African American student theologians at Wake Forest University Divinity School, where I taught Urban/ Social Justice Ministry for nine years (until June 30, 2011), created an advocacy/ support group which they named AKONI. AKONI is a West African Yoruba dialect word which, possibly, is best translated, “Valiant Ancestors".
What a robust phrase for capturing a major piece and purpose of this All Saints Day on which I write this E-Newsletter. All Saints Day (Octave, for me) invites us to celebrate and give enormous thanks for the Saints of church history, world history, and our own history.
Today, along with many others, I celebrate and THANK God for:
+ Mary of Magdala, apostle to the apostles and messenger of resurrection news + Francis of Assisi, apostle with the poor and a timeless model of servant ministry + Dorothy Day of New York City, apostle with the homeless and founder of Catholic Worker Movement + Walter Rauschenbusch of “ Hell’s Kitchen", NYC, apostle with and for the Social Gospel movement + Mother Teresa of Calcutta, apostle with the destitute and dying persons in India's streets + John E. Hines, apostle for the Episcopal Church (former Presiding Bishop) and apostle with all who subscribe that “the world is our parish" + ”City of God" conferees, apostles of “soul justice and social justice” for and with their congregations + ”OCCUPIERS" of our Cities, apostles of resistance and apostles for the restoration of economic justice.
On and on go the names of our “valiant ancestors” and our personal contemporary Saints. Blessed be the face and form of God who lives and moves in the Saints. Blessed “Valiant” Saints Day!
African American student theologians at Wake Forest University Divinity School, where I taught Urban/ Social Justice Ministry for nine years (until June 30, 2011), created an advocacy/ support group which they named AKONI. AKONI is a West African Yoruba dialect word which, possibly, is best translated, “Valiant Ancestors".
What a robust phrase for capturing a major piece and purpose of this All Saints Day on which I write this E-Newsletter. All Saints Day (Octave, for me) invites us to celebrate and give enormous thanks for the Saints of church history, world history, and our own history.
Today, along with many others, I celebrate and THANK God for:
+ Mary of Magdala, apostle to the apostles and messenger of resurrection news
+ Francis of Assisi, apostle with the poor and a timeless model of servant ministry
+ Dorothy Day of New York City, apostle with the homeless and founder of Catholic Worker Movement
+ Walter Rauschenbusch of “ Hell’s Kitchen", NYC, apostle with and for the Social Gospel movement
+ Mother Teresa of Calcutta, apostle with the destitute and dying persons in India's streets
+ John E. Hines, apostle for the Episcopal Church (former Presiding Bishop) and apostle with all who subscribe that “the world is our parish"
+ ”City of God" conferees, apostles of “soul justice and social justice” for and with their congregations
+ ”OCCUPIERS" of our Cities, apostles of resistance and apostles for the restoration of economic justice.
On and on go the names of our “valiant ancestors” and our personal contemporary Saints.
Blessed be the face and form of God who lives and moves in the Saints. Blessed “Valiant” Saints Day!
Who would you add to this list?