Demographics

There are 3 million African American Catholics in the United States.

Of Roman Catholic parishes in the United States, 798 are considered to be predominantly African American. Most of those continue to be on the East Coast and in the South. Further west of the Mississippi River, African American Catholics are more likely to be immersed in multicultural parishes as opposed to predominantly African American parishes.

Dioceses with significant number of African Americans include, in descending order, include:

• Brooklyn, NY
• New York City, NY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• Miami, FL
• Detroit, MI
• Galveston-Houston, TX
• Washington DC
• Orlando, FL
• Atlanta, GA
• San Bernardino, CA
• Oakland, CA
• Philadelphia, PA
• New Orleans, LA
• Baltimore, MD

About 76% of African American Catholics are in predominating white parishes and 24% are in predominately African American parishes. Many others are in diverse or multicultural perishes, through often not in the majority. At present there are 12 living African American Bishops, including one Cardinal and one Archbishop. Also, there are 5 retired bishops. Currently, 4 U.S. dioceses are headed by African American bishops.

According to our most recent data, there are 250 African American priests, 437 deacons, and 75 men of African descent in seminary formation for the priesthood in the United States. There are 400 African American religious sisters and 50 religious brothers.

The African American or Black population in the United States is estimated to be just over 41 million people (12.9% of the total U.S. population) many also identify as Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino or Haitian. By the year 2050, the African American or Black population is expected to almost double its present size to 62 million, and it will increase its percentage of the U.S. population to 16%.

Sources: www.uspapalvisit.org/backgrounders/african_american.htm
The Catholic Church: By the Numbers, USCCB Office of Media Relations (2012)
CARA Report, Black Catholics in the United States (Aug. 2019)
Updated: Jan. 2020  

Predominantly African American Parishes

Good news! For travelers, students, military families and persons relocating for employment, there is no need to skip Mass. Likewise, African American Catholics who wish to grow in faith with other African American Catholics need not despair of finding a "Church Home” in the Catholic Christian tradition. What follows is a compilation of Catholic parishes that are predominantly African American Catholics. Notify the Subcommittee of updates to this list via email to: @email. (read more)