Black Catholic Ministry Commission Diocese of Camden
As we strive to Evangelize, the Black Catholic Ministry Commission celebrated Black Catholic History Month with a glorious concert and Holy Mass.
Black Catholic History Month invites us to honor the heroic lives of Black Catholic men and women from our country whose holiness continues to inspire the Church today:
- Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian immigrant and layman known for his charity and generosity in New York City.
- Venerable Mother Mary Lange, founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious community for women of African descent.
- Venerable Henriette Delille, who served the poor and educated the marginalized in New Orleans.
- Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, whose prophetic voice called the Church to be truly “authentically Black and truly Catholic.”
- Venerable Augustus Tolton, the son of slaves who rose above prejudice and injustice to become the first African-American priest.
- Servant of God Julia Greely, who was born into slavery and is known as “Denver’s Angel of Charity.” Her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Eucharist inspired her to perform heroic acts of charity for the needy.
Their stories remind us that holiness wears many faces and speaks in many tongues. They are a living testament that the gifts that Black Catholics offer to our country are important for us all to know.
As we celebrate this month, we are called not only to remember but also to renew our commitment to justice, inclusion and respect for all God’s children. Our culture is still plagued by the sin of racism. The immigrant community throughout our Diocese lives in fear as our brothers and sisters who have lived here for many years fear deportation. The Church is most fully herself when she reflects the diversity of God’s creation – when every culture, every voice and every people find their home in the Body of Christ.
Black Catholic spirituality continues to offer the wider Church a model of joyful resilience, communal prayer and radical hope – a faith that sings even in sorrow and believes that God is always making a way.
In the spirit of Black Catholic History Month, may we listen anew to that Spirit-filled witness. May we, too, pray with heart and soul, work for justice with courage, and rejoice in the God who has never ceased to walk with His people.
“We are the Church. We are the living, loving, hopeful, and believing Church.” ~ Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman
Father Vincent Guest is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Camden, coordinator of the Diocese’s Black Catholic Ministry Commission, and Vicar for the City of Camden.
