UPCOMING EVENTS - SEE YOU THERE!!!
UPCOMING EVENTS - SEE YOU THERE!!!
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PLEASE PRAY FOR THEIR SAINTHOOD:
PLEASE PRAY FOR THEIR SAINTHOOD:
SEVEN BLACK CATHOLICS MEN AND WOMEN
ON THE ROAD TO SAINTHOOD
I am so happy and joyful to see, in my life time, that Black Catholics men and women are on the way to becoming saints. These brothers and sisters show us how to persevered in the midst of racism and rejection. Their example truly show how Christian people are supposed to live. Many Catholics claim to be Catholics, but the action I see is in most Catholics Christian is the opposite. The elders said to us many years ago, “actions speak louder than words”, and again “may the work I do speaks for me”. These seven Black Catholics on the road to Sainthoods give us the inspiration and courage to meet the struggles the with grace our God has given us.
Deacon Alfred Adams, Director- Office of Black Catholics, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Black-Catholics-Sainthood-Michael-Heinlein/dp/1681927926
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH ONE,
READINGS FOR THE WEEK:
READINGS FOR THE WEEK:
May 25, 2025
6th Sunday of Easter
A Humble God
The second reading from Revelations gives us a picture of the new Jerusalem as a sign of the power and majesty of God. Yet the other two readings seem to describe a humble God who wishes “not to place on you any burden beyond . . . necessity” (Acts 15:28), and Jesus in the Gospel tells his disciples that “the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name . . . will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14:26). This gentleness reminds me of an icon by the Russian monk Andrei Rublev that depicts the Trinity as three angels bowing in deference to each other. This humility may be what moved Jesus to say that “the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). It is certainly a unique way of understanding God.
I used to think of free will as God’s way of testing our worthiness for the kingdom of heaven. But it is more likely part of that same humility, God not being forced on us. While we are given ways to know God, especially through the scriptures and the witness of those who went before us in faith, God leaves us free to believe or not, to love God or not.
So does this mean God leaves us on our own to get through life? No, he gives us the Holy Spirit to teach and remind us of all that Jesus said. That “reminding” is an important way the Spirit helps us today. You may have spent years in religion classes or the RCIA process. When you need an answer to life’s questions, the Spirit may remind you of something you heard from a teacher or read in the scriptures. As you pray over that question, the Spirit may help you understand how the scripture applies to you. So the more you read the Bible, the more likely that the Spirit will have something of which to remind you. By Tom Schmidt
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b; Jn 15:26-16:4a
Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34; Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8; Jn 16:5-11
Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1; Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14; Jn 16:12-15
Thursday: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23; Lk 24:46-53
Friday: Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Jn 16:20-23
Saturday: Zeph 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Lk 1:39-56
RECOMMENDED READING
RECOMMENDED READING
From the Catholic Commentator:
From the Catholic Commentator:
St. Romain Twins Bring Catholics of Various Backgrounds Together Through Music
St. Romain Twins Bring Catholics of Various Backgrounds Together Through Music
From Fr. Joshua Johnson:
From Fr. Joshua Johnson:
I’m excited to announce that my new book, “On Earth as it is in Heaven: Restoring God’s Vision of Race & Discipleship” is going to be available for Pre-Order at the end of April! In this book, I address the racial divide in the United States of America & I offer practical suggestions that we can all do to console the Heart of Jesus by cultivating unity in the geographical boundaries of our communities. Jesus prayed for unity in John 17. We are invited to join together in prayer, fasting and collaboration so that we can fulfill the desires of Jesus! How can we do this? I suggest we reorient our attention to the ministry of the Early Church in the Bible. Prior to His Ascension into Heaven, Jesus commanded His Apostles to go out and make disciples of all nations.
The Greek word for “nations” is “ethnos” and it is translated into our English word, “ethnicities.” After spending many days together in prayer, the Apostles and many other intentional disciples of Jesus received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Upon the receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, they all went out to accompany people in discipleship from Africa, Asia and Europe.
The fruit of their ministry was supernatural! In the Book of Revelation, John saw a vision of Heaven and he saw people from every race, nation, tribe and tongue joined together in worship of God. If the geographical boundaries of your Parish is filled with people of different races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic backgrounds then I propose you join me in continuing the mission of Jesus so that our Church on Earth can look a lot more like the Church in Heaven! Imagine what our Country could be like if everyone in our community was invited to look at the Face of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and listen to the voice of Christ in the Sacred Scriptures. The fruit of our communal prayer together can transform our hearts and minds. It can also inspire us to work together to reform the unjust practices and policies that continue to perpetuate division in our land. Discipleship isn’t easy but nothing is impossible with God.
I want to invite you to go to www.ascensionpress.com/onearth so that you can sign up now to be notified when my new book will be available for pre-order.
"What We Have Seen and Heard"
"What We Have Seen and Heard"
A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization from the Black Bishops of the United States
On June 22, 2024, the Office of Black Catholics held a workshop at St. Catherine of Sienna in Donaldsonville about this important document. It was given by Deacon Alfred Adams and facilitated by Ms. Cassandra Will. Participants were from the South Deanery-St. Benedict the Moor and St. Augustine, St. James and St. Philip, and St. Catherine. Feel free to download and take a copy of the document below for yourself.
USCCB What We Have Seen and Heard.pdf
Held at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge
Officiant: Bishop Michael Duca
Captured by: CatholicLifeTV-Baton Rouge
SEE YOU THERE!!
SEE YOU THERE!!
