Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Since November 1990, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated Black Catholic History Month. The movement was the project of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. The Clergy Caucus first hoped to demonstrate that Black Catholics were not new to the Church; secondly, they hoped to encourage Black Catholics to share their gifts with the Church; and lastly, they hoped to call attention to the needs of the Black Catholic Community in the US. 

November was chosen for this celebration because of All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. These commemorations allow an opportunity to highlight the Saints of African descent and the virtuous souls who were members of the Black Catholic Community. The caucus members also chose November because November 3rd is the Feast Day of St. Martin de Porres, the only Saint of African descent in our hemisphere. 

This November Our Lady of the Rosary wishes to highlight the contributions of Black Catholics and hold up those on the Road to Sainthood as examples for others to follow. If you don't know about those on the Road to Sainthood (Venerable Henriette Delille, Venerable Augustus Tolton, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God M. Elizabeth Lange, Servant of God Julia Greeley, or Servant of God Thea Bowman), this is an excellent month to do some study. We have just added a framed print of these six examples on the wall near the entrance to the baptistry.  

Please join me this November in thanking God for the great contribution of the Black Catholic Community to the life of our parish, our archdiocese, and the whole Catholic Church in our country. 

                                                                           To Jesus through Mary,

                                                                           Fr. Jonathan Hemelt