For Immediate Release

When: February 28, 2021 at 8:00 PM
Where: St. Martin de Porres Church
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 students
(Tickets must be purchased by Friday, February 26, 2021. No tickets will be available at the door. To attend, you must reserve a seat. For tickets call (419) 241-4544.)

Arthur Jones, Jr and his wife Ellen Garrison Jones will receive the St. Katharine Drexel Award. This annual award is for persons who live in the spirit of St. Katharine Drexel who used her resources in creating opportunities for adults and children. St. Katharine Drexel founded over sixty schools for Black and Native American children. She also founded Xavier University in New Orleans.

Arthur Jones, a Jefferson Award Recipient, is well known in Toledo for his passion to end domestic violence and to assure the rights of minorities. He served on the Black Chamber of Commerce and is an ardent supporter of minority businesses. He also served as President of the Board of Bethany House.

Ellen Garrison Jones, Esquire, received her law degree from the University of Toledo. She has served in various positions in Lucas County including, Director of Lucas County Children Services. She retired from the county as a Client’s Rights Officer with the Mental Health and Recovery Board. Presently Ellen is the convener for the Black Catholic Ministry Advisory Council of the Diocese of Toledo. Both Arthur and Ellen Jones are active members of St. Martin de Porres Parish.

The Toledo Symphony Strings will perform music of the Spirituals genre. These songs, often composed by slaves, carry a pathos and yearning for freedom and release from the darkness of slavery. Among the compositions performed will be Old Time Religion, Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, and All God’s Children Got Wings. Lyric for Strings by Walker and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Machtmusik, Movement 2, will add variety and interest to the program.

During this time, of the pandemic many people feel bound to their homes or limited in their social interactions. The music performed during this concert will reflect that sense of oppression presently felt by many and will lift the spirits.

There will be safeguards in place to assure an enjoyable evening. For adequate space for social distancing, only 125 people may be in attendance. Masks must always be worn.

For more information: please call Sister Virginia Welsh at (419) 460-3071 or (419) 460-3071.