The Archbishop Lyke International Center (TLC)
P.O. Box 13559 Detroit, MI 48213 Telephone: (313) 521-7777 Fax Number: (313) 521-7766 E-Mail: hello@bcimall.org
Background to
November as Black Catholic History Month
In the world today there are 200 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world, (see attachment).
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. With the observance of "All Saints Day" (Nov. 1); St. Martin de Porres Feast day (Nov. 3); Thanksgiving Day (a Eucharistic theme time); as well as the birth of St. Augustine, the NBCCC chose November as 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.
To assist the Black Catholic community in celebrating this month, NBCCC has coordinated a resource reader with a special emphasis on the 500th anniversary of evangelization in the Americas, entitled Turning the World Right-Side Up. The reader also features a section on Black Catholic history from the beginning of the Church 'till today; as well as a prayer service to Dr. Martin Luther King. This resource reader is the first Pan-African Roman Catholic publication. It sells for $17.00, (see attachment).
Other resources available are videos through the Black Catholic Televangelization Network, (see attachment). The Network also has produced two new Pan-African productions: The Basilica for Africa and Rejoice! Futuring Black Catholic Worship. The Basilica for Africa is a documentary dealing with the newly constructed building which is the tallest Church in the world. It is located on the coast of West Africa in the country of the Ivory Coast. The second documentary is Rejoice!, the international documentary on Black worship throughout the world.
Click below to view information:
The Catholic African World Network (CAWN)
President: Fr. Clarence Williams, CPPS, Ph.D.
In Association with
Catholic African World Network - USA
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