Bishop Edward Malesic will celebrate a Mass marking the legacy of the late civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. The Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website or it can be viewed later on demand.
The liturgy, which is sponsored by the Shepherding Committee of the diocesan Office for Ministry with African American Catholics, will take place on the national celebration of Rev. King’s birthday, which is a national holiday. The Diocesan Gospel Choir will provide choral accompaniment.
As the nation celebrates Rev. King’s life, there is an opportunity to reflect on his legacy and to recommit ourselves to the Gospel message he preached of love, mutual respect and the dignity of the human person.
Rev. King, a Baptist minister and activist, became the most visible spokesman and leader in the nation’s civil rights movement. Before his assassination on April 4, 1968, he received numerous awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in recognition of his efforts to advance civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, which were inspired by his Christian beliefs.
He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his best-known speech, “I Have a Dream,” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
The commemoration of Rev. King’s legacy should help us remember his courage and sacrifice as well as sharing his dream of together building a community of unity, peace and hope rooted in a deep respect for all.