The Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J., Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, will deliver the 2010 Human Relations Convocation address at Fairfield University on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts as part of the week-long celebration of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The public is welcome to attend.

Before his appointment to the Youngstown Diocese, Bishop Murry served as Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago beginning in 1995 and then as Coadjutor Bishop of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1998, before being named Bishop there the following year.

Bishop Murry is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he serves on the Domestic Policy and Education Committees. Since November 2002 he has also served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services, the overseas arm of the bishops of the United States, which provides food, clothing, shelter, and medicine for those in need.

Earlier in his ministry, Bishop Murry taught American Cultural History at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., served as President of Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., and was Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Detroit. A member of the Board of Trustees at Fairfield University, he has also served on the boards of the University of Detroit and Loyola Academy in Detroit, St. Joseph's University

Born in Camden, N.J., he attended St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, entering the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1972. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1979. Bishop Murry holds an M.A. in Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, Calif., as well as an M.A. in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in American Cultural History from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Other Martin Luther King Jr. activities include:

Monday, January 18
Jazz Has a Dream - 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m., in the John A. Barone Campus Center, Lower Level. Join students, faculty, and staff for stimulating speeches and improv musical performances.

Wednesday January 20
Multi-faith Celebration of Diversity 7 p.m.-8 p.m., in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, a moving, multi-faith celebration offering inspiring prayer and song by students and featuring a talk by the Rev. Keith Alan King, pastor of Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, Conn., and music by the Temples of God men's choir.
Peace Festival 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m., in the Barone Campus Center. A time for peaceful reflection with superb sounds and light refreshments.

Thursday January 21
Human Relations Convocation 3 p.m.-5 p.m. in the Quick Center for the Arts, with Convocation Speaker, the Most Reverend George V. Murry, S.J., Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio.
Vision Awards Dinner 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., in the Barone Campus Center Oak Room where student, faculty, and community award honorees are celebrated along with the Martin Luther King Jr.essay contest winners. The essay contest, co-sponsored by The Connecticut Post and Fairfield University, honors three Bridgeport middle school students whose essays best convey the theme of Activism for Justice as it relates to their school, home, and community.

Friday January 22
Youth Leadership Workshop 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Barone Campus Center Oak Room Local middle school students join together for a workshop focusing on Martin Luther King's legacy.

Posted On: 01-15-2010 10:01 AM

Volume: 42 Number: 171