Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Dear Seattle University Community,

Seattle University is closed today in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In doing so, we join with others across the nation in commemorating with gratitude the life and legacy of Dr. King while taking up the challenge to complete the work he began.

For Seattle University, this day carries added significance. As a Jesuit, Catholic university, our mission is wholly consonant with the teachings and vision of Dr. King. And our commitment to educating the whole person, affirming the dignity of all people and empowering leaders for a just and humane world is particularly imperative at this moment in history. In these times of uncertainty and division, we look to Dr. King for inspiration and strive to make real his vision of a “beloved community.”

As we contemplate the meaning of this day, the Seattle University community is invited to honor the ideals of its namesake with a mass today and a commemoration on Thursday.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass | Join the Seattle Archdiocese’s Black Catholic Advisory Circle at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass, 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20 (today), at the Chapel of St. Ignatius. This year’s keynote speaker is Gregory K. Alex, MA, CDC, the founding director of the Matt Talbot Center, a longstanding Seattle nonprofit organization that operates a substance abuse treatment program and offers support and rehabilitative and restorative services to Seattle’s homeless, addicted and mentally ill. This event is held in partnership with Campus Ministry and the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture. Read more.
  
  
• “A King for Our Times”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration | Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. at a special event, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23, in Pigott Auditorium. The annual commemoration will feature keynote speaker Dr. Lerone A. Martin, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor and professor of religious studies and African American Studies at Stanford University. Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Read more about the event.

On this day, whether we gather in community or take the time to reflect on a more personal level, let us pray for the courage and the wisdom to follow the example of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so that we may be instruments of love, compassion and justice.

Respectfully,

Eduardo M. Peñalver
President

Natasha Martin
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion