Black Catholic

[MagicalMerriment]

Wow, it's awesome to hear that some areas are so diverse like that. Our area might as well be segregated. All the Black people in this area go to a certain Baptist church downtown; most of the white people go to three other Baptist churches or the Methodist church in the area. A very, very small amount of people attend the Lutheran church.

The Catholic Church is completely white, though, except for one person - we have a black priest. He's also the youngest priest we've ever had.

 

[lonnienord]

Wow, it's awesome to hear that some areas are so diverse like that. Our area might as well be segregated. All the Black people in this area go to a certain Baptist church downtown; most of the white people go to three other Baptist churches or the Methodist church in the area. A very, very small amount of people attend the Lutheran church.

The Catholic Church is completely white, though, except for one person - we have a black priest. He's also the youngest priest we've ever had.

Super duper fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!
now you and everyone in your church need to invite at least one black person to mass every week. Pick them up and take them if they need that. Also someone should tell the local newspaper that there is a fantastic story here!!

all for JESUS!!
lonnie

 

[Victrixa]

What the heck is "Evangelical Catholic / Orthodox Lutheran"

Well, we Catholics who are traditional and who walk in accord to and in obedience to the Magisterium are what could be called 'Orthodox Catholics'. Why? Because we obey the right faith.

According to our friend Luther's Rose, she's a Lutheran who is in accord with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (evangelical), the right faith (orthodox in her faith), belonging to the Body of Christ (catholic which, by non-Catholic definition comprises all the believers, i.e. the invisible church) and is Lutheran by confession (denominationally).

 

[ZooMom]

Well, we have a large enough Hispanic population that one of the three Masses on Sunday is in Spanish. You should have seen the acres of flowers that were brought on the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe. There was just enough clear floor for Father to move around the altar and get to his chair and the pulpit.

Of course, our parish in Georgia was almost all white, and there were actually complaints when we received a new black priest. It was shameful. We were such a small parish that they should have been grateful that we even HAD a resident priest. They'd go up for Communion right enough, but they wouldn't go up to him to shake hands after Mass. I'm getting mad all over again just thinking about it.

 

[DivineFiliation]

Of course, our parish in Georgia was almost all white, and there were actually complaints when we received a new black priest. It was shameful. We were such a small parish that they should have been grateful that we even HAD a resident priest. They'd go up for Communion right enough, but they wouldn't go up to him to shake hands after Mass. I'm getting mad all over again just thinking about it.

Wow, that is horrible... it's amazing the kind of "christian" people we have among us. We, at one time, had a black priest among a sea of white parishoners. I'm happy to say, however, that he was very well received, for the most part... I know some of the old country folk mumbled some stuff under their breath, but it couldn't take away the power of his homily. I think he was the best priest I have ever had. I miss him dearly.

 

[Victrixa]

Wow, that is horrible... it's amazing the kind of "christian" people we have among us.

Like you say....


I don't care whether someone is white, black, yellow, red, orange, green or purple!

 

[Victrixa]

Haitians are 90% Catholic, 100% Voodoo.

Well, yeah, unfortunately Voodoo is very popular in Haiti...

 

[Victrixa]

We need more blacks in the Church. Any ideas?

Well, we have to do the same as with everyone else: defend the Catholic faith (apologetics), evangelism, acts of compassion, be their friends, etc.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

I'm selfish, I want more black Catholics because I want them to do Gospel style singing at Mass, like in Sister Act.

 

[Victrixa]

I'm selfish, I want more black Catholics because I want them to do Gospel style singing at Mass, like in Sister Act.

Ahhhh, gospel, how I love gospel, black gospel! It's the greatest!

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

When I was a kid I used to go to all sorts of different churches with my Dad, as it was his job as an Army Chaplain to visit the bases.

The black (baptist?) church was the one I remember most...I was in fear for my life at first, but I eventually saw the beauty in their "exuberance."

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

We need more blacks in the Church. Any ideas?

Here is a link to a pastoral letter about racism written by Archbishop Flynn in 2003:

http://www.archspm.org/In Gods Image.html

One thing we need to do is remove racism from the Church wherever it hides. This includes blatantly racist attitudes, such as refusing to make the sign of peace with a black person or refusing to receive the Eucharist from a black priest, as well as racist assumptions, such as assuming that a black person at church is not Catholic.

Charitable outreach to poor black communities is also important. One needs to show concern for people of all races to fully live the Gospel.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Super duper fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!
now you and everyone in your church need to invite at least one black person to mass every week. Pick them up and take them if they need that. Also someone should tell the local newspaper that there is a fantastic story here!!

all for JESUS!!
lonnie

Are you trying to turn inviting black people to church into a publitcity stunt?

