Jackie Bolware regularly attends the annual Mass in Celebration of Black Catholic History Month. She said that every year it’s different.
“Today you could hear the children clapping and singing; that’s how you know it’s a success,” she said. “You could see the faces, the appreciation, and understanding,” from the music and singing to the homily by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, she said.
This year’s Mass was at St. John Neumann Church in Reston Nov. 23, followed by a reception in the parish hall. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Burbidge, joined by Father Jamie Workman, diocesan vicar general; Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Michael Murray, pastor; and Deacons Atanacio Sandoval and John Wagner. Music performed by the St. John Neumann Choral, including African American spiritual and Gospel songs, celebrated Christ’s kingship. Afterward, attendees enjoyed fellowship over coffee, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches, and viewed a display of images and stories of the “Saintly Six” — African Americans on the road to sainthood. The event was sponsored by the Black Catholic Ministry of the diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries.
Each year, the Mass draws Black communities from across the area, including parishioners from St. John Neumann, St. Anthony Church in Falls Church, Corpus Christi Church in Aldie, and St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, among others. This year’s event was also attended by the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary Court No. 398.
The Knights and Ladies Auxiliary, the largest historically African American Catholic lay organization in the United States, aims to serve the church and community. Court No. 398, the first and only court in the diocese, was founded in 2014 at St. Joseph in Alexandria. The organization focuses on families and is open to all Catholics.
“It’s just not all African Americans, it’s community,” said Cynthia Ragsdale, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Joseph. “It’s where we are; it’s where it is. And everyone comes and serves and sings and fellowships and that’s what it’s all about.”
Whether making Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets or supporting newcomers in the community with solidarity, information, and resources, that sense of serving community, whatever the need is, was shared by many attendees at the event from the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary to members of parish-based social justice committees.
“This year, of course, we’ve had a lot of discussions on immigration and what’s happening,” said Brenda Welburn, who has been on the racial justice committee at St. John Neumann for seven years and now serves as president. Welburn is also on the diocesan Advisory Council on Racism. One of her hopes for the work being done at the diocesan and parish levels is to find out more about what other parishes are doing and to help others become aware of the ministry. She also recognized Bishop Burbidge’s support for the work being done for racial justice.
“We hope we can fortify and support the bishop,” she said. “We know it’s not easy to take up this issue and to have his commitment means an awful lot to us.”
Service by the Black Catholic community is something Bishop Burbidge highlighted in his homily.
“It is a time to be ever grateful for the countless contributions that members of the Black Catholic community have made to our church and society throughout the ages and until the present day,” he said. He also highlighted the work that still needs to be done.
“Yet, it is also a time to acknowledge with sadness that there are still many people in the Black community and from other diverse and multicultural groups who do not feel welcomed, embraced, and loved due to discrimination, bias, and racism.”
Reminding attendees of their role in this important work, Bishop Burbidge said, “We all play a vital part in bringing about a transformation within this diocese and our church to eradicate racism in all its forms and to assure that, in imitation of Jesus, all persons are treated with respect, dignity, and as our brothers and sisters. For then, with the Lord’s grace, we help to reveal the kingdom of God.”
Goss is a freelancer in Arlington.
