New Catholic Bishop Leads Service in Alexandria Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

PHOTOS of congregation Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church by Joe Cashwell; courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Arlington

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- It was standing room only Sunday morning at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alexandria, where more than 220 people gathered to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, was the celebrant of the Mass. Pope Francis recently appointed Burbidge, 59, to serve as the fourth Bishop of Arlington. He was previously serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh. He succeeded Bishop Paul S. Loverde, 76, who led the Catholic Diocese of Arlington since 1999.

The following is a statement by Bishop Burbidge’s on the celebration of Dr. King:

As we celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, we remember his legacy as it continues to inspire and challenge us to reject racism in all its forms and to build a culture in which the innate dignity of every man, woman, and child is respected. As the Bishop of Arlington, I am mindful of how our ethnically diverse diocese of over 600,000 Catholics includes a vibrant Black Catholic community, which continues to enrich us all.

Our Christian faith calls us to protect, preserve and champion human dignity without equivocation. Thus our Catechism teaches us, “Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1935).

May we make our holiday in remembrance of Dr. King more than just a “day off” from work or school and see it as an opportunity to serve the most vulnerable, to reach out to those rejected, to defend the rights of those who are oppressed and abused, and to promote peace in our communities. As we reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, may we be inspired to love and to serve our neighbors united always as members of God's family.

Watch a video here of the Bishop's homily: