Black History Month provides an occasion for reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to the Gospel’s call for justice, reconciliation, and the recognition of every person’s dignity as made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
While the secular observance highlights the achievements, struggles, and resilience of African Americans, the Church views it through the lens of evangelization, anti-racism, and the unity of the Church.
The USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs emphasizes that racism remains a sin that endures in society and even within the Church, as articulated in Catholic documents like the 1979 pastoral letter “Brothers and Sisters to Us” and the more recent “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love — A Pastoral Letter Against Racism.”
The first USCCB missive on racism, which followed the first Black History Month in 1976, teaches that racial prejudice offends God’s plan for human fraternity and demands active conversion, education, and solidarity.
In honoring Black History Month, Catholics are invited to confront historical wounds, including the Church’s own complicity in slavery and segregation — while celebrating the enduring faith of black communities that sustained the Gospel amid oppression.
A key Catholic insight is that black history is integral to universal Church history, not peripheral. Early African saints like St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Monica testify to Africa’s foundational role in Christianity.
In the United States, black Catholics have helped shape the faith from the earliest days, such as in 1565, when enslaved and free Africans contributed to the founding of St. Augustine, Florida, the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement.
Locally, as one of the most diverse dioceses in the United States, we have a dedicated Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns, which actively promotes black Catholic heritage year-round. Led by Father Alonso Cox, pastor of St. Martin de Porres in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the office organizes events, workshops on black Catholic history, youth programs, and annual liturgies that highlight African American experiences within the Church.
This year’s Mass of thanksgiving was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in South Ozone Park on Feb. 1. It was an uplifting diocesan celebration, which emphasized shared faith, heritage, and community. Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Narh Asare of Accra, Ghana, celebrated Mass and, in his homily, called for prayer, reflection on resilience amid adversity, and moral conscience in addressing societal divisions.
As Pope Francis urged, the Church must make a “decisive and radical choice” in favor of the oppressed.
Ultimately, Black History Month calls Catholics to prayerful education, honest dialogue, and concrete works of mercy.
In a practical sense, this can include participating in parish or diocesan educational programs that address the sin of racism, supporting ministries that uplift Black Catholic communities, and engaging in discussions rooted in “Open Wide Our Hearts.”
Acts of mercy can also take the form of volunteering with organizations that serve historically marginalized neighborhoods, mentoring youth, or accompanying families facing economic hardship. These are not merely social initiatives — they are Gospel‑driven acts that honor the dignity of every person and help heal wounds.
By celebrating black contributions and confronting racism, we advance society and recognize that we are all truly brothers and sisters. May this observance deepen our shared pursuit of holiness, justice, and unity in Christ’s diverse family.