2025 National Black Catholic Men's Conference
Theme: "The Forge (Matthew 28:18-20)"
October 9th - 12th, 2025
New Orleans, LA
For more info, check www.bowmanfrancis.org
2025 National Black Catholic Men's Conference AD Booklet Letter.docx2025 Vendor Exhibitor Registration Form.pptxFOR CATHECHISTS
FOR CATHECHISTS
Inspired by the USCCB’s statement “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism,” and created in collaboration with Loyola Press, Everyone Belongs, empowers young readers to reflect on the reality of racism in our society, to see it through the lens of history and faith, and act towards respect, understanding, and friendship.
In this fully illustrated book for children ages 5-12, Ray Ikanga is a young boy whose family fled violence in their home country to come to the United States as refugees. The family moves into a new neighborhood and Ray begins making new friends. His excitement is interrupted, however, when someone spray paints a hurtful message on their garage: “Go home!”
Everyone Belongs is a book about recognizing the value of our differences, respecting each other, and forgiveness.
Order yours now: www.usccb.org/resources/everyone-belongs-0
EveryoneBelongsActivities_Intro-Gr5.pdfThe Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated and honored Saturday, November 4, 2023 as a day of Black Catholic History and as a day of United States History
A SPECIAL THANKS to the following for playing an instrumental part in the memorable success of “Celebrating Saints of African Ancestry: Black Catholic History Month”:
Bishop Michael G. Duca, Concelebrating Priests, Deacons and Acolytes; Office of Black Catholics and director, Deacon Alfred Adams; Fr. Thomas F. Clark, SJ, Homilist; the Lectors, Diocesan Gospel Choir, Liturgical Dancers, and Liturgical Coordinator; Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R, St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church (hosting church parish), and students from Redemptorist/St. Gerard Majella Catholic school who portrayed Saints of African Ancestry; Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary; All supportive attendees including clergy, religious sisters, and church parishes
NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC CONGRESS RECAP
NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC CONGRESS RECAP
CANONIZATION UPDATE NEWS
CANONIZATION UPDATE NEWS
Mother Lange canonization cause takes step forward
Mother Lange canonization cause takes step forward
By Matthew Liptak
Special to the Catholic Review
The canonization cause of Mother Mary Lange, founder of the world’s first sustained women’s religious community for Black women, has taken a step forward.
Sister Rita Michelle Proctor, superior general of the Baltimore-based Oblate Sisters of Providence, said her religious community received a Feb. 27 email from the Holy See informing the sisters that the positio – the documentation on the life of Mother Lange, which includes both the theological and historical record of her life – has been approved by the Vatican.
Sister Rita Michelle made the announcement March 5 at her religious community’s motherhouse in Arbutus during the annual conferral of the Mother Lange Awards honoring local Catholics active in the Black Catholic community.
More than 300 people broke into applause and cheers at the news.
“I don’t want you to go and say Sister Rita Michelle has just gone and proclaimed Sister Mother Lange a saint,” Sister Rita Michell said, noting that the sisters have long considered their religious community’s founder a saint in their hearts.
Mother Lange’s positio will go to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for review, Sister Rita Michelle said.
“Once they have concluded the review, it will be sent to Pope Francis, and he will declare Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said he was excited to hear the news.
“With each step forward, more people learn about the life and legacy of our beloved Mother Lange,” he said. “She unlocked educational opportunities for children in Baltimore and beyond during her lifetime – and that impact continues today. The Oblate Sisters have worked very hard to help bring about this key development. Along with so many others, we are delighted.”
From: The Josephite Harvest
CHECK THIS OUT!
CHECK THIS OUT!
PRAYER FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY
God of Mercy and 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 and grandparents, 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 less fortunate, especially the motherless, the fatherless, 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.
Holy Mary, Mother of Our Families, pray for us.
Prayer composed by FR. JIM GOODE, OFM, who in 1989 founded this National Day of Prayer for the African American Family.
FROM THE NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC CONGRESS:
FROM THE NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC CONGRESS:
In his apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (RVM), St. John Paul II tells how we are to assimilate the mysteries of the rosary by meditating on the life of Jesus as we contemplate each mystery. When we immerse ourselves into the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and we are rewarded by the "fruits" of the mysteries listed below:
Joyful Mysteries:
Annunciation: humility;
Visitation: love of neighbor;
Birth of Jesus: detachment;
Presentation: obedience;
Finding in the Temple: greater commitment & devotion to Jesus.
Luminous Mysteries:
Baptism: openness to the Holy Spirit;
Miracle at Cana: Mary’s intercession;
Proclamation of the Kingdom & Repentance: Christian witness and conversion;
Transfiguration: courage to bear the cross;
Institution of the Holy Eucharist: greater love for the Eucharist.
Sorrowful Mysteries:
Agony in the Garden: trust in God;
Scourging at the Pillar: purity;
Crowning with Thorns: fortitude;
Carrying of the Cross: perseverance in trials;
Crucifixion: forgiveness for others.
Glorious Mysteries:
Resurrection: faith;
Ascension: hope;
Descent of the Holy Spirit: gifts of the Holy Spirit;
Assumption: To Jesus through Mary;
Coronation: final perseverance.
WBRZ Channel 2 interview with Deacon Alfred Adams during Black History Month. Taken place at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church in Napoleonville, LA
Black Faith Matters
The role of this documentary is to shed light on "one story" of the Black Catholic experience. An experience unknown to many in our church. An experience that, although unique, is relatable to the Black Catholic, specifically African American Catholic, experience throughout America.
Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991)
Nothing is more practical than
in a quite absolute, final way.
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
and it will decide everything.
Ignatian Spirituality, Prayers by St. Ignatius and Others. Prayer originally found "From Finding God in All Things: A Marquette Prayer Book © 2009 Marquette University.
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