Inspired by service and social justice, Marian University holds its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Prayer Breakfast every January. The celebration, which began in 1999, aimed to develop an opportunity for Marian and those in the community to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Every year it has been a tradition of Marian and the Fond du Lac community to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a community, we continue to remember and reflect on how his dream continues to inspire us. This is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing.

Join us for the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Prayer Breakfast!
$20 per person or a table of 8 for $150

Please contact: specialevents@marianuniversity.edu with any questions regarding your reservation.  Thank you.

Monday, January 19, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Stayer Center Dining Room

Speaker and Spirit Award Recipient, Reverend Mary Council-Austin

A retired United Methodist pastor and longtime Fond du Lac community leader, Rev. Council-Austin is recognized as a trailblazer and servant leader whose life's work reflects Dr. King's vision of equality, justice, and service. In 1978, she became the first Woman of Color appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin, ministering to congregations across the state and later serving in national leadership roles in Washington, D.C. 

Rev. Council-Austin's contributions span youth and young adult ministries, global missions, higher education, campus ministry, and community engagement. After serving as pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in Fond du Lac, she joined Marian University as Assistant to the President for Diversity, further strengthening the University's commitment to inclusion and opportunity. 

• Spirit Award Nomination Form
• Past Award Recipients

• Individual Registration (Closed)
• Table of 8 Registration (Closed)