The beloved community
By Liz Walters, IHM, and MLK 2026 Planning Committee member
During this year’s Martin Luther King Days of Prayer and Service—Jan. 19 to Feb. 13, 2026—residents and staff united with the planning committee in prayer, and many volunteered to prepare and deliver meals to Oaks of Righteousness for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
As we entered the final 10 days of our 2026 observance, in the spirit of Dr. King’s call to compassion and justice, we invited everyone to a second opportunity for prayerful service. This invitation was to remember the Detroit Cristo Rey High School community in prayer and to help Detroit Cristo Rey High School (DCR) launch a new program that will aid families in serious need.
Invitation to Support the Efforts of Detroit Cristo Rey High School (DCR)
Detroit Cristo Rey (DCR) stands in the heart of Southwest Detroit, a vibrant and resilient Hispanic community. Daily realities—fear, violence, loss of employment, food insecurity and financial struggle—rarely make the news, yet they carry serious implications for people’s lives. In the midst of these challenges, there is also a deep yearning for a spirituality grounded in love, peace and hope.
The students of DCR, along with Kim Redigan, the school’s Campus Minister, know they cannot solve these injustices alone. But they remain steadfast in doing what they can to ease suffering and shine a light of hope. Inspired by this commitment, they are launching “Guadalupe’s Corner Resource Room,” a warm and welcoming space within the school dedicated to serving families in need.
Their mission is simple and deeply meaningful: to provide essential food assistance during difficult times, with plans to add family counseling opportunities and spiritual support. Elvia Murga‑Zeno, Director of Counseling, will coordinate family counseling services, while Kim and the IHM Sisters Circle of Support will guide the spirituality offerings.
The food pantry is already underway and will soon be serving families across Southwest Detroit experiencing food insecurity. Even now—long after the school day ends—students and staff are transforming the room, sorting donated items, and distributing food as it comes in. Their work is powered by compassion, dignity, and a shared commitment to building a community where every family and every person feels supported.
Our gift to families in need
Thanks to the amazing generosity of residents at the Saint Therese IHM Community, including many retired IHM Sisters, along with staff and other community members, we collected $671 in monetary donations and 16 boxes of food in just 10 days. These gifts are helping bring this hopeful ministry, Guadalupe’s Corner Resource Room, to life! Thank you!
The Beloved Community
As we reflect on Martin Luther King’s legacy, we are inspired by his focus on the importance of joining together to work for common humanity and the common good. This is what Dr. King called the “Beloved Community.” As we step back and look at this inspiring idea, we realize that, at its core, the Beloved Community is about ALL OF US. It means that we all matter. The Beloved Community emphasizes the importance of relationships. It is about creating a society where everyone is valued and respected, and where conflicts are resolved nonviolently. It is about building a world where kindness, compassion, and love are valued and practiced. It is about working together to end the causes of poverty, prejudice and injustice and to promote a society where everyone can thrive.
As planners of MLK 2026, we are deeply moved by the compassion and generosity shown by the residents and staff of Saint Therese Senior Living, as well as by the goodness and courage of the students, Ms. Redigan, and the families who continue to raise their voices for mercy and justice!
Together, we are all part of the Beloved Community!