National Black Catholic Congress

320 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 410-547-5330 Fax: 410-752-3958

NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC CONGRESS TO DEDICATE
"OUR MOTHER OF AFRICA CHAPEL" IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

For African American Catholics and for people of African ancestry, August 30, 1997 will become a historic and monumental day to remember.

Unashamedly, Black and Unapologetically, Catholic, over three thousand priests, deacons, brothers, women religious and lay persons who minister to or worship in the African American Catholic Churches of the United States will arrive in Baltimore on Thursday, August 28, 1997 for Congress VIII. A four day celebration, sponsored by the National Black Catholic Congress, which will highlight the accomplishments that have transpired within the African American Catholic Community over the last century and particularly within recent years.

On Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Congress VIII attendees will participate in General Sessions, Liturgical Celebrations, Word Events, and various social and cultural activities. All activities will have the central theme of 'Evangelization', as a means of preparation for the next millennium. Saturday will, perhaps, be the most moving, important and inspirational of all the Congress VIII activities. For a people who have struggled for equality and acceptance, this day will be another step towards the fulfillment of that dream. On Saturday, August 30, 1997, over three thousand individuals will board buses at Baltimore's Convention Center for a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The occasion is the dedication of the "Our Mother of Africa Chapel" at the Shrine.

The national Shrine, is to many people around the world, a holy place to visit and to pray. It is a place where people of all nations can see themselves reflected in the sculptures and altars of the various chapels. But, for a people who have made many contributions to the history and who assisted in the shaping of the church, one image was still missing. The African Image. August 30th will bring that chapter to a close and usher in the dawning of a new era.

The Chapel will be located in the Crypt level just between the Chapels of Our Lady Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Lourdes. It's existence will enable people of African ancestry, those who minister to them, and others who share in the beauty of "Our Mother of Africa" a special place to worship and pray.

Three years ago, in January 1994, the national Black Catholic Congress, with the support of the then eleven African American Bishops, embarked on an ambitious campaign. The goal was to raise $2.5 million to erect the Chapel and to establish an Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund will be used to develop programs and materials to assist parishes to learn from one another, and to provide training programs. Donations from 13 Organizations, 34 major Religious Communities, 146 Dioceses, 675 parishes and 3,687 Individuals not only enabled the Congress to begin construction of the Chapel, but exceeded the initial goal of $2.5 million.

While Congress can be credited with the concept, praise for the artistry and beauty of the Chapel belong to Sculptor Ed Dwight who created the statue, "Our Mother of Africa and her Divine Son" and a bus relief panel which depicts the struggle of Black people through the Middle Passage, slavery, emancipation, civil rights and many other challenges. and, the collaboration effort of Juvenal Kaliki, a Tanzanian sculptor from the Entebene tribe, and a New York sculptor Jeffrey Brosk. together they were responsible for the creation of the crucifix. Kaliki carved the figure of Christ and Brosk designed the cross.

Through the leadership of the National Black Catholic Congress and African American Bishops, the sacrificial offerings of many people, the architectural excellence of Leo Daly Associates, and the mastery of the three sculptors, gathered from around the globe, "Our Mother of Africa Chapel" will be a beacon of hope and light that will forever shine in Washington, D.C. This will make clear the path for all of humanity!

Additional National Black Catholic Congress Documents:

National Black Catholic Congress Release August 10, 1997

National Black Catholic Congress Release July 7, 1997

National Black Catholic Congress Highlights August 28-31, 1997