HIV/AIDS Commission
The HIV/AIDS Commission provided culturally appropriate fans for each Congress participant; in addition, each participant received a copy of the newly designed AIDS Prayer Card. Also, Commissioner Mary Leisring, Director, Black Catholic Ministry, Archdiocese of Denver, contributed AIDS ribbons for each Congress participant.
The HIV/AIDS Commission hosted an HIV and AIDS exhibit booth, which provided resource material to over 500 Congress participants.
The aromatic smell of freshly popped popcorn drew Congress participants to our booth and once there they were invited to test their knowledge by taking an “AIDS Pop Quiz.”
One quiz consisted of statistics affecting African Americans and the other has global statistics. To test your knowledge click here.
In addition, Congress participants also received HIV/AIDS fact sheets, prayer cards, doorknob hangers, as well as other useful resource materials.
Commissioner Michael Scott conducted a workshop entitled “Mobilizing Black Catholic Parishes around HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention.”
Commissioner Chair, Dr. Beverly A. Carroll moderated the workshop conducted by Dr. Kirk Gaddy, Mrs. Cynthia Morris-Colbert, and Dr. Barbara Spears, SNJM. “Keeping our Children HIV Negative” workshop spotlighted the newly developed HIV and AIDS curriculum entitled “And the Children Shall Fly” along with the parent manual “On the Up and Up.” Each workshop participate received a complimentary copy on CD.
Dr. Barbara Spears, SNJM, Assistant Superintendent, Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Baltimore said, "It was very heart warming to see the depth of interest in a topic so important to our African American community, especially as it relates to our children."
The USCCB Committee on African American Catholics held a workshop in conjunction with Congress X on Friday, July 13, 2007 at Stratler Towers. The workshop entitled “Effective Models of Evangelizing African Americans,” was moderated by Committee Chairman Bishop Joseph Perry, offered presentations by Fr. Manual Williams, CR, Dr. Jamie Phelps, OP and Mrs. Therese Wilson Favors. Topics discussed were effective models of parish evangelization, formation of lay pastoral leaders for service to the diocese, and effective models of evangelization through outreach in the community. The discussion was lively, thought-provoking and enlightening.
On Saturday morning, July 14, following the opening plenary session, a Solidarity Collection was taken up to be divided between the Africa Solidarity Fund and the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans. A total of approximately $1,700 was collected to be divided evenly between the two entities.
Congress X began with a roll-call of the diocese followed by the opening liturgy. The Most Reverend George Murry, SJ was the principal celebrant and Most Reverend Martin D. Holley was the homilist.
Click here to view photos. (Photos provided courtesy of Willie B. Moore, Diocese of Columbus).
PARISH LIFE COMMISSION
The Parish Life Commission was all about Evangelization Ministry of African American Parishes. Because this is what Jesus called the Church to do and involvement in this ministry leads to improve the quality of life within the Parish. Therefore, the Parish Life Commission sought to engage Congress participants in order to secure a positive “evangelization attitude” and develop an evangelization plan that provided action both within the parish and on the streets. Even the Parish Life Commission’s interactive Exhibit Booth entitled, “Catching For Jesus” was an evangelization adventure whereby Congress participants went fishing for ideas on how to evangelize. This interactive experience allowed visitors/participants an opportunity to go fishing for insights regarding the ministry of evangelization in the African American community.
In addition the Commission held two workshops:
Insights for Investing in Evangelization was an interactive workshop which provided participants with an opportunity to discuss how to acquire an evangelization attitude that leads to action within Parish life.
Lead Presenters: Therese Wilson Favors and Rev. James E. Goode, OFM, PhD
Additional Presenters: Joyce Harvey, Rev. Marcos Leon -Angelo, Sylvia Royster, Wayne Richardson, Christine Streams, Patricia Waddell, and
Janie Couch.
Working an Evangelization Plan from the Inside Out gave participants the opportunity to discover some tools for building an Evangelization Plan for their parish, using a panel presentation entitled “Workers in the Vineyard,” in addition to research from a Gallup Poll that identified what attracts and maintains African Americans to a Christian Church was also discussed.
Lead Presenters: Therese Wilson Favors and Rev. Mr. James Turner
Panel Presenters: Rev. James E. Goode, OFM, PhD; Cheryl Pyles Sylvia Royster and Sharon Winchester
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
At standing room only the workshop, “Understanding Immigration from a Black and Catholic Perspective” provided a variety of insights into the lives of immigrants in the U.S.A. Using individual presentations and a dramatization, the Buffalo NAACP President, an Immokalee Farm Workers Coalition organizer, a Haitian-American immigration attorney and an actress from Catholic Relief Services shared strong stories of struggle and success.
The Moratorium Campaign on the Death Penalty recently expressed appreciation for receiving more than 200 signatures from Congress participants on its petition. Many visitors at the Social Justice Commission exhibit booth expressed the need and desire for further information and action on social justice issues in their parishes and dioceses. The Commission wants to follow-up by creating a Black Catholic Social Justice Ministry. For more on this future initiative please visit the NBCC Forum at www.nbccongress.org/forum.