Archdiocese of Detroit Office of Black Catholic Ministry/Cultural Ministries
Over 600 people filled the sanctuary of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Detroit for its annual Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir Concert. The BCMGCC kicks off Black Catholic History Month celebration in SE Michigan.
This year's theme was “Wonderful is Your Name.” The choir committee reflected on Psalm 8:1,” O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” One audience member said the concert brought joy and “ministered” to her. She added that she felt the presence of Jesus in the house.
The annual Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir Concert featured musicians from various Catholic parishes and organizations throughout southeast Michigan.
God’s Vision for Humanity
On a cold winter morning in Detroit (8 degrees with below 0 windchills), nearly 400 individuals faced the weather to attend the annual Holy Mass for Justice and Peace in Gratitude for the Life, Work and Example of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Holy Mass was offered at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The celebrant was Bishop Emerita John M. Quinn. In his homily, he reflected on the racial injustices in the 1950s and 1960s in the US, including within our local Catholic Churches, where some parishes divided the congregation, where Blacks could only receive Holy Communion after whites.
“Dr. King knew that is not God's vision for humanity,” Bishop Quinn said. “And yet he (MLK) and many others, including those gathered here today, commit themselves to bettering our world.”
Mr Keir Ward, music minister at Sacred Heart Parish, Detroit, and music instructor at Detroit Cristo Rey High School, directed the gospel choir. Deacons Michael Heard and Sidney Johnson served mass. Special thanks to the Cathedral and Sacred Heart Major Seminary for helping to make the mass memorable.
