Throughout November, we celebrate National Black Catholic History Month in the United States, honoring the rich history, faith, and lasting contributions of black and African American Catholics to the life of the Church. 

By the grace of God, there are currently seven African American Catholics on the path to canonization, with the most recent cause opened in 2022 for Servant of God Fr. Martin de Porres Maria Ward, a convert to the Catholic faith who was baptized at nearby St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. He later became the first African American Conventual Franciscan in North America and went on to serve in missions throughout Brazil.

We thank God for the vibrant black and African American Catholic community in the Diocese of Arlington and for the faithful witness and dedicated service of our black and African American Catholic priests, clergy, and lay faithful. 

May this month be an opportunity to honor their heritage, celebrate their contributions to our Church, and ensure that their stories of faith and perseverance continue to be shared with future generations.

New CatholicTV series focuses on service, driven by love, by Black Catholics on sainthood track

Celebrating the Fullness of the

Black Catholic Experience


An Editorial by Fr. Peter Damian Harris, OP

Chaplain, Office of Campus Ministry

Xavier University of Louisiana

Josephites Statement 
on Voting

As members of the St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (Josephites), our vocation has always been to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ while accompanying Black communities in the pursuit of human dignity, justice, reconciliation, and hope. For more than 150 years, our ministry has reminded us that evangelization is never separated from the realities of daily life. The Church accompanies people not only at the altar, but also in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and civic institutions.

Descendants and Jesuits Find a Path Toward Healing Through ‘What We Inherit’

Bringing long-overlooked stories of enslavement to light, the traveling exhibit What We Inherit: Truth, Repair, and a Promise to the Future challenges visitors to reckon with history while embracing the possibility of healing, accountability, and a more hopeful future.

By Sheila Hodges | Black Catholic Messenger

Since opening on October 5 at the University of St. Thomas, the What We Inherit: Truth, Repair, and a Promise to the Future exhibit has sparked deeper conversations and reflection on the importance of acknowledging the past and understanding what true reconciliation requires.

St. Joseph Church celebrates Gospel Choir’s 50th anniversary

By Claire Chapman | Catholic Herald

St. Joseph Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of its famous Gospel Choir with a vibrant, standing-room-only event filled with praise and thanksgiving Oct. 18.



Founded in 1915 to serve African American Catholics in Old Town Alexandria, the parish was packed with friends, neighbors and parishioners honoring five decades of musical ministry.

Relics of St. Theodore Guérin offer special connection to her inspiring life in Indiana

By Lauretta Brown | OSV News

(OSV News) — Catholics in Indiana recently marked the 20th anniversary of the canonization of St. Theodore Guérin, a saint who served their state, with additional relics being given to representatives from each of Indiana’s five dioceses, offering the faithful a special connection to her and her story.

Black Catholic History Month Events & Opportunities

From the Black Catholic Messenger

Here are the events in various Dioceses that you don't want to miss in November!

Each month, BCM rounds up events and opportunities that we believe Black Catholics should know about. November holds special significance as Black Catholic History Month, offering an opportunity to celebrate the rich history and invaluable contributions of Black Catholics to the Church.

Archbishop Shelton Fabre on the Call to Put Faith Before Politics

By putting faith before politics, Catholics can help bring the light of the Gospel into our communities to build a more just and merciful world. The USCCB developed resources to assist in the call to put faith before politics, including a one-page resource on what the Church teaches on faith before politics and an examination of conscience to help guide the decisions we make this election season and every day.

Watch this video to hear what aspiring Catholics may think about Mary

Catholics...I Think I Finally Understand Mary.

I’ll be honest… I think I was one of the people who misunderstood why Catholics honor the Virgin Mary. The more I listened, the more I realized I had some things backwards.

The True Meaning of Holiness

COMMENTARY: Holiness isn’t reserved for the elite — it’s the call of every Christian to live in union with God.

By Donald DeMarco | NCR

Our secular world has very low expectations for its citizens. 

Holiness seems out of reach and therefore unrealistic. “Have a nice day,” “Don’t do drugs,” “Don’t drink and drive” and “Don’t wear white after Labor Day” are today’s moral imperatives. They represent a kind of moral minimalism. Catholics who write and talk about being holy seem to be preaching pie in the sky. But what is left undiscussed remains unknown. Holiness, in truth, is both realistic and achievable. It is well worth promoting. 

