African Ancestry Ministry
On Monday, January 20, many parishioners throughout the Diocese of Raleigh gathered at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral to celebrate the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice, which also commemorates the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The powerful homily given by Father Andrew McNair reminded all in attendance that scripture states "blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" and that without justice we have no peace, especially with the evil and injustice of racism.
"The fight against racism, my brothers and sisters, demands an examination of conscience," said Father McNair in his homily. “In the presence of God, we must constantly examine our attitudes, our thoughts, and our behaviors to see if they are compatible with God’s vision of the human person. This calls for an attitude of constant conversion to God’s love and his divine mercy.”
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama also brought to the congregation's attention the many races and cultures that were present at this celebration, modeling the love Jesus calls us to in unity. Adding exuberance to the celebration were the well known gospel hymns led by a combined choir from the Raleigh Catholic Gospel Choir and the diocesan African Ancestry and Evangelization choir.
https://dioceseofraleigh.org/news/diocese-nation-mark-martin-luther-king-jr-day
