Black Catholics

[Malia_Belen]

I don’t know if I’ve read everyones’ posts here. I hope I did and I think I did. I just wanted to say thank you once again 'cause this was my first post and as I’ve said before I never thought I get so many replies. So thanks because everyone posted some really helpful ideas and advice and mass has been really great…so far I’ve been for five Sundays

 

[Malia_Belen]

:ehh: Ok.

So which was that other person talking about? I still don’t see an answer to that question. Can you figure it out?

As I’ve mentioned before, chances are he’s black since the poster hasn’t posted otherwise but if it’s important for you to know for sure just ask him. It’s not a big deal.

 

[Malia_Belen]

Also, if you read some of the other posts people will tell you if their African American or black priest is really from Africa. Generally when people say African-American, they mean black American unless otherwise stated.

Also, now that I think about I know black people who became Americans and they just tack on their country plus American…aka…Haitian American or Algerian American.

 

[cricket36]

Malia, you have been very very patient with us; especially about the whole issue of which term to use. I am a white person who goes to a Catholic Church with a predominently Black congregation. I prefer it… for many reasons.

Anyway, I also use the two terms interchangeably… The one I use seems to be the right one for the particular occasion, if that makes any sense. I don’t see any issues when I use either one with my Black (African American) friends

If a person from Africa attends our Mass, it is obviously known right away which is their continent of birth. Their style of dress with such beautiful colors and their accent are a giveaway also. Of course, some of these Black folk could be from the islands also… One wouldn’t call them African American at that point…

Anyway, I know you will bring joy to any Catholic parish family that you join.

 

[Matariel]

Just a friendly reminder:

It’s “African-American”, “Caucasian-American”, “Chinese-American”, etc., with a hyphen. Please do not neglect the English language by failing to hyphenate.

 

[jonnyws]

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

In my parish a good 20% of the congragation are black and in the parish down the road the priest is black. You’ve got no problem.

 

[WaldMissionar]

Hi Malia,

I like to remember how Jesus was born, preached, and died in what is now known as the Middle East. All his Apostles and the first Christians were Middle Easterners. Amen! Funny how in the US, a supposedly Christian nation, there is so much animosity against Middle Easterners.

At any rate, I go to a traditional parish in Oakland, CA. It’s a small church and the Mass I attend there are a few blacks that I’ve noticed, but I sit in the front and don’t look around during Mass. Come to think of it, I haven’t noticed any Chicanos except me and the Dominican brother. But I don’t even pay attention. Come to a Mass and pray with us, and you will realize that what’s going on is spiritual communion with God and indeed everyone present. Like when we all chant Confetior together. Unity! Worldly construct such as race are irrelevant among the reverent.

One of the most popular Saints: St. Augustine–African! africanamericans.com/BlackSaints.htm

God came to save His people. We are all His people, because there is only one people, Homo sapien.

God be with you, sista in Christ!
Gina

 

[Shin]

I love St. Moses the Black and St. Benedict the Black.

Abba Moses’s teachings recorded by Cassian I love to read.

My first confessor was a missionary priest from Nigeria, one of the humblest men I’d ever met. I love him for that, he teaches people just by living and being who he is, without even knowing it fully.

I need to learn from him.

 

[KCtheMommy]

Hi and Welcome!

Yes, there are many black catholics (I haven’t read this entire thread but I am sure I am repeating the general theme) and you will be welcomed regardless of the color of skin. If you were green with purple polka dots you would be welcome! This is the world-wide church. There are catholics of every race.

Anyway, one of my very best friends in the whole-wide-world-including-outer-space is black. And Catholic.

Welcome home, and we are so glad to have you!

 

[Majobe]

Hi Malia

Go in and give praise to God ,there might be a blessing in there for you but Satan makes you doubt yourself with something as petty as your Color.How pathetic is that?God loves and cares for all of us.
Here in South Africa we have Black priests all over even in the areas most populated by white people.Welcome .

 

[Cinette]

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

I think the Catholic Church should welcome you. Black people have great human warmth, big smiles and a sense of humour.

I think you will find plenty black people in heaven too.

Cheers
Cinette

P S And - they can sing beautifully!

