It rained, and rained, and rained. Noah in his ark would have felt at
home.
The Knights of St. Peter Claver and Ladies’ Auxiliary came together
and bravely weathered that storm on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 19, to celebrate
the 29th annual WDAS FM radio’s Unity Day, a citywide African- American
summer festival held each year on the Benjamin Franklin parkway.
Despite the weather, almost 100,000 people attended — sampling food,
and buying souvenirs, participating in activities, and enjoying the entertainment
and festive spirit along the busy parkway streets.
At the booth operated by the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver, volunteers
busily handed out recruitment information, raffle tickets, prizes and
free balloons. Many people met the Knights and Ladies for the first time.
Unity day was one of five events the organization has planned for 2007.
Following its thrilling, and informative, first black Catholic historical
bus tour in April — a tour that reviewed 250 years of the history
of black Catholics in the region — the Knights and Ladies also sponsored
recognition liturgies in 10 separate parishes, celebrating more than 30
years of the Knights and Ladies in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, there are still lots of $50 tickets for the gala anniversary
recognition banquet, which will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday,
Nov. 3. Father Cyprian Davies, a Benedictine monk and black Catholic historian
who wrote “A History of Black Catholics in the United States,”
will be a speaker and an award recipient at the dinner.
But contact us soon, reservations are going fast.
A special spiritual celebration commemorating the Church’s official
black saints and martyrs, which number more than 6,000, is coming up too,
as well as black Catholic appearances on radio and television, and an
inspiring youth activity.
To participate in any of those events, please contact Father Rayford Emmons,
at 610-876-7101.