Office of Black Catholic Ministry
Blessed by the support of the Black and Indian Mission Office, the program, Tolton’s Legacy: A Road May to Unity – 2020 Vision was sponsored by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry at the Archdiocese of Denver in recognition of National Black Catholic History Month on Saturday, November 14, 2020. The event was moderated by Reverend Canon A. Gerard Jordan, O. Praem. ,who serves as the Sacramental Minister of St. Edward Church in the Diocese of Lafayette, LA, the Special Assistant to Bishop Joseph Perry in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and as the Executive Director of the New Tolton Spirituality Center. The program focused on prayer and an examination of the life and legacy of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, the first recognized Black priest in the United States, as the framework to identify opportunities for justice, healing and reconciliation in our present time, with the hopes of ultimately eradicating racism in our Church. Beginning with an enthusiastic greeting from His Eminence Cardinal Wilton Gregory, prerecorded sessions included presentations from Dr. Cecilia Moore from the University of Dayton, Fr. David Jones, Pastor of St. Benedict the African Church in Chicago, IL and Bishop Joseph Perry, Postulator for the Tolton Cause for Canonization. Additionally, Bishop Perry participated in a lively question and answer session with the nationwide Zoom audience following the recorded sessions. The Denver Office of Black Catholic Ministry was delighted to host such a powerful day of reflection and renewal in the midst of our current health pandemic and racial unrest.
