The Sacred Heart Greenwich community gathered in the Athletic Center to remember the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) at the annual MLK prayer service January 16. The Vision Steppers and the Gospel Knights choir joined the community to celebrate the life of MLK. Seniors Chloe Hill and Laurie Starke, Diversity Club heads, joined the steppers along with other seniors to perform. This year’s liturgy centered on the theme The Power of Shared Stories, which the Diversity Club introduced. Chloe also performed a song centered around the theme of love, and Laurie offered a reflection focusing on the Book of Ecclesiastes.
People celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Sunday in January to honor Dr. King’s role and sacrifices during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Through civil disobedience, MLK demonstrated leadership and activism that helped end racial segregation and discrimination against people of color, ultimately leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to britannica.com. His leadership played a fundamental role in the success of the movement. Chloe shared her thoughts on Dr. King’s lasting impact.
“I think it is important to continue the legacy of Dr. King because diversity and culture are important and should be embraced and shared within our community,” Chloe said. “[O]ur school community would not be the same without Dr. King and his impact.”
Chloe shared that one quote of Dr. King’s in particular stood out to her, spoken during one of his most famous sermons regarding loving your enemies. Dr. King emphasized how people should not hate others for traits they cannot control, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org.
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars,” Dr. King said, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
The Vision Steppers have played a key role in the Sacred Heart MLK Liturgy for almost 20 years. The Vision Steppers joined as a group 23 years ago. The group includes students ranging from ten to twenty years old and focuses on routines that portray passion, empowerment, and hope. The group began at Immaculate Conception School in the South Bronx, New York. The steppers now travel across the country sharing their mission, according to visionsteppers.org. Chloe highlighted the Vision Steppers as a standout and memorable aspect of the MLK liturgy.
“My favorite part of the liturgy is the ending because the steppers are stepping while the singers are singing,” Chloe said. “It’s so wonderful to watch, and it has been my favorite part since I was little.”
Featured Image by Tori Kniffen ’28
