SAMUELS: The Josephites have served African American Catholics since 1871

 (CNS photo/courtesy Josephites)Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Robert Cardinal Prevost, is a member of the Order of St. Augustine. The election of the new Holy Father highlights the various religious orders that serve the universal Church. There are many Catholic priests of religious orders serving the Archdiocese. 

The Basilian Fathers, Companions of the Cross, Spiritans, Dominican Friars, Jesuit Fathers, Missionaries of La Salette, Somascan Fathers and the Redemptorist Fathers are just a few of the religious orders that serve our Archdiocese. There is one body of religious orders that serves the Archdiocese but also has a unique charism for America. St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, also known as The Josephites, is not only committed to serving the faithful of the Archdiocese, but it is also a community of Catholic priests and brothers who have been dedicated to serving the African American Catholic community since its founding in 1871.  
The Josephites are the only community of interracial and intercultural priests and brothers in the Catholic Church that is engaged exclusively in ministry to the African American Community.  

Founded in 1871 by Herbert Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster, and Archbishop Martin John Spalding of Baltimore, the religious order’s mission was to minister to the thousands recently released from slavery at that time. What began as a mission to help the newly freed slaves in America evolved into the broader task of assisting the African communities through building churches and schools throughout the U.S. The Josephites continue in the tradition of Cardinal Vaughan and, by the commission of Pope Pius IX, are a religious order dedicated solely to the service of the African American community. 

Among the small founding group of St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart priests in 1893 was Father Charles R. Uncles, the first African American priest who was trained and ordained in the U.S.  Most Josephites in our Archdiocese work — and live — in parish settings, developing dynamic parishes through vibrant worship, authentic Catholic teaching and ministries that address the needs of the African American faith communities.  

Currently, the Josephites serve and operate 34 parishes in 12 dioceses throughout the U.S. with parishes and schools in Alabama, California, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia. The Catholic communities and parishes that the Josephites serve in our Archdiocese include Our Mother of Mercy, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Francis Xavier, St. Peter Claver, all in Houston, and Holy Family Parish in Baytown.  

The unique mission statement of the Josephites states: 
St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, The Josephites, a religious community of Catholic priests and brothers, is committed to serving the African American community through the proclamation of the Gospel and its personal witness. Its commitment is expressed through sacramental, educational and pastoral ministry, service to those in need, and working for social justice. 

To hear and understand more about the St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, The Josephites, I invite you to a special episode of “In His Light Podcast with Father Reginald Samuels” that features Father David Begany, SSJ, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Baytown and a member of the Josephites. The podcast can be found on Spotify and Apple podcasts. 

To learn more about supporting and praying for the Josephite community, visit www.josephites.org.
 
Father Reginald Samuels is the vicar for the Ministry for Catholics of African Descent and pastor of St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land.