NOVEMBER 1 – ORDINARY TIME

The Solemnity of All Saints

From Catholic Culture

During the year the Church celebrates one by one the feasts of the saints. On this day, she joins them all in one festival. In addition to those whose names she knows, she recalls in a magnificent vision all the others "of all nations and tribes standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, proclaiming Him who redeemed them in His Blood."

NOVEMBER 2 – ORDINARY TIME

All Souls' Day

From Catholic Culture

The Church, after celebrating the feast of All Saints, on this day prays for all who, in the purifying suffering of Purgatory, await the day they will join in heavenly glory. The celebration of the Mass, which re-presents the Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, has always been the principal means by which the Church fulfills the great responsibility of charity toward the dead. Death cannot break the bonds of the Body of Christ. —Daily Roman Missal

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: 8:30 PM ET – VIRTUAL EVENT

National Black Sisters’ Conference: Pre-Election Prayer Service

This virtual prayer service features SR. BARBARA SPEARS, SNJM, President, National Black Sisters Conference; SR. MELINDA PELLERIN, SSJ, Holy Name Church, Springfield, MA; SR. ANITA BAIRD, DHM, US Superior, Daughters of the Heart of Mary; RALPH MCCLOUD, Social Justice Promoter and Novice with Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart; BR. TYRONE DAVIS, Congregation of Christian Brothers.

NOVEMBER 7, 2026: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Mental Health Retreat 2026

The Office of Black Catholic Ministries invites you to a day of renewal, reflection, and connection.

Theme: Hope, Unity & Relationship

Join us as we nurture our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being through meaningful conversations and interactive breakout sessions:

NOVEMBER 28, 2026: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Save The Date: ONLY GOD

A Journey of Encounters, Conversion

and Endurance

The Keep On Teaching, 2026 theme will explore scripture stories focusing on the power of encountering Jesus that led to the conversion of Souls. It will be an opportunity to pause and reflect on Your conversion story as You journey towards holiness, plus an exploration of significant Sankofa moments of Black Catholic History that led The People of God to unite and endure...ONLY GOD!

Give Hope on Giving Tuesday

DECEMBER 5, 2026: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET

Sister-To-Sister Saturday Retreat

African/Black Catholic Women Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Theme: "Mental Health and Well Being"

Speakers: Mental Health/Mental Well Being Expert Panelists

DECEMBER 5, 2026: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET

Black Catholic Men's Conference

Theme: Empowering Black Catholic Men:

NEW EVANGELIZATION

Featured Speakers:

Rev. Stephen Thorne, Ed.D.

Rev. Wilfred Emeh

Rev. Kevin Okafor

Rev. Msgr. Federico Britto

Location:St. Cyprian Church

525 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143

Registration is Now Open for the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

Join hundreds of faith‑inspired leaders in responding to urgent challenges facing our most vulnerable brothers and sisters at home and around the world at the 2027 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) in Washington, D.C. from January 31 – February 2. Led by Pope Leo’s vision in Magnifica humanitas to build the city of love and mercy, the theme of CSMG 2027 is Builders of Communion, Committed to Justice.

Register now for CSMG 2027 and take advantage of the early bird registration rate!

Burial Site of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King

From the Martin Luther King National Historical Park website:

The Martin Luther King National Historical Park was originally established by the United States congress as the "Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Martin Luther King, Jr. Preservation District in Atlanta, Georgia" on October 10th, 1980.

The site was established to protect and interpret for the benefit, inspiration, and education of present and future generations, the places where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, where he lived, worked, worshipped, and is buried.

Burial Site of 
Fr. Cyprian Clarence Davis, OSB

From FindAGrave.com

Born Clarence John Davis, the son of Clarence W. and Evelyn (Jackson) Davis of Washington, D.C., Father Cyprian Davis, O.S.B., was a Catholic priest, professor, author, historian, and a Benedictine monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, where he served the community as archivist.

Burial Site of Bishop James Augustine Healy

From FindAGrave.com

James Augustine Healy was the eldest of 10 siblings born near Macon, Georgia, in 1839 to Michael Morris Healy, an Irish immigrant plantation owner, and his common-law wife Eliza Smith, a mixed-race African American slave. Like many other wealthy planters with mixed-race children, Michael Healy started sending his sons to school in the North. James, Hugh, and Patrick went to Quaker schools in Flushing, New York; James at age 7. Later they each attended the newly-opened College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. James graduated as Valedictorian of the college's first graduating class in 1849. Younger brothers Sherwood began at Holy Cross in 1844, and Michael in 1849, in its grammar school.

