Each year, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Diocese of Raleigh honors and remembers the incredible legacy of Dr. King by celebrating a Mass for the preservation of peace and justice. This year, though crowds were light due to COVID-19, the hearts of those who attended and organized this event were full, and the messages shared were powerful.
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama processed into Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral accompanied by the powerful lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The words of the song, which is sometimes called the “Black National Anthem,” were especially poignant in light of the many struggles of the past year.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Father Marco Leon was homilist for the celebration. He reflected on how he was impacted by Monsignor Thomas Paul Hadden (1929 - 2012). Father Leon says he saw Monsignor Hadden shed tears of joy when the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte came together to celebrate African American cultural heritage.
Monsignor Hadden was the first Black seminarian at the North American College in Rome. He was a beloved pastor for the Diocese of Raleigh and was an exceptional leader for social justice.
Father Leon compared the work of Monsignor Hadden to that of Dr. King and challenged the faithful to follow their example of love.
“We can sit … and say, 'God help us.' Or we can stand and move forward to a new beginning. The decision is ours," Father Leon said. “What can we do today to bring all of us together as one to move forward and to give to our children a better future?”
In his closing remarks, Bishop Luis Rafael noted Dr. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech. “I think to be able to dream … we have to have hope,” Bishop Luis said.
Echoing the challenge Father Leon set forth in his homily, Bishop Luis added, “We have a responsibility to make a difference, to follow the example of Jesus and Martin Luther King and make a difference -- for a better country, a better state, a better church and a better family.”
Tristan Evans, coordinator for the African Ancestry and Evangelization Network, says that he knows he is the benefactor of the hard work done in the past. He hopes that celebrations like the Mass for the preservation of peace and justice will not only serve to honor the legacy of civil rights leaders but will continue to inspire and remind people that the work is not complete.
“We must always remember that whenever there is injustice in the world that we are in that fight as well with our brothers and sisters regardless of who they are,” he said.