Baltimore director of Black Catholic Ministries leads discussion on 40 years of Black Catholic evangelization

Thirty-five Catholics from multiple dioceses gathered virtually Aug. 27 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a letter outlining pastoral guidance on Black Catholic evangelization.

“What We Have Seen and Heard: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization from the Black Bishops of the United States” was released Sept. 9, 1984, the feast of St. Peter Claver. Written by the 10 U.S. Black bishops at the time, it encouraged the American Church to “share life with us” and Black Catholics to evangelize the Catholic faith.

Bishop John H. Ricard, S.S.J., then an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and now superior general of the Baltimore-based Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, was among the Black bishops who signed the document.

Adrienne Curry, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, led the virtual event, sponsored by the Black Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Secular Franciscan Order. The title of the evening event was, “What We Have Seen and Heard: A Heritage of Black Catholic Witness.”

“It’s a great time to revisit this document in light of all that’s going on around the country, with parishes closing and merging, and the need for evangelization now,” Curry said.

Inspiring Black Catholics

The 40-page pastoral letter follows two main themes: celebrating the gifts of Black culture within the church and identifying the challenges Black Catholics face as evangelizers. Topics included Scripture, liturgy and the family.

“Evangelization means not only preaching but witnessing; not only conversion but renewal; not only entry into the community but the building up of the community; not only hearing the Word but sharing it,” the letter explained.

Vickie Figueroa, director of Cultural Ministries and coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Detroit, spoke on how “revolutionary” the letter was at the time of its release.

“You have 10 Black bishops … who are writing a letter to their own people saying, ‘Look, you have abilities, skills and gifts that you can use to enrich your own people and enrich others,’” Figueroa said. “They told us we have the gifts and the opportunity, but we have to seize it.”

The pastoral letter inspired evangelization programs within the National Black Catholic Congress and pride in Black Catholic culture. From buttons that said, “Authentically Black, Truly Catholic,” to knocking on doors to teach people about the faith, the document inspired a pride in being Black and Catholic, Curry explained.

Moving forward

This pastoral letter is a great reflection 40 years later, as many dioceses are grappling with parish mergers and a lack of resources, Figueroa said. 

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue church,” she said, “we just have to do it differently.”

Figueroa wished the pastoral letter provided more guidance on building relationships and collaborating with diocesan staff, volunteers and other partnering organizations.

“Even though we’re empowered and we’re responsible for our own salvation, because we’re Catholic, there’s still a little bit of hierarchy that we have to negotiate,” Figueroa said.

Curry believes social justice work is an extension of the call to evangelization. 

“Become involved with advocacy so you can know what’s a concern of the bishops and write your congress people and representatives,” Curry said. “You’ll find a common ground when you start doing evangelization if you can tap into concerns of other people.”

Curry also encourages Black Catholics to share their faith stories and learn more about the Catholic faith. 

“Before you can evangelize outside of the church, you have to evangelize yourself,” Curry said. “You have to be comfortable sharing your faith story. You have to know your faith.”

“We should not be ashamed of what we are if we’re practicing Catholics,” Curry explained. “We have to take pride in that, and we bring our gift of Blackness to the church. So, we have to be proud of both.”

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