From left: Sister Theresia Hhayuma, Sister Mary Prisca and Father Beatus Kitururu gathered with residents of NCC Manor Senior for the crib blessing at the nativity scene displayed in front of 545 Orange St. in Newark.The New Community Gospel Choir led the singing of Christmas carols at NCC Commons Senior’s annual tree lighting at 140 South Orange Ave. in Newark. Building residents and the NCC Health and Social Services Department also participated.Father Beatus Kitururu, standing center, blessed the Christmas tree and reminded those in attendance of the spiritual symbolism of light. “Where there is light, there is love and forgiveness,” he said.
For more than 50 years, New Community Corporation has walked the walk of social justice, helping residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement. After all, NCC was birthed from the literal ashes of the civil disorders of 1967 by a core group of Black community leaders and White allies, including a young priest named William Linder. Together, they modeled through word and deed the moral principle and reality that Black Lives Matter.
Today, just as in 1967, NCC joins in solidarity with all those who seek justice and an end to police brutality and racism.