In the United States
alone, there are 2 million Black Catholics.
There have been three African popes and
all three of these men are saints:
Pope Saint Victor I
Pope Saint Gelasius I
and Pope Saint Melchiades I (or Militiades).
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. His feast day is November 3.
Among the cultural figures who converted to
Roman Catholicism are Harlem Renaissance poet and novelist
Claude McKay and jazz pianist and
composer Mary Lou Williams (see
Music page in this website and
http://mlw.studentaffairs.duke.edu/ the link to the Mary
Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University).
To learn more about the African American
Catholic tradition, consult these links to the Institute for
Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana
which offers one- and three-week summer programs,
To learn more about the liturgical traditions
of Black Catholics, consult this site for the Archbishop
James P. Lyke Conference and Fr. Clarence Rivers Institute,
which are offered each summer -- New Orleans (2009) and
Myrtle Beach (2010).
http://www.lykeconference.com/
"God
Has a Plan" is one of the songs on "Next Level",
a CD featuring Robert E. Person. Click here to order a copy.
"We Seek To
Answer God's Call."
If you wish to
support campus ministry at NCCU, donations can be sent to our
Catholic Campus Ministry Business Office, 711 Iredell St., Durham, NC 27705.
Many thanks!
BLACK CATHOLIC FACTS