MARY LOU WILLIAMS (1910-1981)

TO BE HONORED BY THE OFFICE OF BLACK MINISTRY

ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

Mary Lou Williams will posthumously receive The Pierre Toussaint Medallion on September 21, 2006 (a Thursday) at a receptiion and dinner (6:30PM to 9:45 PM) at The New York Marriott Marquis. Fr. Peter F. O'Brien, S.J. will accept this honor on behalf of The Mary Lou Williams Foundation. The Medallion will be permanently housed in The Mary Lou Williams Foundation Collection in The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutger University, Newark, N.J.

Ms. Williams was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith in 1957 after a period of intense prayer. She also worked tirelessly for the well being of everyone she met. She was particularly devoted to the poor (especially poor musicians) and was passionate in her concern for the young.

Mary Lou Williams went on to express her faith in her music by composing three complete Masses and another dozen sacred motets. These works include Mary Lou's Mass and Black Christ of the Andes (Hymn in Honor of St. Martin de Porres).

For these reasons, The Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York will honor her at a dinner which will raise funds for college bound student leaders of diverse backgrounds.

These scholarships bear the name of the Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian and a slave, who came to New York at the age of 21 in 1787. He remained a slave here in the kindly service to Madame Marie Berard who had fallen into a depression upon the death of her husband. On her deathbed, in turn, she freed her beloved Pierre Toussaint. His remains were transfered to the burial vaults of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The cause for his canonization is underway.

Toussaint, at 41 years of age, continued his learned profession of hairdresser to wealthy women, but used his high earnings in charity toward the poor and desperate. He and his wife, Julliette Noel, made a home for Negro orphaned children in a large house they had purchased.

They established a school for these children.

They secured freedom papers for dozens of slaves, procured employment for impoverished French widows, and made secret gifts to aristocratic refugees too proud to accept charity.

Mary Lou Williams, in her lifetime, found inspiration in the life of St. Martin de Porres who fed the hungry and gave shelter to the frightened. Had she lived long enough, she would have undoubtedly found the same source of consolation in the life of Venerable Pierre Toussaint.

Toussaint and Williams went to daily Mass. Toussaint and Williams were strong indiviuals who lived their lives directed by charity toward others. It is fitting that Williams' life and work will be honored by a medallion bearing Toussaint's name.

Inquiries about reservations for this event may be directed to:

The Office of Black Ministry - 1011 First Avenue, New York, New York 10022

212-371-1011 x2681 (tel) 212-421-3693 (fax) obm@archny.org