African American Affairs E-Newsletter
  October 2017 
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October is Respect Life Month.  It's a reminder of what we are commanded to do every day.  "Racism is a Pro Life Issue!  Our faith calls us to respect and protect every human life from its very beginning to its very end, and at every moment in between.  Protecting human life also requires us to protect the dignity of each person, regardless of race, physical condition, age or stage of life...May Jesus Christ, who conquered sin and death, help us build a culture of life where everyone is cherished." -  Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, August 31, 2017

Donna Grimes
Assistant Director of African American Catholics

USCCB Establishes Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
 
USCCB Establishes Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism  which will assist the bishops in addressing the sin of racism in our society and the urgent need to come together to find solutions.  
Read USCCB News Release and see initial resources developed by various USCCB offices for use in advancing this new focus area. More resources are available at www.usccb.org/racism and on the African American Affairs webpage.  More resources are coming soon!  
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Grace-Filled Black Catholic Women: Standing on the Promise
 
Save the dates July 28, 2018 for the 4th National Black Catholic Women's Gathering sponsored by National Black Sisters' Conference in New Orleans.  For more information call 202-529-9250 or email thenationalblacksistersconfer@verizon.net
 
Tolton: From Slave to Priest 

From Slave to Priest stage production opens October 5th in Chicago, IL. To schedule a presentation, donate and learn more call 360-687-8029. Consider partnering with neighboring dioceses to offer performances at 3-5 venues within a region. 
  
CSMG is Back! 
 
The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering is on February 3-6, 2018 in Washington DC.  Registration and Diversity Outreach Initiative materials are ready.  
Must receive financial aid requests by November 10, 2017.  Visit www.usccb.org/csmg

Share a Short Film to Introduce Servent of God Julia Greely of Denver 

Share a short film to introduce servent of God 
whose cause for canonization is moving forward.  Visit http://vimeo.com/151101683 and, consider highlighting in November - Black Catholic History Month - the exemplary witness of all 5 African Americans on the road to canonization - Mary Elizabeth Lange, Henriette DeLille, Pierre Toussaint, Augustus Tolton, and Julia Greeley. 
Register today for the Building Intercultural Competence for Minsters (BICM) Training of Trainers Workshop

Register today for Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) Training of Trainers workshop! This is a annual offering to prepare presenters to conduct USCCB's Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) workshops on their own. The event dates are February 15-17, 2018, during the Mid-Atlantic Congress in Baltimore, MD. Register today! Contact Yolanda Taylor-Burwell for more information at diversity@usccb.org.

  


US Conference of Catholic Bishops - 
Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church (SCDC)
Donna Toliver Grimes, Assistant Director 
Subcommittee on African American Affairs
| 3211 4th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017 | 
 | Email: dgrimes@usccb.org | Telephone: 202-541-3178 | Website 

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