By Sandra Lopez | Special contributor

In honor of the memory and legacy of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., parishioners in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, joined their rector, Father Joseph Roldan, Jan. 16 in a day of community service.

Parish volunteers, comprising a multicultural workforce of all ages, worked side-by-side to beautify a local park in front of the cathedral. The day began at 10 a.m. with a prayer service centered on the Gospel mandate to serve others, and on Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice and service.

Following several hours of work picking weeds and trimming trees, cleaning up litter and hauling away bags of garbage, volunteers enjoyed a hot lunch together, prepared by a second group of parish volunteers who remained inside cooking while the other group was outside cleaning – all in response to the Gospel, and with a question in mind considered by Dr. King as the most important question to ask of oneself:  “What are you doing for others? “ 

The Department of Multicultural Ministry would like to invite more parishes to consider accepting this invitation to make MLK Day a “day on, not a day off!” in 2013.  For more information about how your parish can host a day of service in 2013, go to the website:  www.dioceseoftrenton.org, select “Espanol” then “Department of Multicultural Ministry” then “Events” then, “January 16, Martin Luther King Jr., Day of Service” for the downloadable tool-kit with everything your parish needs to host this great event, or call: Deanna Sass, Director of the Department of Multicultural Ministry at: 609-403-7189 for more information.

Sandra Lopez serves as administrative assistant in the diocesan Department of Multicultural Ministry.