National News

Only in Print: Recognizing Over 400 Years of Black Catholic History in the United States

In July 1990, at a meeting at Fordham University in the Bronx, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus designated November as Black Catholic History Month.

The month serves as an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and triumphs black Catholics faced throughout history and celebrate their ongoing contributions to the Church.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, there are over three million black American Catholics in the U.S., 250 priests, 437 deacons, and 50 men of African descent in seminary formation for the priesthood in the United States…

A community of black sisters who teach is formed in Georgia. In 1924, the group relocates to Harlem (where it remains today), starts a soup kitchen, and begins educating local children.

The rest of this article can be found exclusively in the March 16 printed version of The Tablet. You can buy it at church for $1, or you can receive future editions of the paper in your mailbox at a discounted rate by subscribing hereThank you for supporting Catholic journalism.