Keeping Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" alive and active in our lives ... and recalling another great local Civil Rights pioneer, Rev. Mary Edith Moody ... both continue to encourage all of us to promote the ongoing opening of dialogue for better race relations ....
Montage Pic: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Keith John Paul Horcasitas, Rev. Linda Reed, Maria Horcasitas, Rev. Mary Edith Moody
January 16, 2021
With today being recognized as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance," I'm reminded of another late and great pioneer in the Civil Rights movement who continues to help me to keep the "I Have A Dream" alive and in action.
A great role model for all of us to follow in working to dialogue better on race relations is my dear and late friend and Community Activist and Mentor, the Rev. Mary Edith Moody, whom I was blessed to meet through Rev. Dana Krutz with the Louisiana Interchurch Conference (LIC), as well as the Rev. Jeff Day and the Rev. Robin McCullough-Bade with the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
Many local civic and clergy leaders noted how critical Rev. Moody's presence and guidance facilitated the Citizens’ Task Force that worked to resolve the Consent Decree and improve Race Relations in the region. Fellow Task Force members had noted that when all attempts at consensus had failed, Rev. Moody initiated prayer and, as she had always been noted by her “gracious assertiveness,” she got people back on tract!
Let me end with the Baton Rouge Diocesan Prayer for Racial Harmony … which we usually read at every Mass at St. Francis Xavier at the end of the Prayers of Petition:
“God our Father, You call us to love one another as You have loved us. We pray for the conversion of hearts in our Diocese of Baton Rouge to bring about racial harmony rooted in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, strip us of our pride, mistrust and prejudices, so that we may be able to dialogue with one another to build communities where justice, peace and love flourish. We ask these blessings trusting in the infinite mercy of Jesus and the intercession of Mary our Mother. Amen.”
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