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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2024)
Page 4 January 10, 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. 2024 Special Edition Honorees’ Service Embodies the Values of Dr. King Honorees Ron Herndon, Martina Murray and David Fikstad Photos from Oregon Encyclopediaand Larry Bartasavich Photography St. Andrew Parish set to present annual awards St. Andrew Catholic Church will present its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards at Mass on Sunday, January 14 beginning at 9:30 am at St. Andrew Cath- olic parish. These awards are given to people whose service embodies the values of Dr. King, who used nonviolence, civil dis- obedience, and Christian teach- ing to advance the cause of civil rights in America. Parishioners are honored for their works with the poor, the powerless, and the oppressed, works often accomplished with great devotion and little fanfare. Likewise, over the years, commu- nity service awards have gone to Jobs with Justice, Northwest Pilot Project, St. Andrew Legal Clinic and Veterans for Peace, along with many others working to bring jus- tice and hope to our world. This year, the parish recognizes the 54-year career of activist Ron Herndon who, upon graduating Reed College in 1970, co-found- ed the Black Education Center, a primary school in NE Portland. Today, Herndon serves as Direc- tor of Albina Head Start, a posi- tion he first assumed in 1975. In the meantime, he has struggled for equality and justice in many roles and situations, most often chal- lenging racist power structures that few others tackle with such persistence and success. On Sunday, we are also hon- oring two parishioners. Pana- ma-born Martina Murray who acts as liaison and scheduler for the Promotores de Salud program that links our Hispanic parishio- ners with health care, including vision and dentistry. We will hear about her deep commitment to that work. The second award goes to Da- vid Fikstad, who co-manages the parish’s Emergency Services in its mission to help neighborhood people with food, shelter and util- ity support. One nominator said of Fikstad: “Clients ask for him by name because they remember that time when he went out of his way to get them rental assistance, de- liver groceries, get work boots, or otherwise just listen to them. He is the best possible example of the works of mercy that all of us are called to do in the world.” Every year, this mass provides us with indelible stories of tireless servants of the poor and oppressed. Since 2002, at the Sunday closest to the national holiday celebrating Dr. King, these awards reassert the parish’s sharing in what he called, in his Nobel Peace Prize accep- tance speech, his “audacious faith in the future of mankind.” Tripods allowed. Reception and further photo opportunities follow the mass. All are welcome. We are Open! 3901 N. Mississippi Ave. • Portland, OR 97227 P: 503.281.0453 Fax 503.281.3408 Web: www.sunlanlighting.com • E-mail: kay@sunlanlighting.com
