November is Black Catholic History Month

The Establishment of Black Catholic History Month

The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC) of the United States voted on Tuesday, July 24, 1990, while meeting in convention at Fordham University in New York, to establish November as Black Catholic History Month. The reason behind the selection of the month of November was the number of important dates to Catholics of African descent that fell within this month.

Nov. 1 All Saints Day: an opportunity to review the lives of the hundreds of Saints of African descent in the first 300 years of the Church.
Nov. 2 All Souls Day: a time to remember all those African lost to cruel treatment in the Middle Passage crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
Nov. 3 Martin de Porres became the first black American saint. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 16, 1962. Throughout his life, St. Martin de Porres exemplified God’s love for all people, regardless of their level in society.
Nov. 13 The birth of St. Augustine in 354 A.D., the first Doctor of the Church from North Africa.
Nov. 20 The death of Zumbi of Palmares in Brazil, South American founder of a free state for Blacks.

The First Black Catholic History Month

The first celebration of Black Catholic History Month began in November of 1990 in various cities in the United States with the celebration of St. Martin de Porres Feast day. The liturgy celebrated the 350th anniversary of St. Martin’s transition from this life to eternal life. In Detroit on this day in 1990, Archbishop Adam Maida, the local Archbishop, was the celebrant for the Mass. Also present was the President of the NBCCC, Bro. Roy Smith, OSC. The Mass was held at St. Anthony Church.

In the world today there are 200 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.

Augustus Tolton

Father Augustus Tolton, baptized Augustine Tolton, and was the first Roman Catholic priest in the United States publicly known to be black. A former slave who was baptized and reared Catholic, Tolton studied formally in Rome and was ordained in 1886.

The Oblate Sisters of Providence

Learn more about the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first successful Roman Catholic sisterhood in the world established by women of African descent.

The Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart

Learn more about the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, The Josephites, a religious community of Catholic priests and brothers, committed to serving the African American community through the proclamation of the Gospel and our personal witness.

Noteworthy Black Catholics

Learn more about Black Catholic Saints from the National Black Catholic Congress.

On the Road to Sainthood

Learn more about Black Catholics whose cause for sainthood is now in process.

The Timeline of U.S. Black Catholics

The National Black Catholic Congress presents the timeline of U.S. Black Catholics.

A Celebration of Saints

Learn about Black Saints and other significant figures of the Catholic faith each day of Black Catholic History Month.

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity

Did you know that two young African Christian women and three companions were thrown to wild animals and killed for their faith at Carthage in the year 203? St. Perpetua,… Read More

Saint Maurice

Did you know that the patron saint of southern Germany and parts of France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, is a man of African origin? He is Saint Maurice of Aganaum,… Read More

Saint Paul

Did you know that the New Testament of the Bible speaks of “Simon from Cyrene,” which is located in Africa, carrying the cross of Jesus, in the Gospel according to… Read More

Mother Henriette Delille

Did you know that the founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, is among three African American candidates for sainthood in the Catholic Church?… Read More

Saint Monica

Did you know that perhaps no mother, other than the Virgin Mary herself, is considered to have had so much influence on the early Catholic Christian Church, as Monica of… Read More

Saint Martín de Porres

Did you know that the only saint, of African origin, in the Western Hemisphere to date, is Saint Martín de Porres of Lima, Peru? He was born in 1579, as… Read More

Saints Victor, Melchiades, Gelasius

Did you know that among the 265 popes of the Catholic Church, between Saint Peter and the current pope Benedict the XVI, are three popes know to be of African… Read More

Saints Julian and Basilissa

Did you know that married lay people can become saints? Saints Julian and Basilissa, though married, lived in chastity by mutual consent about 304, in Antioch during the reign of… Read More

1 2 3

Talking About Race

Start a discussion in your parish or your family. Click the button below for continually updated resources.

Continue the Conversations