African American Catholics: A Unique Experience Almost 100 black Catholics from the Archdiocese of Newark will join hundreds more from around the nation for the VIII National Black Catholic Congress. Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety, and Retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Francis will be among those from the Archdiocese of Newark who will travel to Baltimore on August 28-31, 1997. The theme of the VIII National Black Catholic Congress is "Evangelization and the African-American Family." During the Congress participants will address the particular needs and history of black Catholics in the United States and the Church. Director of the Office of Black Catholic Affairs for the Archdiocese of Newark, Lucille Foreman, said that the black experience is "a difficult part of American history." She added that, although there has been progress in the area of human dignity and civil rights, many blacks today still do not feel like they are part of the American dream. "There is the perception that the black community is unraveling, but people don't ask why," Foreman said. While the answer is complicated, she added, "the key is to provide the community with a beacon of hope that can be found in the Church." The mission of the National Black Catholic Congress is to build better families and communities through evangelization. In order to do that the National Black Catholic Congress attempts to introduce African-American art and culture into the Roman Rite of the CatholicChurch. African-Americans, just as other minorities and ethnic groups, have Catholic traditions unique to their culture. Foreman said that part of what is missing for many black Catholics is a feeling of ownership of their church. A black Catholic recently told "The African American Catholic Tribune" that while visiting the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. he wondered why the Basilica did not include an African-American presence. The Basilica celebrates generations of the rich cultural diversity of American Catholicism. The African-American presence will soon be felt at the National Shrine when the Mother of Africa Chapel is dedicated during the National Black Catholic Congress. The chapel will contain three basic thematic components of art that reflect African-American Catholics in the Church: 1. Mother and Child, 2. Christ on the Cross, and 3. A Sculptured Relief Panel. Another major component of the National Black Catholic Congress is a focus on youth. About 30 of the black Catholics attending the Congress from Newark will be youth and college-age adults. Liaison Coordinator for the African-American Apostolate and Ministry for the Office of Black Catholic Affairs, Deacon Marshall Andrews, said that the Congress is an opportunity for African-Americans to unite as a community to find solutions to their common problems. "Young people, particularly young black males, need to pass through the door and worship with the family," said Andrews. Youth Network Coordinator, Jamey Moses, will lead the group of young black Catholics to Baltimore. Moses hopes that the young black Catholics will be "energized, inspired and excited about their faith" at the Congress. Moses said that he is encouraged by the importance being placed on black Catholics by the Church. "This Congress lets young black people see that they have a place in the Church as well as an obligation to it," he said.
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