Thomas Merton Memorial, KET Broadcast Planned

A service in Louisville tomorrow will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Kentucky author-monk Thomas Merton on Dec. 10, 1968. A brief "Prayer for Peace Remembering Merton" is being planned for Wednesday at 9 a.m. at "Merton Square" -- the intersection of 4th and Muhammad Ali. The ceremony includes readings of words by Merton calling for world peace. The intersection was the scene of another Merton anniversary ceremony earlier this year -- 50 years after Merton's visit to downtown Louisville on a routine errand prompted him to reflect that he wasn't isolated in the monastery but connected to everyday people and their problems.

Other ceremonies are being planned around the world. In one, Paul Pearson of Louisville's Thomas Merton Center will be speaking in his native England, with the main address given by Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Morgan Atkinson's documentary, "Soul Searching: the Journey of Thomas Merton," will air on KET1 on Sunday at 10 p.m. It tells the dramatic tale of Merton's conversion from a dissolute young life to his conversion, his entrance into the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky and his pursuit of greater spiritual knowledge and greater connection to the urgent social crises of his day.

Upcoming Airdates:
KETKY: Sunday, December 14 at 1:00 pm EST
KET1: Sunday, December 14 at 10:00 pm EST
KETHD: Sunday, December 14 at 10:00 pm EST
KET2: Monday, December 15 at 2:00 am EST
KET2: Tuesday, December 16 at 4:00 am EST
KETKY: Thursday, December 18 at 6:00 am EST
KETKY: Friday, December 19 at 7:00 pm EST
KETKY: Saturday, December 20 at midnight EST
KETKY: Saturday, December 20 at 2:00 pm EST
KET2: Sunday, December 28 at 10:00 pm EST

Source of Information