On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Most Reverend Martin D. Holley, D.D., Bishop of Memphis in Tennessee and Reverend Dr. Paul D. Watkins, OP, First Rector of the National Shrine of St. Martin de Porres and Reverend Augustine DeArmond, OP, Pastor of St. Peter Church in Memphis invite all the faithful of the Diocese of Memphis to come together to march, pray and remember the legacies of St. Martin de Porres and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Both helped further the cause of justice and dignity for all.
Together We March is a daylong event beginning at 7:30 a.m., April 4, 2018 at the Shrine of St. Martin de Porres inside St. Peter Catholic Church and offers private prayer, reflection and the sacrament of reconciliation.
- 7:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer with Fr. Watkins and Dominican Friars National Shrine of St. Martin de Porres.
- 7:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Private prayer/ Reconciliation National Shrine of St. Martin de Porres.
- 9 a.m. - Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1695 Central Avenue). Bishop Holley will be the Celebrant and homilist.
- 1 p.m. – Rosary to be prayed in St. Peter Church.
- 1:30 p.m. - Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church at 190 Adams Street, with Bishop Holley as Celebrant and Father Watkins will be the homilist.
- 2:40 p.m. - Organize marchers
- 2:50 p.m. - March begins outside of St. Peter’s Church and will proceed 1.2 miles down Main street to the corner of Main and Talbot outside the National Civil Rights Museum.
- 4 p.m. - the National Civil Rights Museum’s MLK50 program will begin, culminating with a moment of silence at 6:01 p.m., the moment Dr. King was fatally wounded.
“Together We March” is inspired by Dr. King's determination toward equal justice and opportunity for all and by St. Martin de Porres’ devotion to the poor and dispossessed around him. This is an excellent opportunity to show our Catholic faith in action. We urge each parish to send representation.