November was designated as Black Catholic History Month by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC) in 1990. For an event that has been around over 30 years, it is relatively unknown.  To intro the month, here are a few numbers about Black people in the Catholic Church.

• 200 million people of African descent in Roman Catholic Church throughout the world
• 3 million Black Catholics in the US (3 percent of American Catholics and 5% of Black Americans)
• 250 Black American priests, 6 Bishops
• 437 Black American deacons
• 75 Black American men in seminary
• 400 Black American religious sisters and 50 religious brothers

Source: CARA report 2019
Reflection:  Do you know any Black Catholic people – famous or not, Clergy or not?  Do you know about any of the many significant contributions they have made?  Do you know anything of the Catholic history of segregation or working for civil rights?
Interested in joining MMOC’s Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call Saralou Hendrickson 314.440.20