A Message from the African American Affairs Subcommittee
Dear Black Catholics, Ministry Leaders and People of Good Will,
We offer these resources to further ministry with and for Catholics of African descent across the country. Black Catholics find ourselves in many different situations from vibrant parishes and well supported diocesan offices to dioceses with no representation or parishioners struggling to be recognized. Regardless of the situation in which we find ourselves, THE MINISTRY MUST CONTINUE!
Prayer Cards and Pamphlets
- Download the
- Download the
- Download the
- Contact diversity@usccb.org
- Learn about the 6 black Catholic candidates for Sainthood in an hour
Sr. Thea Bowman's 1989 Address to the USCCB
- Watch the video.
- Read the transcript.
Race & Intercultural Competence (Readings)
- “Brothers And Sisters To Us,” National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB), Washington DC 1979
- “Discrimination And Christian Conscience,” US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC, 1958
- “How Church Teaching Can Help Explain why ‘Black Lives Matter,’" America, Sept 2020
- “Fratelli Tutti,” Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, Vatican City, 2020
- “Humana Communitas: 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Pontifical Academy for Life,” Pope Francis, Vatican City, 2019
- “The Inner Life and Cultural Competence,” Len Sperry, (found in): The Inner Life of Priests, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2008, pp. 59-70
- “The Journey Within and Intercultural Competencies,” Gerard J. McGlone, SJ & Fernando A. Ortiz, (found in) The Inner Life of Priests, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2008, pp. 72-81
- “The Lessons I Learned from My Hispanic Parishioners,” Msgr. Scott Friend, (found in ): A Priest’s Life: The Calling, The Cost, The Joy, The Word Among Us Press, 2010, pp. 42-50
- “Many Faces In God’s House-A Catholic Vision for the Third Millennium,” USCCB, Washington DC 2000
- “The Multi-Cultural Reality of Priestly Ministry Today,” (found in) Same Call, Different Men, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2011, pp. 92-111
- “The Nation’s Race Crisis,” US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC, 1968
- “Open Wide Our Hearts, “ USCCB, Washington DC 2018
- “Practical Steps for Eradicating Racism: An Invitation,” USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs, and Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, 2020
- “The Priest In The Midst of Cultural Diversity,” Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, (found in): Priests for a New Millennium, USCCB Secretariat For Priestly Life and Ministry, Washington DC, 2000, pp. 163-174
- “The Racial Divide: Are We Finally Awoke?”, Bishop Edward K. Braxton, Belleville, 2020
- “Reconciled Through Christ, “ USCCB, Washington DC, 1997
- Leveling the Praying Field: Can the Church We Love, Love Us Back? by Dr. Ansel Augustine, Orbis Books 2022
- Black Catholic Messenger at www.blackcatholicmessenger.com
- Plenty Good Room National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC 1991
- Black Catholic Young Adult Gathering - Program Design
- Black Catholic Young Adult Gathering Final Report
- Implementation Guide to Accompany 2023 Pastoral Plan of Action
- The National Black Catholic Congress - Write the Vision - Pastoral Plan of Action
National Partner Organizations
Directors and Coordinators of Black/African American Catholic Ministry may benefit from partnering with our national organizations, as well as collaborating with other USCCB offices, external Catholic organizations and their own diocesan staff.
Whether your ministry is fully supported in the diocese, hanging on the efforts of a volunteer priest pastoring multiple parishes with no budget or staff for this ministry, a lay leader operating through volunteers or anywhere in between, the ministry must continue! The following organizations may supply secret angels to assist and strengthen you on the way.
African Catholic Association - fosters collaboration within the African Diaspora
Contact: Sally Stovall, President
@email
Black and Indian Mission Office
Contact: Fr. Maurice Henry Sands, Director
@email
Black Catholic Theological Symposium (BCTS) - gathering of theologians and academicians who add to the body and knowledge and scholarly research in many disciplines
Contact: Dr. Kimberly Lymore, Convener.
Eat the Scroll Ministry (ETSM) - prayer, liturgical and catechetical resources, Black Catholic adult evangelization and formation
Contact: Evangelist Michael P. Howard
@email
Francis Bowman Ministry - from the Divine Word congregation spiritual formation for men and women
Contact: Shaniqua Wilson
@email
Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) - Based at Xavier University of New Orleans, offers master's degrees and one week enrichment programs in the summer, and related support to Black/African American people
Contact: Dr. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow
@email
Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, Inc. - a Black/African American Catholic fraternal organization that ministers to and develops lay leadership in men, women and youth & young adults
Contact: Dr. Christopher Pichon, Supreme Knight
Gracious Lady, Jackie Simien-Guillory
Grant Jones, Executive Director
Hilda L. Wiltz, Supreme Lady
Marriage on a Lampstand: Arusi Network, marriage and family life ministry
Contact: Andrew and Terri Lyke
@email
National African American Youth and Young Adult Ministry Network (the Forum)
Contact: Gyta Martim
@email
National Association of Black Catholic Administrators (NABCA) - professional association for directors/coordinators of Black Catholic Ministry (OBMs)
Contact: Fr. Reginald Norman, President
@email
National Black Sisters Conference (NBSC) - fellowship of Black/African American religious sisters, lay associates and Catholic women
Contact: Sr. Barbara Spears, SNJM, President
@email
National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) - a national non-profit organization committed to evangelizing the Black Catholic community in the United States
Contact: Valerie Washington, Executive Director
@email
National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC) - fellowship of Black/African American Catholic clergy (priests, deacons)
Contact: Rev. Kareem R. Smith, President
@email
National Black Catholic Seminarians Association (NBCSA) - fellowship of Black/African American seminarians
Contact: James Johnson IV, President
@email
National Black Catholic Deacons Association (NBCDA) - fellowship of Black/African American Deacons
Contact: Deacon Joseph Connor
@email
Oracle Religious Association (Oracle) - offers evangelization and spiritual formation programs for Black/African American youth, women and men (Catholic and ecumenical) and faith formation resources
Contact: Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin email: @email
Sankofa Institute - based in San Antonio TX at the OMI Seminary - Black/African American adult lay leadership formation, Catholic and ecumenical
Contact: Sr. Addie Lorraine Walker SND, Director
@email
USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
Contact: Danielle Brown, esq.
Associate Director - @email