Today’s Topic: the Catholic Church & Racism

photo from archines, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

photo from archines, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

 Option #1:  Read & reflect: In 1965, six Catholic nuns from across the country answered MLK Jr.’s call to join the voting rights marches in Selma, AL. They only walked with the march one block before stopped by Alabama troopers and a  sheriff’s posse, but it left a lasting impression.

Ebo, the African-American nun who marched, was surrounded by people who  remembered her role in the march at the 50th anniversary. She was asked ‘Sister, how does it feel to be in this place, in this moment, 50 years later knowing that all that you did  … helped to make this country more humane, more just and more free?”  She looked at him, shook her head and responded: “We have so much more to do.”    (St. Louis Post-Dispatch article)

 What had you previously seen of Catholics standing up for racial justice?

How do you react the knowledge of our history of social activism in many areas, including anti-racism and civil liberties, anti-abortion, social justice, anti-poverty, etc.?

 Option #2:  Read & Reflect:   “You [can] come to our [Black Catholic] churches you’ll see the kente cloth, the music, the images of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, that look like the people in the pews. All this is to let us know who we are and whose we are as children of God and that we are part of the Catholic family.”                                                                                                         Dr. Ansel Augustine,

Black Faith Matters is a short film documentary  (17 min) made to help shed light on "one story" of the Black Catholic experience. An experience unknown to many in our church. An experience that, although unique, is relatable to the Black  Catholic experience throughout America. This film hopes to bring out the joy, pain and struggles that are faced in the Black Catholic community, specifically in the Treme area of New Orleans. (find the link on today’s blog)

 Families:  Create a prayer space (ex. candle, cross, etc.) then pray as a family. 

Loving Father,

Thank you for creating all the children of the world, who live in many lands, have many traditions, and speak many languages.

Help me know that you made each of your children unique and you love each of them. Help me to be a friend to children who are different from me, for we are all part of your family! Amen