Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 14, 2023
Dear STA Community,
In the lead-up to this holiday that celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I would like to share a favorite passage from his 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail:
“ I hope this letter finds you strong in faith. I also hope circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you not as an integrationist or a civil-rights leader but as a fellow clergyman and a Christian brother. Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”
Love and sisterhood are of the utmost importance to our STA community. Dr. King has often been referred to as a dreamer, and we are called to make his dream of love a reality. Our Sisters of St. Joseph charism to love the dear neighbor without distinction provides the perfect blueprint for fulfilling Dr. King’s dream. Central to the blueprint is living in the manner that Jesus did. In Matthew 5:13, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” Both Jesus and Dr. King affirm the importance of exemplifying unifying love.
Our Interim Week – a time between semesters to innovate, create and discover – represented countless examples of love in action. Students, teachers, alumnae, and a host of outside presenters came together in a true spirit of cooperation and love to engage in experiential learning. We are very grateful and indebted to our Director of Experiential Learning, Kelly Finn, for helping to coordinate a successful week. STA students learned more about different cultures, issues and other living beings. Some students, for instance, took trips to Washington, D.C., and visited the Holocaust Museum and the African American Museum of History and Culture. Others traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, and helped build housing for those in need. Some of our Stars learned about animal homelessness, running political campaigns, and challenges of those who are part of the deaf community. In all, STA offered 40 different classes for students to choose from.
Just as Dr. King stated, we must work harder to lift the “deep fog of misunderstanding” through faith and love. At St. Teresa’s Academy, we will continue to do our part through community service, ongoing conversations, and meaningful learning to fulfill King’s dream.
In honor of Dr. King, whether you choose to participate in community service activities, attend religious services, or quietly reflect on the American civil rights leader’s legacy, I wish you a blessed holiday.
Dr. Siabhan May-Washington
