“Order our steps in the way of peace.” This is the theme for the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration that will take place on Jan. 16, at Holy Cross Church at 10:30 a.m. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will preside and our guest homilist will be Father Brian Guadalupe Walker, OP. 

Father Walker has spent the majority of his priestly years working in inner city and bilingual parishes from Los Angeles to Chicago and many places in between. He has lectured from coast to coast on working in bilingual settings and tolerance and understanding in ministry. Being a member of the Order of Preachers, popularly known as the Dominicans, Father Walker spends extensive time preaching on how we can better our lives and develop our relationships with all God’s people. 

The Mass choir will perform under the direction of Lynda Martin. During the Mass, the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship recipients will be present and receive recognition for their accomplishment. 

The Alpha y Omega liturgical dancers will also be participating in the prelude of the Mass. Everyone is welcome to come and join us in this celebration of the life and legacy of this great man of peace.

In 1967, King delivered a speech at a church in New York City entitled “Beyond Vietnam: a Time to Break Silence.” He spoke about receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and how he felt a greater responsibility and a stronger commitment to work harder for the “brotherhood of man.” He said, “I would yet have to live with the meaning of my commitment to the ministry of Jesus Christ. To me the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why I’m speaking against the war.” 

The theme of the celebration asks the Lord to guide us so that our actions are toward peace. It is a challenge for us to pray and be aware of what the Lord is calling us to do today, in this world, so that we can be at peace and to help others’ lives become more peaceful. It is as King said, a greater responsibility and commitment for working toward peace. 

If Martin Luther King Jr. was alive, what are some of the issues and concerns he would be addressing today? They would be those issues and concerns which the Lord would be inviting us to get involved in. We would be joining the United States Conference of Bishops and supporting the work they are doing for the immigration reform.

We would be reaching out to the youth who are being bullied or who are bullying. We would be looking for ways of supporting the many who are suffering in our families and in our communities.

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Much diversity in Advent and Christmas celebrations

Cultural Diversity: Prepare the way of the Lord