Black Catholics

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Welcome!

Most parishes are reflective of the community in which the are located. If your neighborhood is predominently white – but welcoming of you whatever your ethnic background – than you will probably find the local parish to be the same. There are certainly parishes, particularly in larger urban areas, that are predominately black (or Polish or Irish or Italian or Asian), and you could probably seek one out. But “catholic” (with a small c) means universal and we come together from all places and all times to worship God.

I would hope you would never be unwelcome where ever you came to worship.
 
Please come!

Then introduce yourself to the priest. I know you will receive a warm welcome.
 
There are millions of black Catholics both laity and clergy.

The picture below are of Father Rex, sorry, I can’t recall his last name right now, in San Diego, California, one of the Priests who celebrates the Traditional Mass as well as the Ordinary Form.

He is very inspirational and always celebrates a highly orthodox and reverent Mass.
 
When I watch the H. Mass on EWTN I always see two black people, I assume they are a couple, seated on the right so I really don’t think there is any problem in America. Like someone said, the majority of Catholics are non-whites! Just here in Europa it’s very, very rare to see coloured people in church. On the rare occasions one does enter church and follows Mass, they do seem to feel a bit uneasy and don’t attend H. Communion for fear of drawing too much attention to them. Though in Congo for example the majority is Catholic after massive missionary work being done there. In Brussels we have some black priests from Congo due to absolute shortage of Belgian priests.
 
Personally, I have a special admiration for Black Catholics. I understand they have to step outside of their comfort zone if the nearest parish is predominantly White, or Hispanic or whatever.

While I think Black Catholics very quickly learn that the color of one’s skin makes zero difference in the Catholic Church, I still applaud and admire those that make the leap of faith and step outside that comfort zone initially.

God Bless!
 
My old commuter Catholic Church was more African Americans from the islands or Africa, Latin Americans and/or Phillipino than white people. My Church near my home is probably 99% white, there’s one black family there. It has to do with the demographics of your area than anything else.

Africa has 100’s of millions of Christians and about half are Catholic. In America it is too rare, not sure why, I suppose because Catholicism didn’t really come into America on a large scale until way after black people were already here and adopted Protestant faiths. (and I say that very loosely as I don’t want to bring up the crime of slavery but we all know it was more forced than adopted).

Catholicism is truly Universal, it always bothers me that we never had a Pope stand up 1,000’s of years ago and deride slavery and command Catholics not to participate in it, and have it enforced. Imagine what that could do to convicne people of the truth of the Catholic faith.
 
ChristIsLord said:
Catholicism is truly Universal, it always bothers me that we never had a Pope stand up 1,000’s of years ago and deride slavery and command Catholics not to participate in it, and have it enforced. Imagine what that could do to convicne people of the truth of the Catholic faith.
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While the problem of “enforcement” generally fell to the nations themselves and somewhat to the bishops in them (who were often lax in their duty), their has been papal condemnation since the kind of chattel slavery we associate with the New World came about. Here are some examples that dealt specifically with this issue (other Popes and the Second Vatican Council have also issued such condemnations along with condemning other evils, but the texts below deal primarily or exclusively with slavery).

Eugene IV
Sicut Dudum - January 13, 1435

Paul III
Sublimus Dei - May 29, 1537

Gregory XVI
In Supremo Apostolatus - December 3, 1839

Leo XIII
In Plurimis - May 5, 1888
Catholicae Ecclesiae - November 20, 1890
 
I’m not black, but Asian. Speaking about race or ethnic relations in general, the Catholic Church in my experience has always been open and extremely cordial to members from any ethnic or social economic group. I have always been welcomed in any Catholic church, in Europe, the deep south (Florida, Geogia, Missouri, Tennesee, Texas), in Canada, in the Carribean, in Hawaii, without exception in every place I’ve ever visited.

One of my fondest experiences is when I went to mass in Memphis. I was alone on a business trip and feeling a bit loney being so far from home and family. But when I went to Sunday mass, the parishioners were so friendly inviting me to an after mass social that I felt right at home and much less home sick.

Folks asked me where I was from and I felt as if I were in my home parish. It was as if God had known, I needed a pick me up, and the folks in that parish were there for me.

