On Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, 4PM, at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, NY, Rockville Centre's Office of Multicultural Diversity and Brooklyn's Vicariate for Black Catholic Concerns celebrated their annual Black History Month Mass of Thanksgiving. The guest homilist for the Mass was Rev. R. Tony Ricard, Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Archdiocese of New Orleans. There were also concelebrating Auxilliary Bishops and priests from both diocese. The Mass was attending by approximately 500 who led in song by the Sr. Thea Bowman Mass Gospel Choir. Pictures accompanying this article were taken by Mr. Greg Shemitz. Fr. Tony gave an amazing homily that was filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. The congregation gave new meaning to the words "Praise and Worship". The excited and filled congregation gave Fr. Tony a rousing ovation at the end of his homily. People went back to Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk completely uplifted.
