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celebrating a dream: st. augustine of hippo observes martin luther king anniversary

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

People have been celebrating the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth for many years, but the celebration at the Sunday liturgy Jan. 18 at St. Augustine of Hippo Parish in East St. Louis was different this year.

It was two days before the inauguration of the first African American president of the United States, and the words of Dr. King’s “Dream” speech were on the minds of many in the congregation.

Pastor, Father Carroll Mizicko, OFM compared Dr. King to a prophet: one who calls people back to the ways of the Lord.

Father Mizicko also recalled some people in the Catholic church were less than welcoming, telling African Americans this was “not your church.”

However, one long-time East St. Louis Catholic, Abbie Martin, 93, remembers when the old St. Augustine’s was closed and she was one of the first African American Catholics to move to the former St. Joseph Parish, which was predominantly white.

The late Msgr. Thomas P. Driscoll was pastor, and Mrs. Martin remembers him well.

“He was very welcoming,” Mrs. Martin said. “I felt out of place for a little while,” but Msgr. Driscoll encouraged Mrs. Martin to become active in the parish.

Msgr. Driscoll asked her to serve on the parish school board, which she did. She was a physical education teacher in District 189 for 31 years, she said.

Sitting in a pew at St. Augustine’s after a liturgy recently, she said she believed Dr. King’s dream had “come true.”
Father Mizicko said African American Catholics believed in Dr. King’s dream, and they believed in their Catholic faith as well.

“They didn’t give up hope; they continued to trust in their God that they too would be set free.”

In society, Dr. King’s “voice gave hope to people struggling for justice and for respect,” Father Mizicko said. Realizing that “change never comes easy or quietly,” change “requires commitment and belief our God is with us and that one day justice will be realized.”

On this anniversary of Dr. King’s birth, Father Mizicko recalled the words of what has become known as his “I Have a Dream” speech.

“That dream of freedom is the dream of all of us: that people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Father Mizicko said: “I can’t think but Dr. King is looking down from heaven with a smile on his face. I wonder if even he would have imagined an African American would be inaugurated president of the United States.
“I believe Barack Obama has a dream, a vision for this country,” he said.

Mrs. Martin said she has seen the world change in her 93 years, and she has seen her faith grow and change as well.

“I have a greater faith now than when I was younger,” she said.

Mrs. Martin believes her faith has been strengthened by her participation in the church.

Mrs. Martin said young people need encouragement in their faith and, because of her background, in their education.
Young people “must stay in school and get an education,” she said. “They won’t get anywhere without it.”

On the subject of prayer, she advises everyone to “pray more, and go to church. It keeps your spirit up and your mind on the right things.”