WASHINGTON: Black Catholic history is Catholic history

Venerable Father Augustus Tolton (OSV News photo)

From the beginning of the Church, people of African descent have played a prominent role. St. Simon of Cyrene was from a city in northern Africa, and he had the great honor of carrying Christ’s cross. There is a common misconception that Africans and people of African descent were only exposed to Christianity after the transatlantic slave trade and missionaries traveling to Africa; while it may be true for some, many Black Catholics’ faith comes from their ancestors passing their faith and love of Christ down through the generations.

The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the U.S. designated November as Black Catholic History Month on July 24, 1990, to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics. There are currently six black Americans on the road to sainthood. Born into slavery, racism and adversity, their faith in Jesus and devotion to Catholicism never wavered.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint was born a slave in Haiti and brought to New York as an apprentice. He became the most sought-after hairdresser of high society women, gaining his freedom at the death of his master. He became very wealthy, but instead of living an extravagant life, he and his wife devoted their lives to philanthropy. They supported the Church by raising money for the city’s first cathedral, founded one of New York’s first orphanages, and sheltered refugees and the unhoused in their home. He also risked his life during the yellow fever epidemic by nursing the sick and praying with them.

Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange was a native of the Caribbean and foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious congregation of African American women in the Catholic Church. She, along with three other women, had the goal of educating and evangelizing African Americans. They were catechists for the youth and provided a home for orphans. They educated freed slaves and nursed the terminally ill during the cholera epidemic of 1832. Sister Lange served as a domestic at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.

Venerable Henriette Delille was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and would dedicate her life to helping those in need. Throughout her life, her love of Jesus and her teaching those around her to follow the path of Jesus helped her to persevere through adversity. Delille’s mission was met with resistance by the ruling population of New Orleans to the idea of a black religious congregation, lack of funds to do the work, the taunts and doubts of people in her mission, and the lack of support from both the Church and civil authority. Despite adversity, Delille practiced heroic virtue and love.

Venerable Augustus Tolton was the first U.S. Roman Catholic priest publicly known to be black. A former slave, Father Tolton was baptized, raised Catholic and formally studied in Rome. He led the development and construction of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Chicago as a black “National Parish Church.” He quickly earned national attention in the Catholic hierarchy with his success in ministering to Black Catholics.

Servant of God Julia Greeley was born into slavery in Missouri. Freed by the Emancipation Act of 1865, she worked as a domestic serving white families in several states. She entered the Catholic Church in Denver at Sacred Heart Parish. Greeley was considered the most enthusiastic promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the Jesuits who ran the parish. She would visit every fire station in Denver and deliver literature of the Sacred Heart League to the firemen, Catholics and non-Catholics.

Sister Thea Bowman was the only child to middle-aged parents in Canton, Mississippi. She converted to Catholicism through her teachers and pastors at Holy Child Jesus Church and School in Canton. Sister Bowman was considered a religious sister who was close to God and lovingly invited others to encounter the presence of God in their lives. †

Cherie Wade Washington is a middle school catechist and youth minister at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church.