Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception
The story has been told at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception for many years. Terrance Afer-Anderson commemorated it on film when he wrote and produced, “The Phoenix and the Ashes.” At each of the three showings parishioners told many stories about our history and ancestors.
In 1926 the Ku Klux Klan kidnapped Father Vincent Warren, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and School, a Black parish. A fringe group, commonly known as, “The Know Nothings,” wanted to prevent him from establishing a school for Black children in a neighboring county. Eventually he was released unharmed. St. Joseph’s was closed in the 1960’s and the parishioners were sent to Saint Mary Catholic Church. The pride and nostalgia of St. Joseph’s has had a great influence on subsequent generations.
As the collective memory of the old parishioners is being lost there is an effort to re-tell the stories of our ancestors as part of a family faith formation project. We are enriched by their stories and their reliance on the grace of God is a model for us. These stories tell us who we are. This is us!!!
We are grateful for the support of the Catholic Negro American Mission which aids in our effort.
