control.
His ashes are
reading the world.
His Dream still wishes to anoint
the barricades of faith and or control.
His word still burns the center of the sun,
above the thousands and the
hundred thousands.
The word was Justice. It was spoken.
So it shall be spoken.
above the thousands and the
hundred thousands.
The word was Justice. It was spoken.
So it shall be spoken.
So it shall be done.
We must follow Nonviolent Commandments:
Meditate.
Seek
justice.
Walk in God's love.
Pray daily
to free all men.
Sacrifice
personal wishes.
Be
courteous.
Serve others.
Serve others.
Refrain
from violence.
Be in good
health.
Follow the Captain.
The
ultimate measure of man is how he stands in challenge and controversy. Remain steadfast. We must
have a role larger than ourselves.
God will fulfill His promise.
 |
| Fr. Panayiotis (c) poses with family and international guests at reception following event. |
Many have heard MLK's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Speech, but not his lecture. Listen at: https://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=2586
For a full view of the service, go to: https://vimeo.com/266522788
W. says: Excellent coverage of the event!! From my perspective - and maybe many others, Dr. King was almost the dictionary equivalent of a charismatic leader. A rare combination of education, personality, and charisma, coupled with education and his magnificent gift of speech.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for you Tomi... is it possible that our communities are failing to consider new leaders emerging from places other than the church, or other so-called civic institutions? I'm just wondering.
I catch your drift... churches are "organized" in a traditional sense.
DeleteBut leadership can come from anywhere, even Black Lives Matter...
I think we need to have our "leaders" come from more than churches,
educational institutions, and entertainment...
In other countries, leaders do not always come from the elite class
or religious orders... thing is we need to have good leaders AND
good followers who don't sell out or are used as targets and when
they fail or are killed, the movement suffers.
Got to get organized!