Celebrating Black Catholic History Month
To the Editor:
During the month of November, the Catholic Church celebrates Black Catholic History Month to honor our country’s rich Black and African American heritage.
Below are some steps you can take to celebrate and honor Black Catholics this month and moving forward.
- Pray for the following Black American candidates for sainthood.
- Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian refugee and de facto founder, Catholic Charities of NY
- Venerable Henriette DeLille, S.S.F., foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family
- Venerable Augustus Tolton, first Black U.S. priest
- Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, a Haitian refugee and foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence
- Servant of God Thea Bowman, a religious sister, teacher and scholar
- Servant of God Julia Greeley, a convert to Catholicism and philanthropist in Denver, Colo.
- Review literature and books by Black Catholics.
- Black Catholic Messenger, a publication from the perspective of Black Catholics on American society
- Author and faculty member, Patrick Saint-Jean, S.J. of Xavier University including his articles and books “The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice: A Month of Meditations with Ignatius of Loyola,” “The Crucible of Racism, Ignatian Spirituality and the Power of Hope”
- Author and faculty member Anthea Butler of University of Pennsylvania, including her articles and books “White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America”
- Pray the Black Catholic History Month Novena from the Diocese of Dallas.
This novena focuses on supporting the cause of canonization of the first African American saints.
- Join a local social justice group at your parish; create special emphasis on the Black Catholic experience. Below are two specific groups that do work in this matter.
- St. Martin de Porres Society at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Davenport
- Racial Equity Initiative at St Thomas More in Coralville
- Reflect on your own attitudes of welcoming and inclusion in your relationships, work, and church life.
- Do I share perspectives or viewpoints with people that marginalize people of color?
- Do I support initiatives and policies that uplift historically marginalized people?
- Am I willing to learn and do more to end racism?
Karen Grajczyk-Haddad, chair of the Racial Equity Initiative at St. Thomas More Parish, Coralville
