AAPC News, August / September 2025

The AAPC Newsletter, August/September 2025, Issue 21

The African American Pastoral Center proudly presents the Rites of Passage Program

Honoring Heritage. Building a Just Future. A partnership of the AAPC and Father Ken Hamilton, SVD as part of our evangelization and spiritual growth agenda for elementary and high school students.

We are excited to introduce our Rites of Passage program—a powerful journey of cultural pride, faith, and personal growth—for African American and African descent students and their families.

This transformative program integrates the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) with Catholic Social Teaching, grounding our youth in values that promote love, justice, inclusion, and social responsibility.

The seven modules, completed as a self-paced program, are designed to guide youth in spiritual development, cultural identity, and community engagement. Each module is grounded in a principle inspired by African and Christian values and includes a reflective task, measurable outcomes, scripture meditation, and opportunities for family and community interaction.

The modules incorporate the important KWANZA principles of Umoja (unity), Nia (Purpose), Ujima (Collective Work), Ujamaa (Cooperative economics), Kuumba (creativity) Imani (faith) and Kujichagulia (self-determination).

Launching this academic year in both our elementary and high schools, the program invites students to engage with one principle (or “pillar”) of Kwanzaa at a time. Over the course of the year, students will work to complete all seven. Their progress will be tracked online, and those who fulfill all pillars will be celebrated in a special end-of-year recognition ceremony.

We are grateful for the support of Ms. Sonya Simril and Ms. Driscoll, Saint Leo the Great Elementary School (8th grade class), Mr. Kenneth Farr, Salesian High School, Mr. Neal and Ms. McNair (African American Awareness and Knowledge (AAAK) group), Ms. Marguerite & Mr. Tony Greene at Bishop O’Dowd, and The Black Student Union represented by President Quincy Hare.

But this is more than a student initiative, it’s a family journey. Our younger participants will especially benefit from the active support of parents, guardians, and extended family as they explore and live out these meaningful principles in both academic and home life.

Together, we will help our children:

Embrace cultural identity and pride
Develop leadership and purpose
Foster community, faith, and social awareness
Strengthening family and school connections

We invite families, faculty, and staff to join us in uplifting our students on this empowering path. Your encouragement and support are essential—and deeply appreciated—as we guide the next generation in becoming agents of change, rooted in tradition and inspired by faith.

Let’s walk this journey together. Let’s honor our past and invest in our future.

U.S. Bishop's Administrative Committee Approves Transition of Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism to a Permanent Subcommittee

The new Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation will fall under the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

Read the Press Release from the USCCB

Welcoming our Young Adults (ages 18-40) African American/African descent back into our Church

Calling all African American / Culturally Conscious Young Adults (ages 18-40)!
WE NEED YOUR VOICE.

Join us for a candid conversation with Dr. Ansel Augustine, Assistant Director for African American Affairs, USCCB on October 18, 2025 TO DISCUSS WHY YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS IN OUR CHURCH. See flyer below for registration. NO COST, Nourishment provided!

Registration Incentive:

All registrants will receive free tickets to the movie Soul on Fire (watch the trailer here) for the 1:40pm showing at Regal Cinema on October 12.

Article from Word in Black on Millennials

Survey: Millennials and Gen Z are Going to Church Again

Driven by spiritual hunger fueled in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, a younger generation has supplanted Baby Boomers as the generation attending church most frequently per week.

Read the article from WORD IN BLACK

Newsworthy Events

Gratitude to Mr. & Mrs. Green for working with our African diaspora students and providing a space for self-expression and acknowledgement of their historical contributions to the community.

Symbol of courage, valor, and heroism

West African Wisdom: Adinkra Symbols & Meanings
The crossed swords were a popular motif in the heraldic shields of many former Akan states. In addition to recognizing courage and valor, the swords can represent legitimate state authority.

On Saturday September 13, 2025, I had the pleasure of being invited to Bishop O’Dowd’s annual Black Family Day celebration. The event was attended by more than 200 families and students. Honoring our ancestors, Ms. Marguerite Green and Mr. Tony Green engaged the community in a libation ceremony honoring our ancestors and provided the history behind the Adinkra bird.

The Adinkra bird, a symbol of the Akan people, has a rich history and significance. It is a representation of the proverb “Sankofa”, which means “to retrieve “or “to go back and get”. The bird is depicted with its head turned backward, holding an egg in its beak, symbolizing the act of reaching back to reclaim valuable knowledge, heritage, or lessons.

This symbol is often associated with the Akan proverb, “Soe wo were firi na wosan kofa a, yenkyiri”, which means “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten”. The Adrinka bird is one of the most widely dispersed Adrinka symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and clothing. It is also used in traditional Akan art and has been adopted by African Americans, and other Africans in the diaspora to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future.

The West African Community mass gathering was held on Sunday Sept 21 at Saint David of Wales parish. The group welcomed and honored the presence of Bishop Emeritus Peter Kairo who also presided at the Chautauqua mass the day prior. Photos of their vibrant mass are included for your viewing.

Gratitude to Bernard Mbugua for the invitation again to celebrate Mass with this community, where we are working to bridge our celebrations, cultural understanding and activities, particularly with our youth and young adults.

Dr. Tuttle posing with Most Rev. Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, and Ms. Dionne Cola, Pastoral Associate, St. Benedict Parish.

The AAPC participated in the Chatauqua celebration on Saturday, Sept 20 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, along with the other ethnic communities. We presented a harvest basket made of wooden carved Sankofa birds at the offering. The basket included an offertory cup, harvest corn, wheat, Kente cloth, and candles surrounded by harvest color leaves.

Health and Wellness

In keeping with my personal goal to keep our African American community healthy, I am delighted to report that the AAPC is partnering with the American Heart Association to introduce an informational Food Insecurity/Nutrition program. We have resources for families to explore that will aid them in security food for their families. Presentations will be piloted at three parishes in communities where most needed.

Blood Pressure Cuff Distribution

On another note, we have successfully presented to FOUR parishes (and St. Louie Bertrand is scheduled for a presentation on Sept. 28) in partnership with Ms. Nickole L. Long, Public Health Nutrition Services and provided training on the proper use of blood pressure cuffs. It is important for everyone to know their numbers. Knowing your blood pressure is extremely vital in preventing potential serious health events.

A Word about Asthmas in the Black Community

As asthma sufferers brace for the onset of fall allergy season, a nonprofit has ranked the 20 worst cities for the disease. And Detroit — one of a half-dozen cities with significant or majority-Black populations — tops the list.

On Tuesday, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked the Motor City first on its annual list of “asthma capitals” across the country. The organization found that Detroit had the largest number of asthma cases that resulted in complications, including treatment in an emergency room.

READ the full article from WORD IN BLACK by clicking HERE