James Martin

2 months ago | ncronline.org | Karen Lindell |James Martin |Michael Sean Winters

Half a block from Penn Station in New York City, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is filled with people, but dark and silent. Until a woman's a cappella voice, warm and resonant, suddenly pierces the stillness, "Thula ... thula ... thula ..." "It's a Zulu word that means 'Be still,' 'Be quiet,' " explains Meredith Augustin, who led the cry of "thula" that evening at last year's Easter Vigil.