Print Issue: September 12, 2002

Acknowledging The Past And Moving Forward; Black Catholic Congress Meets In Chicago

By Will Thomas, Staff Intern

CHICAGO - The black Catholic experience in America extends back over 500 years to the arrival of the first Africans on Hispaniola, an island settled by the Spanish in the 16th century that is today Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

On Aug. 29, the first gathering of American Catholics of African descent in the 21st century was held as the National Black Catholic Congress convened in Chicago.

Over 3,000 people came to Chicago over the Labor Day weekend for the event, including 23 official delegates from parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. With the theme "Black Catholic Leadership in the 21st Century: Solidarity in Action," this congress focused less on policy and more on action.

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, blesses Atlanta Deacon Ricardo Bailey before the deacon reads the Gospel at the opening Mass of the ninth National Black Catholic Congress in Chicago Aug. 29. More than 3,000 delegates attended the congress. (CNS photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic)

Six parishes of the archdiocese, and the Lyke House Catholic Center at the Atlanta University Center, sent official delegates. The parishes were Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Anthony and St. Paul of the Cross, Atlanta; St. John the Evangelist, Hapeville; Corpus Christi, Stone Mountain; and Sts. Peter and Paul, Decatur. Other priests, deacons and lay people from North Georgia attended, in addition to the delegates.

This was the ninth time the NBCC had convened. Since 1985, the NBCC has served as the leading organization for black Catholics in the United States, convening a congress every five years to reflect on what is happening at the grassroots parish level across the country, and what priorities and actions are needed as a result. Dioceses hold days of reflection locally before the congress to discern and prepare. It is sponsored by the African-American Catholic bishops, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Sisters' Conference, the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators and the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.

"The entire congress was spiritually uplifting and very inspirational," said Charles Prejean, director of the archdiocesan Office for Black Catholic Ministry. "I was amazed by the large amount of lay people that were assembled. I was really impressed by the worship services that took place, from the opening Mass to the Mass for reconciliation." Prejean added that he was also "impressed by the leadership the clergy showed at the congress. I got a sense that they understood the issues that we were dealing with in our parishes."

Those issues are diverse, but the congress hopes to establish an agenda for the evangelization of people of African descent in order to improve the spiritual, physical, social and economic conditions of African-Americans. Leaders from every level of the Catholic Church in the United States participated in the congress, including bishops, pastors, educators, laypersons and others who serve persons of African descent.

During the congress, a declaration of principles, which framed issues and gave a rationale for interest and involvement, was introduced, as well as a plan of action, which suggested responses and activities that the church can implement.

Will Thomas from Morehouse College, Atlanta, holds the cross in the opening procession of the congress. (Photo by Joann Keane/Diocese of Charlotte, N.C.)

After the delegates reviewed possible plans of action, they voted and decided on a one-year, three-year and five-year pastoral plan that local parishes are encouraged to implement.

One of the issues, according to Father Ed Branch, that is often swept under the rug is the issue of racism in the Catholic Church. The last time the issue of racism was addressed was in the 1990 document written by the American bishops entitled "Racism in our Day."

Father Branch said there were two main themes, institutional racism and the church's involvement, and African-Americans' complicity in their own oppression.

"We're (Catholics) good at putting together documents, but not following through with them. We talk the talk, but don't walk the walk," said the chaplain at Lyke House. "The church must acknowledge racism as a structural construct rather than as simple personal prejudice."

Within a year, the congress hopes that parishes will develop a forum for discussion with bishops and parish leadership on the issues of race, racial tensions, and its social, economic, educational and political implications.

Another hot topic that had the attention of the congress was leadership from youth and young adults in the Catholic Church.

"Youth and young adults are a powerful potential for the church," said Dustin Simmons, a student at Morehouse College, Atlanta, and a Lyke House delegate. "I felt that the sessions were helpful; it was great that the youth had a chance to voice their opinions openly without feeling intimidated by their parents."

During the evening of Aug. 30, the congress recognized the importance of youth and young adults by saluting them at a program designed to showcase their various gifts and talents. The program revealed that youth and young adults are drawn to the spiritual realms, holiness of life, and ambitiously seeking to know God.

"The youth and young adult salute was such a blessing for us all," said Gloria Patrick, delegate and full-time youth minister at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. "It was inspiring to see the youth ministering to us through song, dance, and even by preaching. We have to utilize these gifts that the youth have and use them to empower our church."

Within a year, there is hope that parishes will identify ways to involve youth and young adults in parish leadership roles and increase involvement in liturgies. Eventually they hope to create a network of parishes and resources for parish collaboration, cultural experiences and leadership development.

Now that the pastoral plan of action for black Catholics is written, what's next?

"What has to happen is that we need to communicate to the archdiocese our experiences at the congress as well as the pastoral plan," said Jeanette Barker, delegate from St. Paul of the Cross Church. "I would like to see some possible financing behind the initiatives from the congress, but not only to the black Catholic churches, but also to the white ones as well, because the issues we addressed at the congress need to be addressed there as well if we truly are a universal church."

According to Prejean, the convening of Congress IX was just the beginning.

"The congress is not over, it's only convened. This is an ongoing process that lasts five years and if implemented, will help the evangelization of all Africans and those of African descent in the diaspora."

Will Thomas, a junior at Morehouse College, and staff intern at The Georgia Bulletin, was a delegate to the congress from Lyke House.