A Haitian slave who became a wealthy New York City hairdresser and Catholic philanthropist. The foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, a congregation of African American religious women, nearly 200 years ago. The first U.S. Catholic priest known to be Black.
These and other candidates for sainthood, six in total, were remembered fondly by the diocesan Black Catholic Ministry and others during a series of presentations, followed by Mass with a Gospel choir at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Nov. 5.
In line with the year one preparations for the Diocesan Golden Jubilee, themed “Remember,” the conference was titled, “Do This In Remembrance of Me: ‘Remembering Black Catholic History and how it impacts our faith here and now.’ ” Approximately 100 people attended, including representatives from the diocesan Advisory Council on Racism and the Ghanaian and Togo communities. November was designated Black Catholic History Month in 1990 by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, in part because of St. Martin de Porres’ feast day (Nov. 3) and St. Augustine’s birthday (Nov. 13).
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge was principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass.
“Black Catholic History Month is also a time that, regrettably, we have to acknowledge the discrimination and injustice and racism that so many of our brothers and sisters experienced throughout history and, sadly, even in this present day and age,” he said. “The church teaches very clearly that racism is a sin because it is not true to the Gospel of life, which proclaims the sacredness of all life, without exception.”
Bishop Burbidge said that at diocesan listening sessions over the past two years, he heard stories of racial bias in the workplace, in schools and even in the church.
“We do not and must not accept that as a final answer,” he said. “Instead, we strive to do our part, each and every day, to welcome, support, include and cherish all persons of every race and creed.”
Deacon Albert Anderson Jr. of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria — the first African American ordained a diocesan permanent deacon — delivered the keynote address.
“We’ve got work to do here telling our story, our Black Catholic story. We’ve got history to share for the whole church, not just for the Black Catholic church, but for the whole church,” he said. “The stories that you hear tonight about these six African Americans on the path to sainthood, all of them went through challenges. They faced difficulty, oppression, racism, but each and every one of them led lives of heroic virtue.”
Anderson recalled the accomplishments of African popes and overlooked Black Catholics, the account in Scripture of an Ethiopian’s baptism that preceded the conversion of St. Paul and delivered a tribute to St. Martin de Porres.
“Every Black Catholic has a story to tell,” he said. “Share your story. Tell somebody. That’s what evangelization is all about.”
The philanthropist née slave (Venerable Pierre Toussaint), foundress (Servant of God Mother Mary Lange) and priest (Venerable Father Augustus Tolton) were remembered in tributes delivered, respectively, by Jerry Cousin of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville; Oblate Sister of Providence Marsha Hall; and Joseph Brooks of St. Joseph Church.
New Orleans-born Venerable Henriette Delille founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family and established the first-of-its-kind Catholic home for the elderly in the 1840s, recalled Emelda August of Holy Family Church in Dale City and another New Orleans native. Servant of God Julia Greeley joined the church in Denver in 1880, approximately 15 years after her emancipation, and her dedication to the Blessed Sacrament and Blessed Virgin Mary inspired many, said Mary Hicks of St. John Neumann Church in Reston. As a child, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Thea Bowman was drawn to Catholicism by how its adherents put their faith into action and she invited others to do the same throughout her lifetime, said Cecilia Braveboy of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Arlington. Rebecca McCullers of the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria offered a remembrance of St. Katharine Drexel as a peerless patroness of Black Catholics nationwide.
Beverly Thornton, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church, was presented with the Tolton Award by Bishop Burbidge. Formally known as the Father Augustus Tolton and Mother Mary Lange Award, it recognizes a layperson for outstanding service to Black Catholics in the Arlington diocese. The honorary plaque will be displayed at her home parish in Alexandria.
Jerry Cousin, chair of diocesan Black Catholic Ministries and a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, said the conference was “an outstanding opportunity to share the rich history of many African and African American leaders in the Catholic Church in the United States and from other parts of the world.”
“To be able to share the many contributions these African and African Americans have contributed to the world is such an inspiration,” said Beverly Carroll, vice chair of diocesan Black Catholic Ministries and a parishioner of Holy Family Church in Dale City. “We have to keep their light shining always especially during Black Catholic History Month. If we can take a little of their fortitude to forge a path for others to follow, half of our work is done. We must keep working to make a difference.”
In the Acts of the Apostles passage (8:26-40) cited by Anderson, an angel of the Lord prompted the disciple Philip to “head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” The Holy Spirit nudged him to engage an Ethiopian eunuch along the way.
The Ethiopian, a court official with responsibility for managing his queen’s finances, is reading Isaiah and invites Philip to join him and explain the Scripture’s meaning. Philip “proclaimed Jesus to him” and the Ethiopian immediately asked to be baptized, after which he “continued on his way rejoicing.”
Schweers can be reached at [email protected].
