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Over the past 9 months, a dedicated and passionate group of African American Black Catholics along with Black Catholics from the Diaspora and Caribbean began developing a gathering which we called The Unity Gathering Mass. This effort was inspired by Father Ken Hamilton, SVD, the Unity Steering Committee (Saint Patrick, Columba, and Benedict parishes) and the African American Pastoral Center including leaders of African descent from the dioceses of Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, and San Francisco.
This event would bring us together honoring Our Mother of Africa while celebrating our unity, and black spirituality. The enshrinement of Our Mother of Africa Icon (shown above) was installed at Saint Benedict Parish in Oakland. We invoked her blessing and motherly care for Black Catholics in Northern and Central California and others around the globe.
We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the document written by then, our ten black bishops entitled “What We Have Seen and Heard” that speaks to our evangelization, faith, and endurance as Black Catholics. It calls for us to be authentically black - bringing our culture and customs as gifts to the Catholic Church.
Additionally, we gathered to “Keep The Fire Burning” as stated by Bishop Ricard at the closure of the 2023 National Black Catholic Congress XIII. The gathering took place on November 2, during the first week of Black Catholic History Month and the Feast of St. Martin De Porres.
We were joined by priests from around the diocese:
Fr. Ken Hamilton, SVD
Fr. Jayson Landeza, St. Benedict/Divine Mercy
Fr. Kwame Assenyoh
Fr. Aidan McAleenan, St. Columba
Fr. Simon Mbuthi, OFM Cap.
Fr. Charles Onubogu
Fr. Alfred Amos Chukwuemeka, Igo community
Fr. Raymond Ogbemure, St. Cornelius, Richmond
Fr. Chris Ngoka, OMI, Sacred Heart
Fr. Ghebriel Woldai, St. Anthony and Chaplain of Eritrean Community
Deacon Chuck McNeil, St. Dominics, Archdiocese of San Francisco
Deacon Ron Tutson, St. Benedict, Retired
Deacon Earl JoHson, Saint Louie Bertrand
Deacon Larry Chatmon, St. Paul Shipwreck, San Francisco
More than 300 Black and African American parishioners joined in the celebration. The Icon was designed by Father Ken Hamilton and his vision transferred into a gorgeous ICON by Abbey Damien representing the Monks of Mount Tabor. The combined choirs of St. Patrick, St. Columba, St. Benedict, The Swahili, Igbo, and Eritrean gathered and gifted the celebration with their voices.
We were also blessed by the presence of three wonderful women with strong ties and legacies in the black community, Sister Marie De Porres Taylor, Dr. Toinette Eugene, and Sister Martin De Porres Coleman.
The mass included a Rosary service, Marian Procession, acknowledgement of past and present heads of Black Catholic Ministries in Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose. The ceremony also included one of our youths in the Lighting of Candle of Nzugo Saba on the Kinara representing the 7 principles of Kwanzaa
(https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/seven-principles-kwanzaa) that helps to continue building and maintaining a unified community.
For the 2025 calendar year, the AAPC will be collaborating with Fr. Ken Hamilton on an inauguration of the AAPC Father Jay Matthew Rites of Passage program for our youth ages 8th to 12th grade. In addition, we will begin the work of our Pastoral Plan of Action as a follow up to Congress XIII.
We are extremely grateful for everyone and every community that participated and worked diligently over the last 9 months to make this a successful event. This is not over. We intend to build upon this Unity Gathering.
You can view a selection of photos from this event HERE
You can see the entire mass on YouTube HERE
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