Included in the pictures sent from our Diocese this month, are those of the National Black Catholic History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, Community Day and Day of Service. For the first time in the National Black Catholic History Month Celebration, that was held at St. Martin de Porres Church in the Diocese of Buffalo, we had a monologue done by Mary Craig on the life of Sister Thea Bowman. The Actress herself learn so much about Sister Thea’s life and was so appreciative, that we chose her to do this reenactment. It was an awesome experience. The celebration began with Mass celebrated by Fr. Peter and followed by the reenactment, then a reception. The Saint Martin de Porres choir provided the music under the direction of Ellen Robinson.
In January we held the Martin Luther King Jr. Mass celebration followed by the Community day and the Day of Service. The following is what was written about this celebration in our Diocesan paper the Western New York Catholic written by Donna Mitchell:
Living in the spirit of God was the key message at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass celebrated at Blessed Trinity Church in Buffalo on Sunday, Jan, 20. The homily was candid and had a realistic, timely, authentic delivery. Father Loiacono said, “Dr. King not only spoke for his people but for all people who were struggling under discrimination and exploitation”’ He also mentioned that “Dr. King inspired one of the most righteous movements in that era” and “to really be people of the Kingdom of God, and to really understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, look at Dr. King’s life. He did it in the flesh by what he said and by what he did, up to the moment he gave the full measure of what he was, and what he stood for; up until he was assassinated in April 1968.” After the special Eucharistic Celebration, the program concluded with awards to scholarship recipients and a reception. Before departing Father Ibhawa was asked his view on the importance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in today’s chaos and culture? He replied, “Looking at the theme of today’s celebration displayed living in the Spirit. What is that Spirit? It is the Spirit of God’s love that inspired Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King to fight for equality, to fight against discrimination, to fight against AIDS, and to fight for justice and peace. I think Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was really inspired by the words of Jesus from John 15:13-14 which states: ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.’ And, he did that in his struggle for life, peace and justice.