I never feel out of place in any parish in any town or city in the world. With the Catholic church, race or ethnicity simply does not matter.
 
wcknight said:
I’m not black, but Asian. Speaking about race or ethnic relations in general, the Catholic Church in my experience has always been open and extremely cordial to members from any ethnic or social economic group. I have always been welcomed in any Catholic church, in Europe, the deep south (Florida, Geogia, Missouri, Tennesee, Texas), in Canada, in the Carribean, in Hawaii, without exception in every place I’ve ever visited.

One of my fondest experiences is when I went to mass in Memphis. I was alone on a business trip and feeling a bit loney being so far from home and family. But when I went to Sunday mass, the parishioners were so friendly inviting me to an after mass social that I felt right at home and much less home sick.

Folks asked me where I was from and I felt as if I were in my home parish. It was as if God had known, I needed a pick me up, and the folks in that parish were there for me.

I never feel out of place in any parish in any town or city in the world. With the Catholic church, race or ethnicity simply does not matter.
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I am Asian as well. Thankfully, most of the people at my FSSP parish are Asian as well!!
 
Hey everyone, just a suggestion - to keep in mind Malia is new to all this stuff!! Words like Tridentine, SSPX, Novus Ordo, etc. probably don’t mean anything to her yet.
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you’re right, I have no idea what those words mean…hehehe…hopefully, I’ll learn as I read the posts and learn about Catholicism.

Also, I’d like to thank everyone who responded to my post. Everyone gave some really nice suggestions, advice and ideas.

I had no idea that there we so many black Catholics in various places. I’d be happy with just meeting one or two at the church I’m going to visit so I don’t feel like I stand out 🙂
 
You may still “stand out” if you attend a parish in a mostly white area as I do. We only have a few Asian and a few black families. BUT you will be accepted and welcomed by all, all proper Catholics anyway…
 
As has kind of been said, it depends on where you are.

If you are in an area with a large black population, you are likely to find some in the Catholic Church. If you are the only family in your area, then chances are you’ll be the only one in the Church as well:p . For instance, my parish back home only has a few black families, while an hour down the road, I suspect I may only find a few white families at Mass.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
I can’t imagine that anyone would have a problem with a black person coming to Mass. Catholics come in all races and nationalities. There’s a fair chance you will encounter a black priest since this country is mission territory for Nigerian priests.

I don’t know if it would make you feel better to know that there are Black bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, but there are. Two that I know of are Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta:
http://www.archatl.com/media/common/images/gregory/ABG-color.jpg

Bishop Braxton of Belleville:
http://www.diobelle.org/images/bishop05.jpg

I could also cite Cardinal Arinze, a leader in the worldwide Church (head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments) but he’s actually from Nigeria rather than from the U.S.

In any case, know that you’re welcome in the Catholic church.
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My bishop, George Murry, SJ, of the Diocese of Youngstown is also black. Everyone is welcome in the Catholic Church, so come on in, the water is fine!
 
Malia_Belen said:
Hi,

I’m new to the forum and I’ve found myself curious about the Catholic faith for the past few months which is the reason I signed up…hehehe although I’ve been kind of lurking and reading posts here for a while.

There are quite a few things that I’m unsure of about the Catholic Faith but I thought I’d start with the one that’s actually preventing from stepping into a Catholic Church although it technically has nothing to do with the Catholic faith itself so I hope I’m posting it in the right place.

I’m a little bit nervous about visiting a Catholic Church because I’m black. I guess my question is are there many black Catholics? Will people there think I’m weird or strange 'cause I’m there? I know these seems like silly questions but I’m human and it’s something that’s been on my mind because I don’t think I know any black Catholics.

Thanks for reading:)
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Come to our little conservative mostly white with some hispanic folk Church in Western Colorado and meet our wonderful young black priest from Kenya.

One of the up-sides to the shortage of priests in American is the Missionaries that come from Kenya and other parts of the world to help us out.
 
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is a great deacon from my area who is faithful to the Magisterium and speaks all over the globe on many different issues, primarily on the family and on Men’s Spirituality.

auremcordis.com/mission_lg.php

He’s on EWTN and on the radio.
’
 
Welcome, Malia…

In my town, there are 2 Catholic African American congregations, both of which have several Caucasian families as members. So you can see, that the mix can work both ways. Each congregation welcomes its minority members and they remain because they know they belong there:thumbsup: .
 
There are not only many black Catholics, but many black Catholic priests! You may want to visit the website of the National Black Catholic Congress- nbccongress.org/ to find out more. Everyone has a place in the Church and is welcomed with all joy!😃
 
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