Black Catholic Ministry Commission, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Every year the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service is held in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). This year the 28th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service was held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Saturday, January 19 2019. Sister Patricia Rogers O P, the speaker, is the Executive Director of the Dominican Center for Women, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The topic was “A Testimony of Hope” an essay written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Before we heard from the speaker, the Call to Worship Minister, invited us to listen attentively to the readings during the Prayer Service which were from the letters of St. Paul to the Romans and to the Colossians. These readings called us to stay grounded in the hope that was preached in the gospel and that hope does not disappoint “because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit”.
Sister Patricia Rogers O P, reminded us that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about ending racial hatred on a global level which can be applied on a national and local level. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “It takes a genuine revolution of values, which means that loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to humankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their societies. This call for worldwide fellowship that delivers neighborly concerns beyond one’s tribe, race, class and nation is in all reality a call for an all embracing of unconditional love for all. Love is the supreme unifying principle of life. Let us love one another. If we love one another, God dwells in us and God’s love is perfected in us”.
Between 200 to 250 attended including children, teenagers, college students, parishioners from all over the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and also people from other faith traditions. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service does offer an opportunity for evangelization as those from other faith traditions can witness how important it is for all of us to pray together and continue to be a source of love for one another.
Many participants commented that they look forward to attending the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service each year because it is an opportunity for the Milwaukee Community to gather in prayer to hear the speaker challenge them to examine their actions to be a source of peace and love for all people.
