Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated a Mass for Peace in our
Communities at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Sept. 9.
Celebrated on the feast day of St. Peter Claver, patron of African Americans
and interracial justice, the Mass was part of a day of fasting and prayer to
combat racism.
The Spanish-born saint entered the Society of Jesus in 1601, and was
the first Jesuit ordained in Cartagena, Colombia, a port of entry for West
African slaves. He ministered to and baptized as many as 300,000 slaves and was
canonized in 1888.
Bishop Burbidge said in his homily, “We are called to be
instruments of the Lord’s peace and we are when we speak to others not with
mere words but ‘with our hands and actions,’ ” in reference to St. Peter
Claver’s acts of kindness bringing food and clothes and giving comfort to
slaves.
“To experience the peace which all of us truly desire, we must
acknowledge the source of peace, Our Lord Jesus. Only in him will our world,
nation, communities and each one of us know peace. For he is the one who turned
hatred to love and suffering to glory,” Bishop Burbidge said.
“The Mass was beautiful and St. Peter Claver is such a great
saint,” said Cathedral of St. Thomas More parishioner Martha Long. Long was one
of more than 50 people who attended the afternoon Mass, which also included
parishioners reciting the rosary before Mass.
