Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be remembered in a Mass and program this weekend in Pittsburgh as the nation honors the influential civil rights leader. A Mass for Peace and Justice will be celebrated at Saint Paul Cathedral on Sunday at 10 a.m. Livestream this Mass here.
Following the Mass, at 2 p.m., the Race and Reconciliation Dialogue Group of the Cathedral Parish will present its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program in a virtual format. Young liturgical dancers will perform the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a speech from the Honorable Dwayne Woodruff.
Students from the faith formation classes of Saint Mary Magdalene Parish participated in an essay and poster contest based on the program’s 2021 theme, The Dream Lives On Through Us. The winning entries will be presented.
“This is a time for all of us to lift up in prayer our great desire, through God’s grace, to build a civilization of life and love, a world that protects and defends every human life,” said Father Kris Stubna, rector of Saint Paul Cathedral. “I want to highlight the ongoing work of the Race and Reconciliation Dialogue Group and their tremendous efforts to build bridges of unity, reconciliation, respect and love among all people.”
Program co-chair Judy Saunders added, “If Dr. King were here today, he would take the same position as Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned in South Africa for 27 years. We have to reconcile our differences, show each other kindness, generosity and peace, and move on.”
“As Catholics, we should value the church-centered and prayer-based movement that Martin Luther King led for basic human rights,” said Father Matthew Hawkins, parochial vicar of Saint Mary Magdalene and Benedict the Moor parishes in Pittsburgh. “King’s movement not only asserted the dignity of people who were treated by the law as less than human, he also declared the dignity and humanity of those who opposed him. Recent tragic events demonstrate what happens when we don’t live by these values.”
To access the 2 p.m. program, please email mlkprogram2021@gmail.com to receive a Zoom link and additional information.