 

[Apryl]

but Satan makes you doubt yourself with something as petty as your Color.How pathetic is that?God loves and cares for all of us.

I don’t think it’s fair to accuse the OP of self doubt because of their color.

Sadly, here in the US, it’s a very common problem. Many people have to wonder if they will be welcomed in a new venue because of their color. It’s not anything about doubt of self, but about fear of the unknown.

 

[script77]

l’m Black. l have been in the Catholic Church since l was born. Baptised as a baby, first Holy Communion at age 8, Confirmation at age 10, went to a Catholic primary school and was just one of hundreds of thousands, even millions growing up in Nigeria.
Now living in England, there are still Black Catholics in my parish, though not as many as in Nigeria.

Remember, the Catholic Church is universal, and will bhe found in every corner of the world; Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

God bless you as His Spirit speaks to your heart and guides you Home.

Amen.

 

[Majobe]

I don’t think it’s fair to accuse the OP of self doubt because of their color.

Sadly, here in the US, it’s a very common problem. Many people have to wonder if they will be welcomed in a new venue because of their color. It’s not anything about doubt of self, but about fear of the unknown.

Hi

I did not mean she was doubting herself I just did not know how it was in your country.It is just that I am Black and was born catholic and never had a problem even before Nelson Mandela became president.Church was the one place where we even had white priests.

Sorry…

 

[script77]

l’m Black. l have been in the Catholic Church since l was born. Baptised as a baby, first Holy Communion at age 8, Confirmation at age 10, went to a Catholic primary school and was just one of hundreds of thousands, even millions growing up in Nigeria.
Now living in England, there are still Black Catholics in my parish, though not as many as in Nigeria.

Remember, the Catholic Church is universal, and will bhe found in every corner of the world; Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

God bless you as His Spirit speaks to your heart and guides you Home.

Amen.

 

[AveSantaMaria]

Lovely resources for the African diaspora on Catholics with some African descent. :clapping: :crying: :dancing:

**Dr. Alveda King, niece of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. **
Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life and Coordinator of African American Outreach priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/index.htm

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America. 78% of their clinics are in minority communities. Blacks make up 12% of the population, but 35% of the abortions in America. Are we being targeted? Isn’t that genocide? We are the only minority in America that is on the decline in population. If the current trend continues, by 2038 the black vote will be insignificant. Did you know that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a devout racist who created the Negro Project designed to sterilize unknowing black women and others she deemed as undesirables of society? The founder of Planned Parenthood said, “Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated.” How is her vision being fulfilled today?

Minority women constitute only about 26% of the female population (age 15-44) in the United States, but they underwent approximately 36% of the abortions. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion. On average, 1,452 black babies are aborted every day in the United States.

This incidence of abortion has resulted in a tremendous loss of life. It has been estimated that since 1973 Black women have had over 13 million abortions. Michael Novak had calculated “Since the number of curent living Blacks (in the U.S.) is 31 million, the missing 10 million represents an enormous loss, for without abortion, America’s Black community would now number 41 million persons. It would be 35% larger than it is. Abortion has swept through the Black community like a scythe, cutting down every fourth member.”

A highly signifiant 1993 Howard University study showed that African American women over age 50 were 4.7 times more likely to get breast cancer it they had had any abortions compared to women who had not had any abortions.

You can promote Life!

From L.E.A.R.N (Life Education and Resource Network) – www.learninc.org

Cardinal Francis Arinze
http://www.monasticdialog.com/images/authors/arinze_cardinal.jpg

Francis Arinze, (born 1 November 1932) is an Igbo Nigerian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, having served as prefect from 2002 to 2008. He is also Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni (succeeding Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI) since 2005. Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II, and was considered papabile before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XVI.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Arinze

Youtube: On being pro-life for yourself and pro-choice for others catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12317
Excerpts

"To the person who says, ‘Personally, I am against abortion, but then if people really want to do it I leave them free’ you can say 'You are a member of the senate or the congress.

"Personally I am not in favor of shooting the whole lot of you, but is somebody else wants to shoot all of you in the senate or all of you in the congress, it’s just pro-choice for that.

"But personally I’m not in favor.’

“That is what they are saying,” the cardinal argued.

