Improving Race Relations Through Stepping Out Of Church Worship Comfort Zones and using Racial Sobriety as a model.

Pic: Keith (top row, right) with the Diversity Unity Diocesan Corpus Christi Prayer Service Choir, St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge, LA, June 3 2018.

As we are in the cusp of many great opportunities and challenges, I am very hopeful - especially at the prospects for improving race relations in our beloved Red Stick Community.

What a blessing it was in 2016 for my wife and me to join the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Faith Community - and for me to be a part of the SFX Men's 8 AM Choir as a non-traditional member.

Sometimes, as noted by the great Community Mentor, Maxine Crump, who is also the President and CEO of Dialogue On Race Louisiana (https://dialogueonracelouisiana.org/), we all need to step outside of our comfort zones to help diminish the most segregated day of the week: Sunday, at worship!

It was so cool in the past that the Rev. Edward Chiffriller, S.S.J., Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, mentioned about the neat book, "Racial Sobriety - A Journey From Hurts To Healing" work by Fr. Clarence Williams, CPPS, Ph.D (http://www.racialsobriety.com/); maybe this could be one of those "One Book/ One Community" Library promoted reads?

“Racial Sobriety is a commitment to see each person as my brother or sister.”

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, as well as the Rev. Jeff Day and the Rev. Robin McCullough-Bade with the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.

The NAACP in the past had 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.”

Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Prayer Care, LLC