Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. honored

The annual diocesan commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held Jan. 6 on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord at St. James Parish in Port Arthur.

The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the Light being manifested to all nations, all members of the same Body of Christ.

Curtis Guillory, S.V.D., served as celebrant and homilist for the Mass. In his homily, Bishop Guillory connected the Civil Rights Movement and people dying to do what is right to the preaching of Jesus Christ about things to be aware of that were not good and his dying to do what is right.

The liturgy was hosted by St. James and also the Office of African American Ministry of the Diocese of Beaumont. About 350 people from various parts of the Diocese attended the celebration, according to Linda Duhon-LaCour, director of the African American Ministry.

The reception featured foods from the Filipino and African American communities. It also featured music performed by the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica Handbell Choir.