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April 16, 2018, Detroit – Sister Nancyann Turner, OP, was among 20 religious leaders invited to offer a 100-word prayer April 3 at a special commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The event was sponsored by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and hosted at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

The late civil rights leader was commemorated with people reading excerpts from his speeches, along with songs and speeches that captured the spirit of his movement for equality and justice. Various leaders stressed that Dr. King didn't just dream, but he acted on this dream and rallied others to strive for its fulfilment, Sister Nancyann said. Actor and narrator Barry Scott recalled the "Mountain Top" speech and presented a moving remembrance of "That Day in Memphis."

Sister Nancyann’s prayer included gratitude for Dr. King’s preaching and his faithfulness to God's call. In addition, she prayed that “the soul sickness of racism will be healed and that all of us can walk the sacred journey of sharing a Beloved Community with each other.”

Sister Nancyann was impressed by the prayers of the other religious leaders. “Over and over, people called each other to join together and unleash the power of prayer on the troubled soul of our nation,” Sister Nancyann said. “I felt blessed and humbled to be part of this stirring evening” Sister Nancyann said.

Sister Nancyann ministers with inner-city children at the Rosa Parks Youth Program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. She writes about her ministry and what she learns from the children in a blog on the Soup Kitchen’s website.

Feature photo (top): Sister Nancyann Turner, OP, presents her prayer for unity and healing at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Kennette Lamar of Annistique Photography 

Religious leaders who prayed at the commemoration of Martin Luther King’s death gather for a group photo.
Photo by Kennette Lamar of Annistique Photography