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Well, we have a large enough Hispanic population that one of the three Masses on Sunday is in Spanish. You should have seen the acres of flowers that were brought on the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe. There was just enough clear floor for Father to move around the altar and get to his chair and the pulpit.

Of course, our parish in Georgia was almost all white, and there were actually complaints when we received a new black priest. It was shameful. We were such a small parish that they should have been grateful that we even HAD a resident priest. They'd go up for Communion right enough, but they wouldn't go up to him to shake hands after Mass. I'm getting mad all over again just thinking about it.

It isn't only restricted to the South. Someone in my home parish complained about having an assistant pastor from Uganda.

 

[ufonium2]

When I lived in Memphis, I had a friend who was Black, Catholic, and had just moved there from Chicago. He was shocked by the failure of White Southerners to live up to the stereotypes (he expected the Klan to chase him everywhere he went I think, and instead he saw actual interaction between races and lots of multi-racial communities) and extremely dismayed by the attitude of the Black community there towards him as a Catholic. To them (and this included the African American society at the university, which should be fighting this attitude every step of the way) his being Catholic was one more manifestation of "acting white," just like his refusal to use slang and his preference for Dockers and collared shirts.

So yeah, I think a big reason for the absence of African Americans in non-charismatic churches (because it's not limited to Catholicism, ever see a Black Lutheran in the South?) is the attitude of the community that Black people should stick to "Black" churches, and to do otherwise is to sell out.

 

[MagicalMerriment]

He was shocked by the failure of White Southerners to live up to the stereotypes (he expected the Klan to chase him everywhere he went I think, and instead he saw actual interaction between races and lots of multi-racial communities) and extremely dismayed by the attitude of the Black community there towards him as a Catholic. To them (and this included the African American society at the university, which should be fighting this attitude every step of the way) his being Catholic was one more manifestation of "acting white," just like his refusal to use slang and his preference for Dockers and collared shirts.

First off, let me say that in no way do I mean offense by this, but-

Sometimes the Black community can show more hostility to the white community (and to the Blacks IN the white community) than the white community is expected to show to the Black community. I see this very often where I live. I have several friends around me who are Black, but the group of Blacks in my school who always hang together and refuse to hang with whites have often made fun of the Blacks who are my friends because they hang around white people.

I think this problem would be solved if they didn't act like black people and we didn't act like white people, but rather we all acted like people.

 

[lonnienord]

I think this problem would be solved if they didn't act like black people and we didn't act like white people, but rather we all acted like people

excellent idea!!

all for JESUS!!
lonnie

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

I'm selfish, I want more black Catholics because I want them to do Gospel style singing at Mass, like in Sister Act.

Come to my church 11 am mass every other week.
Lead Me Guide Me the African American Catholic Hymnal/L-1
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9992233044/002-5228287-7928069
Thats our main hymmn book

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Any one intrested in a vocation of preist and would like to serv the African AMericain commutiny check out the Josephites:
http://josephite.com/vocations/

We are an interracial, intercultural community of priests and brothers who work in the African American community. We are the only community of men in the American Catholic Church engaged exclusively in this ministry. Most Josephites work and live in the parish setting. Our goal of developing warm, welcoming parishes is done through vibrant worship, solid Catholic teaching and ministries that speak to the needs of the faith communities. A Josephite priest or brother may be found in the parish school, at C.C.D. or the R.C.I.A. programs, counseling or involved with parish youth. In New Orleans, the priests and brothers operate St. Augustine High School, an all-male, Black Catholic school with an enrollment of over 800 students. The Josephite Pastoral Center is the educational and research arm of the Josephite Society. It offers Black-oriented publications, videos, calendars and service development programs. We invite single Catholic men of all races to consider involvement in our vital ministry. The requirements for admission to the formation program include good physical and mental health, a high school diploma, the ability to do college work, a religious spirit and the motivation to consecrate oneself to God through service to the African American community.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

or looking into Saint Catherine Marie Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrement
http://www.katharinedrexel.org/become.html

We are a multiracial community of vowed women who were founded by St. Katharine Drexel. We are called to be a sign of the power of the Eucharistic Christ to effect unity and community among all peoples. Through education, social and health services, pastoral, and spiritual ministries, we share the gospel message with the poor and oppressed, especially among the Black and Native American peoples. Our ministry takes us to Native American reservations in the Southwest, inner cities, and rural areas in the United States, Guatemala, and Haiti. SBS spirituality is centered in the Eucharist and enriched by the giftedness of the Black and Native American peoples with whom we live and minister.