Celebrating Black Catholic History

In 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States voted to designate November as Black Catholic History Month. November marks a time when the Church prays for all saints and souls, as well as a time to recall the saints and souls of those of Africa and the African Diaspora. In recognition, Merion Mercy Academy has added to its morning prayers an introduction to remarkable Black Catholics and their legacies. 

Black Catholic saints and those on the path to canonization include:

• Saint Augustine, a theologian, philosopher, and influential Church Father. Born in 354 AD in Tegaste, Africa, which is in present-day Algeria, St. Augustine was highly educated, and his thousands of letters, sermons and tracts, combined with 232 books, instructed the early Church and are relevant today.
• Saint Martin de Porres, the first black American saint, who was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 16, 1962. He was noted for his work on behalf of the poor, establishing an orphanage and a children's hospital. 
• Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, the granddaughter of slaves, and the only African American member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She transcended racism to leave a lasting mark on U.S. Catholic life in the late 20th century.
• Venerable Henriette Delille, who founded the Society of the Holy Family, responding to the need for treatment of the enslaved, elderly and sick, and care and education for the poor. Declared Venerable in 2010.
• Venerable Pierre Toussaint, who was born in Haiti and brought to New York City as a slave, where he died a free man. He was the first and only layman to be buried in the crypt below the main altar of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Declared Venerable in 1996.
• Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, who was born in Cuba and came to Baltimore where she fought for children’s education and opened a school in her home. With three other women, she professed her vows and became the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious congregation for African American women in the United States. Declared Venerable in 2023. 
• Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, who was the first openly Black Catholic priest in the United States and served as a Catholic missionary to the Black community. Declared Venerable in 2019. 
• Servant of God Julia Greeley entered the Catholic Church at Sacred Heart Parish in Denver where she dedicated herself to serving others. 

As reported on Catholic University of America’s Cultural Engagement website, there are 200 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world with the majority of them living in the African continent (source: Pew Research Center). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, reports that there are over 3 million African American Catholics in the U.S., including 250 African American priests, 400 African American religious sisters and 50 religious brothers.