“They are saying that personally, he is not in favor of killing these millions of children in the womb, but if others wnat to do it, he is pro-choice.”

Cardinal Arinze made a joking aside, saying, “And then you ask me ‘What does the Holy See do, why doesn’t the Pope send a dozen Swiss Guards to arrest them all’.”

The cardinal noted that he is often asked if a politican who votes for abortion should receive Holy Communion.

He said his reply was, “Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that?”

“Get the children for first communion and say to them, somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time and these babies are killed, not one or two, but in millions, and that person says I am a practicing Catholic, should that person receive communion next Sunday?”

St. Katharine Drexel
http://www.wf-f.org/WFFResource/StKatharineDrexel.jpg

She is one of only eight American saints. She established 63 schools for Native Americans and blacks, a religious order on behalf of Native Americans and blacks, and also founded Xavier University in Louisiana (a HBCU). She donated $20 million of her own personal funds to the endeavor.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_Drexel

 

[AveSantaMaria]

St. Augustine of Hippo
http://www.richardcannuli.org/photosicons/agustine.jpg

Scripture is infalliable because it was listed at the Synod of Hippo chaired by St. Augustine in the 300A.D.s and then later listed and disputed at the Synod of Rome and Synod of Carthage. However, during the Council of Trent during the Protestant Reformation it was first declared and made infalliable. Here is a link to the Council of Trent declaration that makes it infalliable. ewtn.com/library/councils/trent4.htm If it is the Magisterium taht tells us that Scripture is infalliable and rejects other Scriptures that propose to be true then how can we then reject the Magisterium and still lay claim to our belief in Scripture as infalliable. I understand the Magisterium to be a continuation of the Church that Christ established chaired by Peter that he said would not fail, which is what gave it the authority to declare something infalliable or not, such as Scripture.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo

Venerable Pierre Touisant


Venerable Pierre Touisant was a Catholic slave from Haiti whose mater taught him how to read and write and brought him to New York where he became apprentice to one of the leading hairdressers. When his master died, he gained freedom and purchased another slave, Juliette Noel, whom he married. He became wealthy, moved to New York City, opened his home as a shleter for orphans, a credit bureau, an employment agency, and a refuge for priests and travelers. He has been declared Venerable by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, which is the second step before sainthood.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Toussaint

St. Josephine Bakhita
http://www.geocities.com/nubiancush/bakhit_1_.jpe
St. Josehpine was a Sudanese slave captured into slavery as a young girl, bought by kind Catholics at a young age and released in Italy so that she became a nun. She really suffered throughout life as she never actually full recovered from the mutilation that she experienced as a slave, forgot her own name as a result of that pain, and would sometimes have painful flashbacks. I strongly suspect that her extreme sufferings may be one of the reasons why our current His Holiness Benedict XVI has written only two encyclicals since become Pope, and one of them focuses greatly on her as an example of Christian Hope.
Bakhita means Blessed
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html
vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20001001_giuseppina-bakhita_en.html

St. Martin de Porres
http://www.poster.net/anonymous/anonymous-heilige-martin-von-porres-9950267.jpg

St. Martin de Porres is a Dominican brother. The son of a former black slave woman and a Spanish nobleman and the patron saint of social justice in the Catholic Church. He established an orphanage and a children’s hospital and had a heart full of love.
americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1188
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=276020&highlight=martin+porres

May Christ, Mary, and St. Joseph bless, keep, protect, guide, inspire, strengthen, hold, love, fulfill, and teach you!! :crying:

 

[TommyWommy]

Thanks everyone

I’m feeling better… though still a little nervous. I pass this Catholic Church near my house every so often and I’ve never seen any blacks going in or out. So, I always feel like people will stare at me or something if I should go in one Sunday and sit in the back to listen to the service.

Welcome, Malia!

Keep in mind that if people do look at you it is more likely that they are noticing you because you are new to them rather than because you are black. Or, they might be thinking, “How wonderful! We’re finally seeing some ethnic diversity in our church!”

 

[AveSantaMaria]

http://www.richardcannuli.org/photosicons/agustine.jpg

 

[Malia_Belen]

Just popping in to read more responses and to say thanks again to all who answered…boy when I first posted that question I had no and I mean no idea I’d get so many great replies