February is Black History Month - Free Resources, Prayers and History to Share!

Timely Ministry Resources for Black Catholics

African American Affairs E-Newsletter Archive

View past and current issues in the e-newsletter archive.

Addressing Racism

National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) XII Pastoral Plan of Action - Read the Pastoral Plan of Action. . . which was developed by delegates who were appointed by bishops from every diocese in the United States. These women and men brought the concerns and needs of their local communities, and worked together to develop a list of pastoral priorities.

Brothers and Sisters to Us - The pastoral letter on racism by the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 1979 explains how racism divides society. The Executive Summary Report on the 25th Anniversary of the U.S. Bishop's Pastoral Letter on Racism outlines the Church's progress in meeting the goal outlined in the pastoral letter.

• For the Love of One Another: A Special Message on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of Brothers and Sisters to Us (Sept. 1989)

Pastoral Statements from 1958-2018 - Read statements issued/approved by USCCB and its predecessors about the sin of racism:

• Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism-November 2018
• Discrimination & Christian Conscience-November 14, 1958
• On Racial Harmony-August 23, 1963
• Pastoral Statement on Race Relations & Poverty-November 19, 1966
• Statement on National Race Crisis-April 25, 1968

Find more information and resources regarding the issue of racism on USCCB's Combatting Racism webpage.

Prayer & Liturgical Resources

• In Times Like These... A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement. . . is a weekly devotional guide that invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-Af­rican people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
• Share the Journey. . . is a USCCB, Catholic Charities USA, and Catholic Relief Services initiative that provides educational and pastoral resources that can help communities to support refugees and immigrants in the U.S. and around the world in a variety of ways, among other things. For more information, please visit the website.
• Prayer for Peace in Our Communities (English), Oración por la Paz en Nuestras Comunidades (Español), & Prière pour la Pax dans Nos Communautés (Français)prayer cards
• Kwanzaa Novena. . . by Dr. Ansel Augustine of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
• Plenty Good Room: The Spirit and Truth of African American Catholic Worship is a USCCB resource issued to guide dioceses and parishes in planning African American and multicultural liturgy.
• The Gift of African American Sacred Song by Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA
• National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family 2019. . . (First Sunday in February)
• In Spirit and Truth: Black Catholic Reflections on the Order of Mass is a document written by Black Catholics for the Church that reviews each element of the Order of the Mass for the celebration of the Eucharist in Black or predominantly Black parishes.
• National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life (NBCAL). . . provides a variety of resources each year for prayer and action for protecting human life and dignity on Abortion and All Acts of Violence Awareness Month (June). Additional resources, calendar, events and other opportunities to join the Church in prayerful advocacy for the gift of life in all forms can be found on their website.
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Foundational Materials

Below are additional foundation materials:

• What We Have Seen and Heard
• National Office of Black Catholics Archive at St. Thomas University. . .

Marriage and Family Life Ministry

      

• Marriage on a Lampstand. . . by Andrew and Terri Lyke  (Visual Dynamics Publishing, 2017)
• National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM). . . - Ministry with Families Course 101 (email NACFLM or call 937-431-5443 for more information)

Young Adult Catholics

       

Read the report from the 2015 Black Catholic Young Adult Listening Session and related material at the Young Adult Resources webpage.

• A Black Catholic's Perspective on the Church's Response to the Black Lives Matter Movement by Andrea Auguster

Multimedia

Below are some video and audio resources available:

• Black Catholic Ministry Webinar
• America This Week Podcasts. . .
• Sr. Thea Bowman's Address to U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1989 below

Torture Awareness Month and International Day of Support of Victims of Torture

June is Torture Awareness Month and June 26 is the International Day of Support of Victims of Torture. The focus of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), a USCCB partner, now includes ending torture in U.S. prisons and campaigning against solitary confinement. Help end torture in U.S. policy, practice and culture by downloading a free toolkit of resources from NRCAT. . . .

Additional Resources

On The Road to Sainthood - Pray for holy men and women on the road to sainthood.
FULL TEXT Release from US Bishops - USCCB