SAMUELS: Preparing for the National Black Catholic Congress 2023

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, closed out a gathering of Archdiocesan Catholic leaders in the African American community with a challenge to move forward in celebrating and unifying all the diverse communities within the Catholic Church of Galveston-Houston. (Photo courtesy of Father Reginald Samuels)

On Jan. 4, 1899, in his address to the first National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC), held in Washington D.C., William H. Smith stated, “Truth is the strongest armor a person can possess, and we are told ‘You shall know the truth,’ and ‘truth shall make you free.’ Our object is, or should be, the truth.” At the conclusion of the Congress, 200 delegates met with President Grover Cleveland, and Father Augustus Tolton celebrated High Mass.

The NBCC convenes a national Congress every five years. The next Congress will be held July 20 to 23 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland.

Black Catholics and those who minister to Black Catholics in the United States will come together for a celebration of faith and culture. Each Congress renews and develops its mission with a pastoral plan.

With the announcement of the 2023 Congress, All the dioceses of the United States were encouraged to have a gathering to discuss the theme of the upcoming Congress: “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive.” Back on Nov. 19, 2022, as vicar for Catholics of African descent, I called upon the Catholic leaders in the African American community from throughout the Archdiocese to gather and reflect on topics to present to the NBCC for discussion during the Congress meeting in July 2023.

During this gathering, Evelyn Wagner Wright led the discussion of the history of the Black catholic leaders of our Archdiocese’s participation in past congress events. Paul Ledet Jr. led the discussion on the Scripture from the theme of the Congress. Next, Corlis Simmons led the discussion on an action plan which our Archdiocese presented for consideration of the Congress to present in July. Finally, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, closed out the gathering with a challenge to all the African American Catholic Church leaders to move forward in celebrating and unifying all the diverse communities within the Catholic Church of Galveston-Houston.

In preparation for the NBCC XIII Congress, A Day of Reflection and Preparation will be held at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church on June 17. This day of preparation is for all those African American Catholics from throughout the Archdiocese who will be attending the Congress to pray, reflect and prepare for the NBCC 2023 meeting in July. 

Father Reginald Samuels is the vicar for Catholics of African Descent and pastor at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park.