Catholics from around the state gathered at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in downtown Little Rock to celebrate the 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Mass Jan. 15.
Father Warren Harvey, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce and Holy Cross Church in Sheridan, celebrated the Mass, and Msgr. John O’Donnell, a retired priest in Little Rock, gave the homily.
“And we honor (Dr. King) with a birthday gift, nothing can be better than to re-dedicate and re-consecrate ourselves, as Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Islamic, to the principles of peace and justice, respect, cooperation with and for all people as children of the same God and of the same world. Is that so difficult?” Msgr. O’Donnell said during the homily.
Msgr. O’Donnell drew a correlation between tragedies, such as the recent Tucson shooting rampage at a meet-and-greet with a congresswoman, the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and the Holocaust, and the evil that destroyed lives throughout history, which he referred to as the “slouching beast.”
“We are here this weekend to remind ourselves that we as a nation have many beasts,” he said. “The Lord comforts his people and he shows mercy in spite of the slouching beast, whoever he may be this time. I want you to think about that in the days to come.”
The Mass is sponsored by the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics, which celebrates the difference King made in the lives of black Catholics and other marginalized people, and as a reminder that more work is still needed for civil rights and equality for all people.
The DCBC also presents the Daniel Rudd Award every year at the Mass to honor a black Catholic who is active and has made a difference in his or her parish. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor presented Bernard Greenhouse of St. Peter Church in Pine Bluff with the award at the end of Mass.
“As dedicated member of the Catholic Church for 78 years, I feel really grateful to receive this honor and that my family could be here with me as I received this award. I’m proud to serve my community and my Church,” he said.
Greenwood has served as an altar server, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, van driver and cook, as well as supporting parish, school and diocesan projects. He is also known as Santa Claus at the St. Peter School Christmas plays.
