National Black Catholic Congress

The National Black Catholic Congress is an organization of African-American Roman Catholics, founded in 1889 by Daniel Rudd^[1] as the Colored Catholic Congress,^[2] and revived in the 1980s under its current name. Their symbol is the Acacia. Their mission is to improve and enrich the lives of African-American Catholics. The National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) operates in close cooperation and coordination with the African-American Bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops^[3] and has received funding support from the Black and Indian mission collection since 1988.^[4]

Five national congresses were held from 1889-1894. After a long hiatus, six additional national congresses have been held every five years since 1987.^[5]

Programs

The National Black Catholic Congress Convocation

The National Black Catholic Congress Convocation is an event meant to provide guidance to black clergy on how to best preach and minister to the African-American community.

Lay Leaders Training Workshops

Regional Lay Leaders Training Workshops are meant to provide understanding on how to reach black lapsed Catholics on a regional scale.

Catholic High School Consortium Program

Leaders who work with NBCC, create plans to help member Catholic schools with a significant black population, determined to be 75%, to best serve themselves and the larger communities.

The African American Catholic Tribune Newsletter

The NBCC Newsletter is published four times a year and provides noteworthy information which impacts Catholic life in the African American community.

Black U.S. Catholic Bishops

• Most Rev. Moses Anderson S.S.E. (Retired)
• Most Rev. George Murry S.J.
• Most Rev. Gordon Bennett S.J.
• Most Rev. Leonard Olivier S.V.D. (RIP)
• Most Rev. Edward Braxton
• Most Rev. Joseph Perry
• Most Rev. Dominic Carmon, S.V.D. (Retired)
• Most Rev. John Ricard S.S.J.
• Most Rev. Wilton Gregory S.L.D.
• Most Rev. J. Terry Steib S.V.D.
• Most Rev. Curtis Guillory S.V.D.
• Most Rev. Elliott Thomas (Retired)
• Most Rev. Joseph Howze (Retired)
• Most Rev. Martin Holley
• Most Rev. Guy Sansaricq
• Most Rev. Shelton Fabre
• Most Rev. Ferd Cheri, O.F.M.

See also

• Religion in Black America
• Knights of Peter Claver
• Federated Colored Catholics

References

1. Rudd, Daniel. Three Catholic Afro-American Congresses. (New York: Arno Press, Inc., 1978)
2. "Guest Commentary: Black Catholic newspaperman promoted justice through action" by Gary B. Agee, Memphis "Commercial Appeal", February 25, 2012
3. "The National Black Catholic Congress:".
4. "Monsignor Paul A. Lenz, 1976-2007." (PDF). Marquette University. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
5. The Black Catholic Congresses

Further reading

• Phelps, Jamie T. Black and Catholic: The Challenge and Gift of Black Folk: Contributions of African American Experience and Thought to Catholic Theology (Marquette University Press, 1997) online
• Rudd, Daniel. Three Catholic Afro-American Congresses. (New York: Arno Press, Inc., 1978)

External links

• National Black Catholic Congress website