or speak differently. He expressed the ne-
cessity to reach out to residents of local
communities, particularly to young black
males. He believes these young men can
have a great future, one Jesus Christ him-
self, in and through his Church, desires to
share with them.
Father Archambault also shared experi-
ences about his thirty-year ministry on the
west side of Detroit as pastor of Corpus
Christi Parish. He provided a more pasto-
ral approach to race relations and priestly
ministry. One great piece of advice was,
“be yourself.” Even if one is a white priest
serving in a minority community, it’s okay
to be yourself.
Minority communities, particularly the
African American community, have his-
torically accepted pastors of different races
serving their parishes. Father Archambault
explained, “As long as you act yourself,
they will accept you.” The advice may be
simple, but it isn’t always easy to do. Father
Archambault further shared the enriching
gifts of his life in ministry to Detroit’s in-
ner city.
He was once protected during the cru-
cial moments of the 1967 Detroit race ri-
ots by a man whose family was his host.
It took great courage from this black man
to provide shelter for a white man. At the
time white people were not allowed in the
neighborhood where this family lived. De-
fying those rules, the husband and father
hosted Father Archambault, then only a
young seminarian. He shared the immense
cultural experiences he had learned while
living with this family, including how he
almost learned how to dance.
Both special guest speakers gave us
much to think about as we discern how
God wants us to minister in settings
where we are the minority. One priest at
the conference spoke about how priests
“must help to change a culture for the
good.” We must be men who are able to
see the problem and assist in the solution.
As we embark upon the New Evangeliza-
tion inside and outside of Detroit, we pray
to God we might have open hearts to all
people no matter their ethnicity or their
color.
Dcn. John McKenzie is a graduate seminarian
for the Archdiocse of Detroit.
Celebrating
Martin Luther
King Jr. Day
Seminarians attend Mass honoring the work
and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ryan Eggenberger
Men and women from the city of Detroit, including clergy, religious,
laymen and women of the Archdiocese of Detroit, gathered at Ste. Anne
de Detroit Catholic Church on Monday, January 15, to celebrate Mass as
the country honored the memory, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
The principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass was the Most Reverend
Gerard Battersby, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, who was joined at the altar
by concelebrating clergy from several Michigan dioceses. “Jesus Christ
is the reason for our gathering today and every day,” Bishop Battersby
remarked. “It’s in him and by his blood and in his holy name that we are
brothers and sisters—that though different, and from different mothers—
we have but one father, one faith, one baptism.”
Bishop Battersby also stressed it is in the context of faith in Christ
that Dr. King’s legacy is fully understood. “It may be initially jarring to
be focusing on what we already confess, that is our faith in Jesus Christ,
on this anniversary when we celebrate Dr. King’s life and ministry. But I
would suggest this morning that if we are to understand Dr. King’s gift to
our nation, we will only do so if we understand it in the context of faith
in Jesus Christ.”
Following the Mass, Leon Dixon, director of Black Catholic Ministry
at the Archdiocese of Detroit, offered special remarks. He noted that
the change of location from the celebrations of previous years to the
neighborhood near Ste. Anne’s was intentional. Emphasizing the racial
diversity of the neighborhood, Dixon noted, “It is important that we
stand with our brothers and sisters who are being marginalized today in
our society.”
Following Mr. Dixon’s remarks was an appeal given by Alex Taylor, a
member of the Knights of Peter Claver and ambassador for the cause of
the canonization of Fr. Augustus Tolton. Father Tolton is the first known
African-American priest in the United States of America. Members in
support of the cause believe Father Tolton’s own life and ministry, similar
to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s., is worthy of recognition by the
Church.
Following the liturgical celebration, seminarians and members of the
congregation gathered for a reception in the community center.
Ryan Eggenberger is a graduate seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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