April 4 will mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was in Memphis, Tenn., to lend support to a strike by sanitation workers in that city. Interestingly enough, King spoke prophetically on April 3 about the precariousness of his life.

It is appropriate to look at those 40 years and ask what progress has been made in the areas of social justice and civil rights? Do people remember what the dream was? Is the dream discussed? For those who lived through that time and heard the many speeches and challenges King gave, are their lives any better? Are the values of King instilled into people’s lives and the lives of their children, grandchildren and the community?

On Jan. 13 the Diocese of Beaumont and the Office of African American Ministry will celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King at the noon Mass at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont. Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, will be the celebrant and Father Clarence Williams, CPPS, will be the homilist.

Father Williams is the senior director of Racial Equality and Diversity Initiatives for Catholic Charities USA. He was ordained in 1978 and is a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He is the founder and director of the Institute for Recovery from Racism, an organization that helps people of all races on the path to racial sobriety.

Father Williams is also the co-convener of Building Bridges in Black and Brown, a national dialogue between the African American and Hispanic/Latino communities. From this work has come a training in pluricultural ministry which examines the two challenges of life today in the United States: racism and multiculturalism.

Father Williams is the author of Recovery from Everyday Racisms, People of the Pyramids: The Dialogue Between the African American and the Hispanic/Latino Communities.

A reception in the Cathedral Center will follow the Mass. Father Williams will have a book signing for his most recent book – Racial Sobriety: Becoming the Change You Want to See.