On a morning when winter weather threatened the region, Catholics from across The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington gathered at Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The annual Mass uniting worshippers in faith, hope and the pursuit of justice was held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
“Today, we pray as a nation made up of people of many races, languages, and heritages, that we will understand how important it is to love one another,” said Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who emphasized that “God has given us the ability to see the goodness in everyone, even those who are different from us.”
Cardinal Gregory served as the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass, which featured spirited praise and worship music led by the Howard University Bison Catholic Gospel Choir. The concelebrants at the Mass included Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell Jr.; Father Robert Boxie III, the Catholic chaplain at Howard University; Father Philip Ilg, the pastor at Holy Family Parish; and Josephite Father Anthony Bozeman. Special guests at the Mass included the Knights of Columbus Color Guard, the Knights of Peter Claver and their Ladies Auxiliary, and Sisters in the Spirit.
Fostering unity through respect for all
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of justice, equality and love aligns with Catholic teaching on the inherent dignity of every person created in the image of God, and the civil rights leader’s commitment to nonviolence and social justice reflects the Church’s call to love one’s neighbors and work toward the common good.
At the Mass, the congregation – representing a tapestry of different cultures and backgrounds –gathered to honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy of equality and justice. From the first notes of the choir’s opening hymn to the final prayer, a spirit of unity seemed to fill the church. The Mass sponsored by the archdiocese’s Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach included a stirring rendition of the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”
“The dream of America can only be realized if we work together to respect and love each person,” Cardinal Gregory said in his homily.
A call to become Jesus’s disciples
Cardinal Gregory opened his homily with a reflection on human nature. “There is something within each one of us that likes being able to express our independence, our individuality,” he said, adding, “But at the same time, when students are free to wear whatever they want to school, they are usually all dressed alike! Without being told what to wear, most young people instinctively choose the same type of clothing – whatever may be popular. It’s strange, isn’t it, that we seem to rebel at being forced to conform, but when we are free to choose, we seem to want to conform by our own selection. What is there within the human person that makes us so confusing?”
The cardinal tied this insight to Jesus’s teachings.
“We value our freedom, but we also do not like to be noticed as different,” he said. “Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that it is possible for us to be free and yet to be different. Take, for example, the problem that people seem to have in living with each other in mutual respect and love. We are all different in so many ways. Some of us are African American, some are Hispanic Americans, others are European or Asian Americans. Half of us are female, and the other half are male. Some are gymnastically inclined, and some are not very good at athletics.”
Expanding on this theme, Gregory stated, “Jesus tells us that we cannot simply choose to love those who are like us and become His disciples. If we do, then we will miss many of the wonderful gifts that God has placed within the human family. God has fashioned us to be a special people filled with many different talents, personalities, interests, abilities, and potentials... If we simply choose to socialize with folks who are just like us, think of all the wonderful human qualities we will miss.”
When reflecting on Dr. King’s vision for this nation’s progress, Cardinal Gregory said, “Dr. King understood that for our country to become great, we must learn to respect and love one another. This involves embracing our differences and nurturing the unique gifts that God has given us. He firmly believed that Jesus’ call to accept each person as they were uniquely created by God is the only path toward uniting our nation as one community of hope.”
During the cardinal’s homily, many people in the congregation nodded in agreement, with some responding “Amen” to his remarks.
“The United States needs the vision and dream of Dr. King more today than ever before because there are still people who do not feel loved or respected because of their race, language, religion, ethnic legacy, gender or – dare I say it – sexual orientation,” the cardinal said.
Cardinal Gregory concluded his homily by offering a way Catholics could bridge the dual natures of the human person he discussed earlier in his homily. “Let us pray that the same spirit which filled Dr. King with valor will fill each of us with courage and desire to respect and love everyone – in their otherness. That certainly will make us different while also making us more like Jesus Christ Himself,” he said.
On love, unity, and Dr. King's legacy
In an interview, longtime Holy Family parishioner Chriss Mable expressed her gratitude for living across the street from her church. “It’s a blessing to be part of this parish. Not many people can say hello to their parish priest while he’s out for a walk or enjoy coffee with him. And having such a special Mass here with the cardinal is wonderful,” Mable noted. When asked what she thought about the archbishop of Washington’s homily, she said, “I hung onto every word.”
Asked what message from Dr. King’s teachings that she thought Catholics embody the best, Mable replied, “Love. We do that well.” Mable then added, “As big as the world is, why can’t we learn to get along? We have so much we can learn from one another.”
Doris Patterson, a member of St. Columba Parish in Oxon Hill, said she found Cardinal Gregory’s words especially meaningful. “His message of love and acceptance stood out most,” Patterson said. “Our community needs to improve in this area – even among our own race. Though we are all different, we are all human and must demonstrate love to one another more.”
Jee’Von Pratt, a junior at Howard University studying mechanical engineering and serving as the music ministry chair for the Bison Catholic Gospel Choir, said what stood out to him in Cardinal Gregory’s homily was the idea of youth not wanting to conform. Pratt, a native of the Bahamas, said his experience of Catholic Mass there was more traditional. “Being a part of this choir has shown me that we can bring our authentic selves to Mass, and how we celebrate can be unique. My way of not conforming is to be a part of this choir,” he said.
Pratt also reflected on the powerful legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing an important lesson from the civil rights leader: “As Catholics – and Christians of any denomination – we mustn’t allow our religious scruples to create divides among us. Holding onto hate is a far greater stain on our heart than any disagreement we might have.”
As wintry weather loomed, the congregation left Holy Family Catholic Church with renewed hope and purpose, carrying Dr. King’s dream forward. Chriss Mable summarized the day’s message: “Love is what binds us. If we can hold onto that, we can overcome anything.”
