By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world not with force, but with the power of his voice.”
So stated the opening sentence of the Jan. 19 post on Sacred Heart School’s Facebook page. The post went on to describe the Mount Holly Catholic school’s observance of the federal holiday that honored the life and achievements of the slain civil rights leader.
Participating in a school-wide lesson, “I Can Change the World With My Words,” Sacred Heart students were each given a paper brick and asked to write a personal message of hope and kindness. The bricks were then assembled into Walls of Inspiration, providing a visual reminder of how the students’ words can bring about change in their world and communities.
Parishes and other schools in the Diocese joined in the national remembrance of Dr. King by conducting special projects and works of service.
The artistic skills of preschoolers in St. Dominic School, Brick, highlighted the school’s Facebook page Jan. 19. A photo shows the students holding pictures they drew and colored in of Dr. King interacting with people. There’s even one showing Dr. King standing before a cross. Accompanying the photo is the phrase, “PreKB wishes everyone peace, love and harmony on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!”
Doing works of service has become a Martin Luther King Day tradition for at least three parish communities.
The gym in St. Mary of the Lakes School, Medford, was bustling Jan. 19 as young people from both the parish and school worked in assembly-line fashion to prepare lunches for people in need. Tables were set up with groups making sandwiches, packaging them and getting them ready for delivery. Some groups also worked on making blankets to distribute along with the food packages. The blankets were made by tying fleece panels together.
The scene was similar in Hoffman Hall of Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, where more than 100 people, including parents and children from the Living In Faith Together (LIFT) Family Faith Formation program, gathered for the parish’s fourth annual Day of Service, according to Donna Remaley, director of faith formation. In all they made some 260 sandwiches and more than 1,000 utensil packets; created 40 centerpieces and colored about 50 placemats to be given to Cathedral Kitchen in Camden.
“Even though it snowed, we had more people come out this year to serve than in any other previous year,” Remaly said of the parish effort that began about four years ago. She added that among the workers was Father Michael McClane, pastor, who led the gathering in prayer and joined his parishioners in all aspects of the day.
Sleeves were also rolled up Nov. 19 in the parish hall of Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, where Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, pastor, and parishioners prepared bags of food to be distributed to people of the area in need the following day.
The special prayer for Martin Luther King Day that was published in the parish bulletin added to the day’s significance:
“Lord God, You led your chosen people from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. We ask you to lead us, this Sacred Heart Parish Community, from any enslavement to hatred, ignorance, fear, racism, injustice or anything else that prevents us from being the community of love and respect that you want us to be. We remember with gratitude especially this month, the witness of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and we ask that we have the courage and determination to follow his example in battling injustice and living the Gospel of love. Help us, Lord, to make ever more the community you want us to be. Grant all this through Christ our Lord, Amen.”