Father Michael Thompson, superior general of the Josephite Fathers in Baltimore, MD, will be the featured speaker at the Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast sponsored by the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization (AACCE) in Los Angeles.
The program is set for Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8 a.m., at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Culver City.
Thompson, a native of Port Arthur, TX, is the 14th Superior General of the religious community, founded 144 years ago to minister to African Americans. When he was elected to the position in 2015, he said, “This is the time. The time is now to revitalize that and let them know we’re still here, fighting for peace and justice, for black Catholics in the Catholic Church today.”
He previously served as director of the Josephite Recovery Office in Breaux Bridge, LA, which assisted families in need following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Also, Thompson is associated with Holy Name and St. Brigid Catholic Churches in Los Angeles and served as pastor of churches in Beaumont, TX; and New Orleans, LA.
In addition, the AACCE will present Dr. George McKenna, with the Drum Major Award. Currently a member of the LAUSD Board of Education, McKenna served as superintendent of the Inglewood Unified School District, assistant superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District, and the former principal of Washington High School in Los Angeles. His educational success was featured in the movie, “The George McKenna Story,” starring Denzel Washington.
For more information, call AACCE at (323) 777-2106.
