Florida Catholic | Ecumenical Service

Ecumenical service recalls life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Published: 01.25.08

MIAMI | Plant trees of hope, love, unity, grace and optimism, Father Patrick O’Neil, director of the archdiocesan office of interfaith relations, urged participants at the 21st annual prayer service in honor of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“That’s what Dr. King and Rosa Parks did,” he said. “We can now sit in the shade of trees planted by those who sacrificed.”

Leona Cooper, founder of the St. Martin de Porres Association for black Catholics, receives the Peace and Unity Award from Archbishop John C. Favalora.

MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Leona Cooper, founder of the St. Martin de Porres Association for black Catholics, receives the Peace and Unity Award from Archbishop John C. Favalora.

Each year, the archdiocese and the St. Martin de Porres Association, an organization of black lay Catholics, sponsors the event. The association is named for a 16th century saint and patron of black Catholics.

During the event, the association presents its Peace and Unity Award to an individual in recognition of service to the community. This year, the association’s own president and founder, Leona Cooper, received the award. “With resolve, vision and love, Mrs. Cooper has guided the association to live up to its high ideals and to meet great challenges,” said Archbishop John C. Favalora.

Cooper, a retired microbiologist, founded the association in 1986. During her presidency, she helped institute the annual commemoration of King’s birthday, a Black History Month celebration and special Masses for the feast day and anniversary of the canonization of St. Martin de Porres. She was surprised to receive the award.

“Oh my goodness, isn’t that something,” she said. “The archbishop said it’s about time for the organization’s founder to receive the award.”

Clergy from various religious denominations attended the service and choirs of all faiths sang hymns dedicated to the fallen civil rights leader.

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Ecumenical service recalls life of Martin Luther King Jr.

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