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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1989)
Dr. King Mass Celebrated . (Continued from page 1) that most ultimate sin, despair before the promise of God. And he fought sin and evil, finding his strength in the beatitudes of the Gospel which were written in his heart.” The archbishop said Dr. King’s life “was anchored in the non-violent life lived by Jesus of Nazareth and similarly, his death was a self-abandonment into the truth of his life.” His last years were rich in pro phetic utterance and sometimes righteous indignation, but he spoke with the convic tion of an apostle, the archbishop con tinued. “The mystery of death and resurrection Was gratefully admitted and pondered by Martin in his speaking and his writing,” said the archbishop. “.... The dream that was Dr. King’s becomes our dream and the fire of our lives. His words and wisdom become the enlightenment of our countenance and his quest ignites a refor mation in our own times. The person who freely regards and accepts the lessons of his life must of necessity shed the withered and outdated prejudices of a former time ^nd become clothed anew with the mystery of God’s love for life.” Archbishop Marino concluded his homi ly by quoting from Dr. King’s writing on his own struggle: “.... Recognizing the necessity for suf fering I have tried to make of it a virtue. If only to save myself from bitterness I have attempted to see my personal ordeals as an opportunity to transfigure myself and heal the people involved in the tragic situa tion which now obtains. I have lived these last few years with the conviction that unearned suffering is redemptive. There are some who still find the cross a stum bling block, others consider it foolishness but I am more convinced than ever before that it is the power of God unto social and individual salvation. So like the Apostle Paul I can now humbly yet proudly say, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” In a prelude to the splendor of the liturgy, the sun emerged from behind heavy gray clouds and flooded through the shrine’s stained glass windows. The hush ed congregation relived memories as soft verses of the choir’s “We Shall Overcome” drifted through the crowded church through the closed doors to the vestibule. The same singers, wearing robes of their parish choirs, led participants into the church. With the congregation joining in singing “Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory” the procession unfolded in a pageant: two liturgical dancers in red, green and black; bearers carrying aloft multi-colored ban ners of the commission and its member parishes; Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver in black and white, and finally, the robed altar servers, deacons, priests and archbishop. Father Bruce Wilkinson, pastor of St. Anthony’s, Atlanta, was master of ceremony for the archbishop. Deacons on the altar were Joseph Barker and Vincent Bathea. Among priest concelebrants were: Father John Adamski, pastor of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Father Joseph Aquino, M.S., pastor of Most Bless Saint Thomas More Catholic School 630 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue Decatur, Georgia 30030 National School of Excellence •Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated during the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 3 with Open School all week. Come visit us, observe in the classrooms from 9:00-11:00 and 1:30-2:30. A special Open House and .Information Night will take place on Jan. 30. Visit with teachers 7:00-7:30, Information in school cafeteria 7:35. Registration for all grades: Feb. 6-17 from 9:30-11:30 - 1:30-2:30. Baptismal and birth certificates are necessary. PAGE 11 — The Georgia Bulletin, January 19,1989 REMEMBERING MLK — Archbishop Marino delivers his homily at the sixth annual Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A view of the combined choir is shown in the photo above. ed Sacrament, Atlanta; Father Thomas Brislin, C.P., pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, Atlanta; Father Richard Wise, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, Decatur, and Father Michael Woods, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Hapeville. Other priests and deacons of the archdiocese also con- celebrated. Lectors were Paula Broussard-Smith of St. Anthony’s, and Bettye Jennings, of St. John the Evangelist. Roland Gibson of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, was worship leader. At the conclusion of the music-rich liturgy, the congregation joined the choir in singing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Music coordinator and director was Alphonso Nuckles of St. Paul of the Cross. Other directors were Walter Boone, Sts. Peter and Paul; Dr. Edward Bridges, St. John the Evangelist, and Victoria Jackson, St. Anthony’s. Cantors were Michelle Todd, Michael Malcolm and Walter Boone. Father Wilkinson is priest-secretary of the Commission for Black Catholic Con cerns. Rhonywn Rogers is director of the archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics. A reception followed the Mass. r
