SAN ANTONIO • While the Alamo city is known for having the nation’s largest Martin Luther King, Jr. March, many Catholics here also took part in a host of other programs associated with the official observation of his birthday.
    The Martin Luther King, Jr. public awards ceremony and presentation of the MLK Distinguished Achievement Award was held in the City Council chambers in the Municipal Plaza Building downtown the evening of Jan. 14. Members of the public nominate individuals they believe exhibit the values, teachings and work ethics of Dr. King, and nearly 20 nominees were recognized.

    For his tireless efforts in advocating for the most oppressed and disenfranchised in San Antonio for more than five decades, Msgr. Dermot N. Brosnan was presented the award for 2006. District 2 Councilwoman Sheila McNeil, San Antonio MLK Commission Chair Rev. Herman Price, and Awards Committee Chair Ethel Minor presented a bronze bust of Dr. King to Msgr. Brosnan. The 18 other nominees were recognized with certificates.

    Msgr. Brosnan, who arrived in San Antonio in 1957 from Ireland, is credited with creating solutions to gang problems by organizing alternatives for youngsters involved in that lifestyle. His work resulted in a group named the Patrician Movement.
    Msgr. Brosnan would later devote close to 40 years developing programs that treated drug addiction. Due to his efforts, the Patrician Movement was awarded the first Office of Economic Opportunity grant for narcotics treatment in the United States. He also helped House and Senate committees of the state Legislature develop the Texas Drug Abuse Treatment, Prevent and Education Act.
    The monsignor is now retired and dedicates his time as an advocate for abused and neglected children.

    On Jan. 15, people from a variety of faiths came together to celebrate what would have been Dr. King’s 77th birthday during the 19th annual MLK Interfaith Worship Service at St. Benedict Church.
    The St. Benedict Church youth choir and the Holy Redeemer Church combined choir were among groups to perform.
    Featured speakers included Imam Omar Shakir, the resident imam of Masjid Bilal, and Father Eddie Bernal, pastor of St. Benedict, as well as presiding chairman of the MLK Interfaith Worship Committee.

    Father Bernal told the listeners in the packed pews that he was 19 years old when Martin Luther King was assassinated, and while he was sad and hurt, he was not surprised. “A prophet is a man or woman who is sent into the world to speak the truth and at times will tell you what will happen if we don’t speak the truth. To be a prophet means you will live in danger,” he explained.
    The priest said there is a problem that exists in Christian religions when members try to scapegoat and point the finger at others for problems. He then quoted Dr. King, who said, “Evil exists in society when good people do nothing.”
    Father Bernal closed by saying that the seeds Dr. King planted 40 years ago are still here today. “Prophets see beauty in what the world calls ugly,” he said. “Prophets put number one on their list the people that the world puts last.”

    In addition to the afternoon gathering at St. Benedict, several other events also took place on Dr. King’s birthday, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the MLK Plaza. It commemorated the civil right’s leader’s life and accomplishments.
    The Martin Luther King Jr. march and commemorative program, “Marching Toward the Dream,” drew an estimated crowd of 100,000 people carrying banners and signs on the nearly three mile march.
    The march was led by a vintage VIA Dreamliner bus and a city garbage truck. The bus was a symbolic tribute to Rosa Parks, who died last October at the age of 92. Parks’ refusal to relinquish her bus seat to a white man sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, leading to the rise of Dr. King. The garbage truck was representative of the last march Dr. King spearheaded on behalf of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, one week prior to his assassination.
    The destination of the marchers, who departed from the Eastside Boys and Girls Club, was Pittman-Sullivan Park, which hosted the commemorative program. Rev. Senator James T. Meeks was the event speaker. He is the senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, a 23,000 member congregation.

    One marcher, Sister Marcelle Stos, SSND, associate superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, said, “As a member of the Congregation of School Sisters of Notre Dame, we take an active stance for social justice and protection of human rights. Our country was fortunate to have the man of Martin Luther King, Jr. spend his life as one dedicated to the cause of right relationship among all persons. It was only fitting that I be present at the march this year to stand in solidarity with those who continue to support the word of God in all of us to bring about the oneness for which Jesus Christ was sent.”
    Her sentiments were echoed by yet another participant, Mary Wisniewski, director of the archdiocesan Office of Mission Awareness.

    “I march to remember. The noble dreams of non-violence and just treatment of all peoples no longer have an eloquent spokesperson. Yet one faithful neighbor along the parade route plays a tape of Martin Luther King’s great proclamations. As I walk with the thousands of others and hear that voice and see the signs and T-shirt memorials, I feel a sense of connection to the past, to the people of the city willing to stand for something bigger than ourselves. I am trying to pass on King’s message, which was Jesus’ message, to those growing up now,” she said.