"I am Black and beautiful"

Song of Songs 1:5

If you have a national event that you would like to share, please e-mail details to blackcatholics@usccb.org.

*The USCCB has the right to accept or deny any submissions.

This newsletter ends with a vocation prayer.

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We are grateful for our new subcommittee members that will work with our chair, Bishop Roy Campbell, and our USCCB staff person, Dr. Ansel Augustine:

Archbishop Shelton Fabre

Bishop Brendan Cahill

Bishop Jerome Feudjio

Bishop Jeffrey Haines

Bishop Denis Madden

Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD

Consultants:

Fr. Gregory Chisholm, SJ

Deacon Melvin Tardy

Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, Ed.D

Mr. Anderson Shaw

Mr. CJ Washington

Mrs. Dena Washington

Celebrating Black History Month

We join in celebration with communities all over as we recognize and uplift the presence and contributions of Black people this Black History Month.

You can learn more about, and view resources, related to Black History Month here.

The Subcommittee on African American Affairs joins the Xavier University of Louisiana community in mourning the sudden loss of their chaplain, Fr. Victor Laroche, OP. Please check Xavier's website for arrangements.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen"

February 1, 2026 is this years National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family, founded by the late Fr. Jim Goode OFM, and continued by the National Black Catholic Congress.

You can find this year's brochure here.

You can find additional resources related to the day here.

The Subcommittee on African American Affairs is hosting a special Black History Month event on February 9th at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Washington, DC. There will be a special screening of the new documentary film on African American Catholics produced by the Black and Indian Mission Office and a trailer premier on the upcoming documentary series by Catholic TV focused on the original "Saintly 6" (those with causes originating from US Diocese).

In person registration for the event can be found here (space is limited).

The online link for the livestream of the panel presentation (which will begin after the documentary is shown for the in person group) can be found here.

Congratulations to the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary on their Centennial Celebration, and the impact they have made on the Church and beyond.

We are grateful to the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Supreme Lady, Hilda Wiltz, for sharing a reflection on the Centennial Celebration.

You can read her reflection here.

Mr. Ron Jackson, former USCCB Policy Analyst and present Sr. Director of Government Affairs at Catholic Charities USA, shared a reflection on how Black Catholic spirituality calls us to be more involved in Public Policy work.

You can read his reflection here.

As part of the KEEP THE FAITH INITIATIVE, the Josephites are in the process of reprinting the African American Catholic Youth Bible.

This will be sold exclusively through the Josephite Pastoral Center in Spring 2026. More information will be forthcoming.

Call for Proposals

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History have sent out a call for proposals for their 111th Conference. You can find more information here.

Fr. Henry Sands of the Black and Indian Mission Office was recently interviewed about the 2 new documentaries that were produced about African American and Native American Catholics. You can read about the interview here.

You can learn more about the films here.

February 8th is the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita. Click on the image above to learn more about the Novena connected with her life.

You can learn more about her by clicking here.

A new movie abut the life of Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton is set to be released soon. You can learn more about the film here.

You can read the endorsement from Bishop Joseph Perry here.

Congratulations to Xavier University of Louisiana on their $38 million gift from philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott. You can learn more about this gift here.

Click on the flier to learn more about this opportunity for high school students interested in attending a Catholic college/university.

Click on the image above to read the report by the Leadership Roundtable on the state of the Church in society today.

The University of Notre Dame is offering support for young leaders engaged in ministry. You can learn more about this program here.

The updated report from our ongoing Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Sessions can be found here.

The new Mission Directive, which directs the work of the USCCB, has been affirmed. The Subcommittee on African American Affairs will be working towards initiatives that support this work over the next 4 years. Please pray for the subcommittee as we continue to discern how best to advocate for, and serve, our communities. Our initial focus is the several Black Catholic Young Adult (ages 18-40 years old) listening session that have been, and will be, taking place around the country.

We hosted several Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Sessions around the country. The first took place at Xavier University of Louisiana in November 2023. A national report was shared following this gathering, you can view the report here.

In April 2025, we held a listening session in the Diocese of Birmingham with a grant from the Catholic Home Missions Collection and support from the diocese itself. You can view an EWTN news report on the gathering by clicking here.

On August 25th and 26th, we held listening sessions at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in which a dialogue took place between the young adults and several Executive Directors, along with some local Pastors, here at the USCCB.

During the Summer of 2025 we held listening sessions with Black Catholic Young Adults at Yale University, the University of San Francisco, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Oakland, and at the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary National Convention.

Upcoming Listening Sessions are scheduled for the Archdiocese of Galveston/Houston, the Diocese of Beaumont, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Thank you to the Dioceses that have organized past, and future, Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Sessions in their regions. We are very excited about the fruit that these will bring to our Church.

One of the attendees of the Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Session held in Birmingham, AL shares his reflection on the gathering. You can read more here.

Nyle Grimes, daughter of former Assistant Director of African American Affairs - Mrs. Donna Grimes, and one of the team members and attendees of the Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Session held at the USCCB, shares her reflection on the gathering. You can read more here.

If your diocese is interested (must have written support of your bishop) in sponsoring (diocese must cover the cost of the session) a local Black Catholic Young Adult Gathering, please e-mail blackcatholics@usccb.org to discuss logistics.

Job Opportunities:

USCCB Opportunities

NBCC Job Bank

Loyola Institute for Ministry Job Bank (other organization links included)

Attention College Students. St. Vincent de Paul USA has limited internship opportunities (with stipends) at their new DC policy office. For more information, send an email here.

Black Catholic Formation and Educational Opportunities

To learn more about the Institute for Black Catholics Studies, click here.

Loyola Marymount University is offering several courses on Black Catholic Spirituality. You can learn more about this program by clicking here.

To learn more about the SANKOFA INSTITUTE at the Oblate School of Theology, click here.

To learn more about the New Frontiers in Preaching Academy, click here.

To learn more about the Tolton Scholars Program at Catholic Theological Union, click here.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES:

(click on the images to learn more details & deadlines)

Please click on the image above for registration information

Click on the image above to register for the event.

Click here for the zoom option.

Click on the above flier for registration information for this February 16th event.

Click on the image above to register for this webinar.

Click on the flier for more information

Click on the image above for more information.

The Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Fund of the Archdiocese of New York invites all to join their prayer line on Tuesday's and Thursday's at 7:30am EST.

Other Upcoming Events:

February 7, 2026: Young Adult Mixer at St. John Paull II Shrine (Washington, DC)



February 9, 2026: Pax Christi Webinar on Sr. Thea Bowman hosted by Michael Howard

February 10, 2026: Webinar on Being the Beloved Community - Hosted by Black Catholics and MLK Commission of New Mexico

July 24-29, 2026: Knights of Peter Claver & Ladies Auxiliary 110th Senior National Convention

Black Catholic Resources (continually updated):

For a list of resources and National Partners relevant to the African American Catholic Community, please click here.

For links to various other entities, please click here.

For a list of where Black Catholic Parishes are located (constantly being updated), please click here.

Reflection by Bishop Perry on Voting Rights

A Retreat with Thea Bowman and Bede Abram (2nd Edition) by Fr. Joseph Brown SJ

PAX CHRISTI 2026 Lenten Reflection Book

Click on the image above to learn more about this item and how to support the Collegiate Units of the Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary.