After a long break caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Office of the Black Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver conducted its first annual day of reflection.
According to the Denver Catholic, the day of reflection with the theme, "A Prophetic Call: Here I am Lord, Send Me," drew roughly 50 Black Catholics.
Other attendees are those who pray alongside them from 12 parishes throughout the Archdiocese.
The luncheon was provided by the Archdiocese of Denver Funeral Home at Caldwell-Kirk and was hosted by members of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary.
Participants selected action items and pastoral issues to report to the National Black Catholic Congress, which is preparing to hold a national Congress next summer.
They also engaged in community with one another and listened to God's word in prayer.
The day of reflection was planned in line with Black Catholic History Month, the month in which St. Martin de Porres, Our Lady of Kibeho, and St. Augustine's birthday fall.
The day of reflection was tremendously successful because of the numerous heavenly friends who interceded.
Thoughts From Participants
The director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry, Kateri Joda Williams remarked that it is always a gift to get together, exchange stories, encourage one another in the spiritual journey.
Meanwhile, a discussion panelist, Barbara Wright-Ingram stated that she has received a feeling of roots, affirmation, and confirmation.
All three according to her are due to the presence of Black Catholics in the Catholic Church.
She stated that as Black Catholics, they considered, recalled, and celebrated their Catholicism.
And with more accounts of how the Catholic community has motivated and uplifted their people than there were of the hatred and rejection of our presence, her spirit was revived.
On the other hand, Hedrine Tamajong, a parishioner at Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora, said that the day of reflection allowed her to meet with other Black Catholics for the first time.
It also reminded her of how important it is to share the love of Christ boldly as a Black Catholic.
As they carry this experience with them, participants in the day of reflection will continue working on the NBCC, which the organization will hold in five years.
Black Catholic Community
According to Smithsonian Magazine, 50 years ago, a Catholic mayor of a predominantly white police department gave the go-ahead to "shoot to kill" arsonists and "shoot to maim" looters.
In response, the Black Catholic Clergy Caucus met for the first time in Detroit, when Father Herman Porter, a Black priest from Rockford, Illinois, called the gathering.
The proclamation that started the national Black Catholic Movement was drafted by 58 black priests, at least one Brother, and a woman nun (or "Sister").
The US was implicated by the priests.
They also insisted that the same principles on which they justify legitimate self-defense and just warfare must be applied to violence when it represents the Black response to white violence.
They also accused the Catholic Church of being complicit with white supremacy and demanded that Black people be given control of Catholic institutions in Black communities.
They regarded this as the time for Black Catholics to lead in their own community.
This sparked the spread of Black Catholicism and the movement for acceptance within their church and country.
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