People from different Christian denominations across the diocese gathered to promote peace and justice at the Black Catholic Commission’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Prayer Service.

The event honoring the late Dr. King, which featured local speakers and performers, kicked off at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Jacksonville. Among the speakers were Dr. Diane Greene, superintendant of public schools in Duval County. Betty Burney, an associate on the Duval County school board spoke, along with her student mentee, Journey Butler. From the Diocese of St. Augustine, Father Amarnath Nagothu, pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church started the event with a welcome address and gave a short talk regarding civil rights and Dr. King’s life.

A number of local groups performed, including the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus Touring Choir and the First Coast High School Chamber Choir. From Guardian Catholic School, four eighth grade students read poems they wrote about peace, justice and civil rights.

To learn more about the Black Catholic Commission or the Annual MLK Interfaith Prayer Service, email chairman Ernie Favors at favorse@aol.com.