Black Catholic History
Report by Nadine Boulware On July 20-23, 2023, Brother Andrew McCarty OFM Cap, Deborah Lewis and Nadine Boulware attended the 13th National Black Catholic Congress in National Harbor, Maryland.

The following is a report from Nadine on her experience of the Congress:

The theme of the Congress was “Write the Vision. A Prophetic Call to Thrive”. The Congress is a gathering of Black Catholics from across the United States. The National Black Catholic Congress has a long and distinguished history. The first Congress met January 1-4, 1889 in Washington DC and was attended by Father Augustus Tolton, the first Black Catholic priest in the US. It was called at that time, The Congress of Colored Catholics. The first Congress was organized by Daniel Rudd, a former slave and journalist.

At the 2023 Congress I was inspired as I witnessed people being informed, fellowshipping with others, sharing their experiences of being Black and Catholic in 2023. More than 3,000 people attended, including bishops, deacons, priests and lay people. Deborah Lewis and I were amazed and thrilled to be in the midst of such a large gathering of enthusiastic Black Catholics from across the United States.

I grew up in an all-Black Catholic parish, Our Lady of Mercy, in North Philadelphia. I never met or even saw a Black nun or priest until I was an adult. When I was a child, it seemed that there were plenty of Black Catholics, though no clergy or religious Sisters. But over the years, as Black Catholic parishes closed in Philadelphia, I saw fewer and fewer Black Catholics. It seemed to me that Black Catholics were a dying breed until I experienced the 2023 Congress. I was discouraged at the diminishment of the Catholic faith among African Americans and at times, I doubted my faith in the Catholic Church, though I never doubted my faith in God.

I am here to bear witness that Catholicism among African Americans is not dying; it is thriving!

We are all children of God, no matter the color of skin or gender, but Black Catholics have a magnificent history in the US Catholic Church and that story needs to be told.

November 2023 is Black Catholic History month. I wonder how many people know that there are six Black Catholic Americans who are being actively considered for canonization as saints. I feel called as a result of my experience at the 2023 Congress to share the story of these six servants of God who fought to keep their faith and who guided others to persevere as Catholics.

I will begin with Father Augustus Tolton. He was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2019. He lived by these words: " Follow not a well-worn path. Go instead where there is no path and blaze a trail.”

I am ready to blaze a trail to help us learn how these six Venerables kept their faith in God. Walk with me over the next few months as I share their stories in the Saint John the Evangelist bulletin.