Honoring Dr. King – A Message From President Nyre  

“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Christmas sermon, Atlanta, Georgia, 1967

Dear Setonians,

Today we pause to honor the preeminent figure in the American civil rights movement. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was more than an esteemed activist, teacher and Nobel laureate. He was a visionary who dreamed of humanity at its best. And he courageously advanced toward that dream through nonviolence, even when his efforts were opposed by humanity at its worst.

Now his dream has become our own. As we pay tribute to Dr. King, we salute the many who acted — and will continue to advocate — for equality, safety and justice for all God’s people.

In his Christmas sermon, Dr. King encourages us to transform our thinking and radically alter our perspective. He urges us to forgo narrow-mindedness and see ourselves as equally loved members of the same human family.

His call to peace and unity resonates deeply at our University. Seton Hall is a place of transformative learning, where students expand their perspectives as they engage with the most pressing issues of our time. Guided by its Catholic mission, Seton Hall strives to reflect the unity Dr. King worked to bring into the world.

That is why today is more than a day to reflect and remember. Today we recognize our responsibility to create a more just society. And in doing so, we draw ever nearer to the dream Dr. King established for the entire nation.

Today and throughout the year, let us commit ourselves to actions — both personal and collective — that advance his distinguished legacy.

Sincerely,
Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.
President