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st. augustine of hippo parish marks martin luther king jr., anniversary

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

The way St. Augustine of Hippo Parish in East St. Louis has celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has varied over the years — sometimes with more fanfare than others — but the message has remained the same: The dream must stay alive.

Pastor, Father Carroll Mizicko OFM, linked the Sunday readings to the call of Dr. King. As Samuel said: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,” so too did Dr. King answer the Lord in the same way so many centuries later.

Dr. King spoke to the people of his time, preaching non-violence, preaching justice for all.

Through his many speeches, King encouraged the people to hold fast to their dreams, to work peacefully for justice.
Father Mizicko referred to a 1963 speech Dr. King gave in Washington, D.C., when he encouraged the people to “go back to your homes knowing the situation will change. Do not wallow in the valley of despair.”

The dream of which Dr. King spoke — when all people will be equal and able to walk hand in hand — “is not yet a reality,” Father Mizicko said. Places still exist where people are oppressed, where ignorance holds sway and where injustices need to be addressed.

Today’s leaders need to take courage from the “sound of footsteps” behind them as Dr. King took courage from those footsteps behind him.

Fulfilling the dream is a “work in progress, where people “struggle together until the dream is realized,” Father Mizicko said. “Let us all be dreamers.”