Burial Site of Venerable Pierre Toussaint

From FindAGrave.com

Designated "Venerable" by the Vatican and a candidate for sainthood. Pierre Toussaint was born a slave in the former French colony of Haiti, and was brought to Manhattan by his wealthy owners in the late 1700s. A profoundly religious man, he used his earnings as a society hairdresser to buy freedom for other slaves, and to help the needy of every race, color, and creed. During an outbreak of yellow fever in New York City, he risked his life to nurse victims. He also established an orphanage, raised large sums of money for Catholic causes, and instituted one of the nation's first schools for Black children. His life began in the former St. Dominique in the household of Jean Berard, a liberal-minded master by the standards of the era.

Order Of Christian Funerals

Although the Rite itself has not yet been revised, this edition of the Order of Christian Funerals (including Appendix 2: Cremation) was updated in 2019 in accord with The Roman Missal (published by Catholic Book in 2011) and includes texts of Sacred Scripture in accord with the current Lectionary for Mass, Volume IV (published by Catholic Book in 2002).

The Afterlife: Purgatory and Heaven Explained

By Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo's Surrender Prayer brought understanding and peace to countless souls amid the turbulence of the last century. Now, in our age of incomparable uncertainty, this miracle-worker and visionary writer offers the assurance you need to resolutely face the final things: death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell.

Imprimatur: Victorious Maria Costantini, Bishop of Sessa Arunca, October 31, 1982

From The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA)

This report presents findings from a national survey of adult Catholics about experiences and attitudes about race, prejudice and racial justice. The study examines Catholics' feelings towards institutions, leaders, racial/ethnic groups, and social movements. It also includes other general data collected in CARA national polls such as Sacraments received, education levels, and political party affiliation. This dataset is nationally representative.

Launched in 2013, Aleteia is a free online daily news publication. The site is available in six languages (French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish and Slovenian). Each month, more than 10 million readers access Aleteia through its website, app and social media channels. Aleteia reaches nearly 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the leading online Catholic media outlets.

Getting Involved: 
Why Extracurriculars Matter

From Springtide Research Institute

This study, conducted between November 2024 and April 2025, explores how young people ages 13–25 engage with organizations. The mixed-methods study combines in-depth interviews with 51 U.S. young people and survey responses from 2,977 participants. Interviewees were recruited through a random mailing to 6,000 U.S. households, while survey participants were recruited through an online panel using quotas aligned with census demographics for age, region, and race/ethnicity. Springtide also screened survey responses to remove identifiable fraudulent and inattentive submissions, strengthening the quality of the research findings.

The Black Catholic Movement

An Unfinished Fight for Self-Determination in the Church

by Joseph S. Flipper

In 1971, a delegation of Black Catholics traveled to the Vatican seeking a meeting with Pope Paul VI. While they did not meet the pope, they informed Vatican officials of the plight of Black Catholics in the United States. They wished to form their own church governance, independent from the White bishops who oversaw their diocese, so that they could exercise governance over their parishes and schools, which were frequently under threat of closure. Their journey was a chapter in a long history of struggle around African American missions and the place of African Americans in the Catholic Church.

The Call of Our People:

"The Call of Our People" is the official newsletter for the Subcommittee on African American Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The publication serves as a resource for the Catholic community, frequently sharing updates, essays, and spiritual reflections regarding Black Catholic ministry, civil rights, and social justice.

Josephite Harvest Magazine

The stated mission of The Harvest directs the magazine to: Encourage devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; to its namesake and patron, St. Joseph; and to the other patron saints of the Society.

• Foster racial and cultural understanding and reconciliation.
• Make known the achievements of African Americans that reflect the influence of the Catholic Faith.
• Recognize the labors of clergy and lay persons whom work for the continued development and the evangelization of the African American community.

The Catholic Islander Magazine

The Catholic Islander is the official magazine of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Our publication is dedicated to sharing the stories, events, and faith journeys of our vibrant diocesan community. Through engaging articles and beautiful photography, we aim to inspire and inform our readers about the life and mission of the Church in our region.

Ali Mumbach, MA

Research Assistant and Communications and Marketing Assistant at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C.

Ali Mumbach is a Houston, Texas, native with a strong academic background in sociology, faith, and culture. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas State University and a master’s degree in sociology from Howard University, where her graduate research explored Black young adults’ engagement with religion and spirituality. She serves as a Research Assistant and Communications and Marketing Assistant at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C., contributing to research on the Catholic Church and its communities.