| Assistant Director African American Affairs 
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Greetings Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ! With great joy do we anticipate the first visit of Pope Francis to the United States in September 2015.
Most will join through prayer and participate as spectators via broadcast and social media. Yet, why not amp up this historic experience by using the catechesis on family life (see item #1, below) in our parishes, dioceses and faith formation groups. Also, check out more exciting events coming soon and other good news worth sharing with your networks.
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Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive
Prepared by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Pontifical Council for the Family, study this catechesis to discuss it with others, particularly in parishes, and pray about how the Church can serve families, and how families can serve the Church. "It is by loving God and one another that we will be fully alive."
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NBCC Daniel Rudd Fund Grant Applications Being Accepted Now through September 30
What focus areas of the NBCC Pastoral Plan of Action need seed money to grow in your diocese or organization? Fuel great ideas from your wish list of programs and activities with a little help from the Daniel Rudd Fund. To learn more, read FAQs and everything you need to apply at this link or email Fr. Steve Thorne at [email protected].
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Register by August 27 for the 3rd USCCB Regional Training -
If you work with international clergy, religious and laity, the new USCCB Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States is for you. Learn about critical pastoral, administrative and legal issues that you may need to address and challenges you may currently face in multicultural Church ministry. This training will be held in Chicago on September 10, 2015. Find downloadable resources and other details here.
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Pastoring in Black Parishes, November 9-12, 2015
Sponsored by the Josephite Pastoral Center, this valuable training is for clergy, seminarians and pastoral leaders - including women religious and lay persons - working in any parishes with significant numbers of Black Catholics. Register now. See flyer
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National Catholic Collegiate Conference (NCCC) November 19-21, 2015
Do you want to build discipleship among young adults in your diocese? Invite college students, campus ministers and young adult ministry leaders to attend this NCCC gathering.
 Featuring a keynote presentation by Timone Davis, D. Min. - founder of Reclaiming Christ in Life (ReCiL), and on the teaching staff of Loyola University Chicago and the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana. Read more about it.
Furthermore, learn more about ReCiL and timone's ministry with young adults at www.PEACEcenteredWHOLENESS.COM
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Get Ready for the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
January 23-26, 2016 in Washington DC. Diversity scholarships available for qualified applicants.
Read all about CSMG and click on the Diversity Outreach Initiative button on the right navigation rail. Applications for funding assistance are due by November 6.
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Black Solidarity, a Transforming Power! African American and Caribbean People as Protagonists in Their History and Integral Human Development
This was the theme and context for the 13th Afro-Pastoral Gathering in Camp-Perrin, Haiti which Bishop Shelton Fabre, Chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs, Donna Grimes AAA staff and Kevin Day of the USCCB National Collections Office attended on July 20-24.
Truly a poignant and enriching experience, the group warmly welcomed African American Catholics in Kreyol and Spanish. Most notably, this trip confirmed that people of African descent have nurtured a common cultural seed that is a gift to the Church and society.
Likewise, regardless of where the people settled, we experience similar challenges. Without a doubt, African Americans Catholics must hear the call to help build bridges of solidarity and strength in the African diaspora today. View Bishop Fabre's photos and 7 posts at https://www.facebook.com/bishopfabre.
For more background, visit the AAA website resources page. Read the Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean. Use the questions from the Gathering, also posted on the webpage, in your local setting.
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Let the People Vote
Read Donna's blogpost on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. |
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Promoting Sacramental Marriage with African American Catholic Youth
At the Convention of the Junior Knights and Daughters of St. Peter Claver on July 11, 2015 in Orlando FL, this topic was explored with 200 teens in a lively and informative two hour session facilitated by Dr. Christopher and Mrs. Sonya Pichon of Houston TX. The Pichons addressed roles in the family unit, social trends that fundamentally challenge marriage, success tools and more. They got the youth moving about and exchanging ideas on personal qualities that build healthy marriages. The session focused on encouraging and building support for sacramental marriage as a desirable, achievable and rewarding vocation that manifests the gospel to the world. ead Donna's blogpost on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. |
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Travel to Africa: 3rd International Conference on Ethiopia and Its Biblical, Historical and Cultural Roots - November 4-12, 2015
Visit Addis Ababa, Axum and Lalibela. See attached flyer and form. |
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Your Partner in Ministry,
Donna Toliver Grimes Assistant Director - African American Affairs USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church |
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