Atlanta Catholics Celebrate King’s Dream and God's Teaching by Welcoming the Stranger Among Us!
Atlanta, GA – For more than two decades, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, Office for Black Catholic Ministry, has had the great honor to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s annual weekend celebration will be held on January 13 and 14, 2007. In addition to the weekend celebration events, they are holding a ‘Warm Nights’ clothing drive, a joint service initiative between the Office for Black Catholic Ministry and Catholic Charities, for the emergency assistance program of Catholic Charities. The theme for this year’s celebration is “We Welcome the Stranger Among Us!”
“We believe that these words express the essence of our faith and are timely reminders of one of the pressing vicissitudes of contemporary life, and the considerable challenge it poses to our faith commitment and practice,” said Charles O. Prejean, Sr., director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry in Atlanta.
“In reminding ourselves of these challenges and the requisites of our faith, may we be moved to petition our Heavenly Father to strengthen our resolve to live our faith, with an increased capacity to love our neighbor, especially to love and welcome our neighbor the newcomer in our midst,” Prejean said. “We pray for His guidance to reach a comprehensive resolution to the challenge in this regard, one that will enable us to build Dr. King’s Beloved Community.”
MLK Weekend Agenda
23rd Annual MLK Eucharistic Service
Date: January 13, 2007 Time: 1-3 PM
Location:
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - 48 Mlk Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303
Directions to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Principal Celebrant:
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Homilist:
Reverend Stephen D. Thorne, Director of the Office for Black Catholics, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Master of Ceremonies:
Reverend Ricardo Xavier-Zatwon Bailey, Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Catholic Church
5Th Annual MLK Youth Celebration
Date: January 14, 2007 Time: 3-5 PM
Location:
St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School - 2560 Tilson Road, Decatur, GA 30032
Directions to St. Peter Claver Catholic School Gym
Keynote Speaker:
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Master of Ceremonies:
Reverend Bruce Wilkinson, Pastor, Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Performers include inspirational and moving dance, theatrical and musical performances from:
- William N. Thomas, IV, Young Adult Poet
- Amazing Grace Liturgical Dance Company
- Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Choir
- Malaysian Association of Georgia, Inc. Cultural Dance Team
- Kyleah Starling, St. Pius X Catholic High School & Corpus Christi Catholic Church
- St. Thomas More Catholic School Kindergarten Choir
- Gambian Christian Peoples Association Chorale Group
- St. Thomas Aquinas Hispanic Choir
- St. Thomas the Apostle Hispanic Dance Team
- St. Jude’s Brazilian Dancers
- Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Youth Choir
- St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School Concert Choir
- St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Youth Group
- Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Youth Group
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Youth Group
- St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church Youth Group
1st Annual MLK Young Adult Talk & Social
Date: January 14, 2007 Time: 8-11 PM
Location:
Shout Restaurant (Bamboo Room) – 1197 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30361
Directions to Shout Restaurant
Keynote Speaker:
Reverend Roy Lee, Ed.D., Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Master of Ceremonies:
Paula Cadavid, Representative, Office for Hispanic Ministry
Social Service Initiative
The ‘Warm Nights’ clothing drive, a joint service initiative between the Office for Black Catholic Ministry and Catholic Charities, is requesting donations of new or clean used hats, scarves or coats. The clothing collected will be used by the emergency assistance program of Catholic Charities. Clothing donations can be dropped off at either the MLK Eucharistic Service or the MLK Youth and Young Adult Celebration.
About the Archdiocese of Atlanta - The Archdiocese of Atlanta was created on February 21, 1962, from the Diocese of Atlanta which was established on July 2, 1956. The archdiocese encompasses 21,445 square miles in north Georgia. www.archatl.com
About the Office for Black Catholic Ministry (OBCM) - The Evangelization Mission of the Office for Black Catholic Ministry is to enable the sisters and brothers of the African Diaspora in the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta to share their unique salvation histories and God-given gifts with each other, others from the faith community as well as the broader human family, for the purpose of bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth. www.obcmatl.org
For More Information
For more information, please contact:
Charles O. Prejean, Sr.
Director, Office for Black Catholic Ministry
Phone: 404.888.7848
E-mail: cprjean@archatl.com
John C. Phillips
Special Assistant, Office for Black Catholic Ministry
Phone: 404.885.7283
E-mail: jphillips@archatl.com
Media Contacts
Media outlets planning to attend the January 13th Eucharistic Service are asked to contact the Office of Black Catholic Ministry at 404.888.7848 / 404.885.7283 or Dexter Chambers at 404.392.0159.