National Black Catholic Congress a legacy of faith

When more than 3,000 Black American Catholics gathered for the 13th National Black Catholic Congress July 20-23, they were continuing an initiative that began in 1889 when journalist Daniel Rudd, born a slave in Kentucky, founded the Congress.

According to the NBCC, as a lifelong Catholic and successful newspaperman, Rudd worked tirelessly to promote the welfare of African Americans in the United States. He saw in the Church the home of freedom and unity for all people, and a force for challenging the injustices of society.

Rudd’s inaugural congress, held in St. Augustine Church, Washington, D.C., included Mass celebrated by Father Augustus Tolton, one of the “saintly six” whose causes for sainthood are being considered.

Since 1987, Congresses have been held every five years, with each one developing a pastoral plan that supports the mission of the NBCC and serves as a framework for discussion and action plans within Dioceses nationwide.

NBCC XIII, which was delayed a year due to the pandemic, was held in Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md. Themed “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive,” the Congress aims to enrich the Church by evangelizing African Americans within and outside the Catholic faith; enhance the physical and spiritual well-being of African Americans as full members of the Church and society; create an ongoing agenda for evangelizing African Americans and collaborate with national Roman Catholic organizations.

Deacon Rick Fortune, who ministers at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, led the diocesan delegation to this year’s Congress.

In a personal reflection on the experience, Deacon Fortune shared his thoughts, acknowledging the significance of the event stemming from those Black Catholics who “rooted themselves in the Eucharist and the Gospel as proclaimed by the only Church that could trace its origins back to Jesus Christ.”

He explained that the Congress unfolded with “Mass each day, including a glorious liturgy on Friday at the Basilica of The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., which was followed by a reception at the National Museum for African American History and Culture.

“Service took center stage on Saturday as hundreds of the attendees gathered to prepare an astonishing 75,000 sandwiches to be distributed throughout the United States by the ‘No Child Hungry’ charity organization.

“Between workshops, talks, and musical performances, time was allotted for Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and networking … meeting people and sharing experiences.”

Those encounters proved revelatory, said Deacon Fortune, as he discovered that tens of thousands of Black men, women and children “have lived cradle Catholic lives that were developed in and through a Black cultural experience.” He shared that, like many other Blacks, his personal experience was of being “formed in, and now ministering in, a Catholic life developed through a ‘white’ or European cultural experience.”

Deacon Fortune recalled that Father Joshua Johnson, a priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, “said it best: ‘Unfortunately, it is a common experience for Black Catholics to never see a priest who looks like them, so whenever they come to this conference, they see bishops and priests and sisters and deacons and married couples, radical disciples of Jesus Christ who look like them.’”

Deacon Fortune also noted that the Congress offered a separate talk and experience track for youth. “Hundreds were in attendance. One of the most moving moments of my Congress experience came near the end of the closing Mass, when main celebrant, NBCC President Bishop Roy Campbell, called for any youth discerning the priesthood or religious life to come forward for a blessing.

“Slowly, eight young Catholics came forward to be blessed by Bishop Campbell as 3,000 others extended their hands over them in prayer, in the shadow of huge images of the six Black Catholics with current causes for canonization. One of them, we pray, will soon become the very first African American Saint in Church history.”

Deacon Fortune recalled, “It was as if we could hear the young Catholics thinking, ‘I can be a priest, a deacon, a religious sister or brother, a bishop, or even a cardinal, because I see them right here!’ There weren’t many dry eyes in the house.”

As baptized Christians, emphasized Deacon Fortune, “we are all called to go and make disciples, and bishops are called to that in a particular way within the geographic boundaries of their dioceses.”

He expressed appreciation to Bishop James F. Checchio for supporting the Metuchen presence at this and past Congresses, explaining that dioceses are meant to review and assess the information gathered at the Congress to develop and implement a plan for Black Catholic ministry over the next few years.

“The goal is to invite all Blacks within our Diocese to know that the Jesus who died for them only established one Church, and that his One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is their Church,” stressed Deacon Fortune. “Dialogue is the key, and that’s what this conference has proposed, promoted, and invited others to for over 100 years.”

To learn more about the National Black Catholic Congress, including the six Black holy men and women on the journey to sainthood, visit nbccongress.org