Celebrating Black Catholic History Month

november is black catholic history month
- Each November, the Oakland Diocese is proud to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics - in our community, our Diocese, our state, our country, and beyond - and recall the saints and souls of Africa and the African Diaspora.
  
  We hope you will share in this opportunity to explore this history and rich heritage.
- Sr. Thea's Address to U.S. Bishops
  
  Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, devoted her life to sharing her rich African American Catholic heritage and spirituality in song, prayer, teaching and preaching. Watch Sr. Thea’s June 1989 address to the U.S. Catholic Bishops on Black Catholic Spirituality.
  
  Read the transcript of her address to U.S. Bishops here.
black catholic men & Women on the path to sainthood
- Venerable pierre tousaint
- Servant of God sister thea bowman
- venerable henriette delille
AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PRAYER
- GOD OF MERCY AND GOD OF LOVE
  we place our African American Families before you today.
  May we be proud of our history and never forget those who paid a great price for our liberation.
  Bless us one by one, and keep our hearts and minds fixed on higher ground.
  Help us to live for You and not for ourselves and may we cherish and proclaim the gift of life.
  Bless our parents, guardians, grandparent’s relatives and friends
  Give us the amazing grace to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
  Help us as your children to live in such a way that the beauty and greatness
  of authentic love is reflected in all that we say and do.
  Give a healing anointing to those who are less fortunate, especially the motherless,
  the fatherless, the homeless, the broken, the sick and the lonely.
  Bless our departed family members and friends.
  May they be led into the light of your dwelling place, where we will never grow old,
  where we will share the fullness of redemption and shout the victory for all eternity?
  This we ask in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Blessed Assurance.
  Amen.
  (Composed by Fr. James Goode, OFM, Evangelist)
additional stories of black catholics
- We celebrate the life and work of Father Augustus Tolton. "Good Father Gus" was born a slave in 1854 in Missouri. Tolton's family later fled the plantation to Chicago with the start of the Civil War - his father enlisting, serving, and fighting for the Union - dying in the war.
  
  As young children, Tolton and his siblings were enrolled in the local all-white Catholic school by Tolton's mother with the help of their parish priest - only to be forced out by angry parents. But Tolton's faith carried him, and his family, through. With the help of another parish priest, and the support from his family, Tolton continued his education and involvement in the church, despite protests and threats from white parishioners, being confirmed at age 16. Read more about the incredible life of Father Augustus Tolton from the Archdiocese of Chicago's wonderful website: https://tolton.archchicago.org/about
- St. Augustine
  
  Born in Roman Numidia - modern day Algeria - in 354 AD, Augustine dedicated his life to Jesus at 33, became Bishop of Hippo in 396 AD, and turned to writing as a way to explore his faith. In doing so, he helped redefine the place of the Church in our communities and society in advocating for change.
  A Doctor of the Church, St Augustine's inspired and honest examinations of society - its failings and strengths - prove themselves to be invaluable today. To St. Augustine, the mutual building of a moral and just society, a City of God built by all, remains unequivocally rooted in the unwavering principals of Christian faith and love. His inspired work, which we celebrate today, laid the foundations for generations of theologians - and for a society ever-building toward justice born of God.
- Photo credits:
  Venerable Pierre Toussaint © 2019 The National Black Catholic Congress
  Venerable Henriette Delille © 2019 The National Black Catholic Congress
  Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton © 2019 The National Black Catholic Congress
  Sr. Thea Bowman © 2019 The National Black Catholic Congress