If you have a difficult time staying focused while reciting the rosary, try praying a "Scriptural Rosary."
July is Mental Health Awareness Month
Sorrowful Mysteries:
Agony in the Garden: trust in God;
Scourging at the Pillar: purity;
Crowning with Thorns: fortitude;
Carrying of the Cross: perseverance in trials;
Crucifixion: forgiveness
for others.
Glorious Mysteries:
Resurrection: faith;
Ascension: hope;
Descent of the Holy Spirit: gifts of the Holy Spirit;
Assumption: To Jesus through Mary;
Coronation: final perseverance.
Congratulations to the Howard University Bison new Men’s tennis team recruits!
Prayer for 2022 World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Holy Spirit, stir within us the passion to promote vocations to the consecrated life, societies of apostolic life, diocesan priesthood, and permanent diaconate.
Inspire us daily to respond to Your call with boundless compassion, abundant generosity, and radical availability.
Help us to remember our own baptismal call to rouse us to invite the next generation to hear and respond to Your call.
Inspire parents, families, and lay ecclesial ministers to begin a conversation with young Catholics to consider how they will live lives of holiness and sacred service.
Nudge inquirers and motivate discerners to learn more about monastic life, apostolic life, missionaries, cloistered contemplative life, and evangelical Franciscan life.
Ignite our Church with the confident humility that there is an urgent need for religious sisters, brothers, deacons, and priests to live in solidarity with those who are poor, neglected, and marginalized.
Disrupt our comfortable lives and complacent attitudes with new ideas to respond courageously and creatively with a daily 'YES!' Amen.
The Blessed Virgin Mary has given us a formidable resource for comfort and strength to fight back for Her Son’s church and for our salvation, especially in these turbulent times, the Rosary!
This is a prayer very near and dear to our Blessed Mother! Our Lady stressed its importance for world peace, among other desired virtues, in her talks with the three shepherd children of Fatima in 1917.
The Rosary isn’t just some dainty antiquated prayer with no relevance to our times by any means! Saint Padre Pio who was no stranger to spiritual combat, once referred to the rosary as his “his weapon”, presumably against sin and Satan. Read more...
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
Live Updates: On the Ground
in Haiti, Our Reporter Finds a Fearful Capital
Photo by Heather Suggitt on Unsplash
A multinational investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse
is now focused on a little-known Florida-
based doctor. And Haiti begins preparing for a state funeral. Read more...
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® 2021 The National Black Catholic Congress, All Rights Reserved
Sharon Johnson, founder of 'Never Give Up' is helping lift up others through random acts of kindness. Photo from News 5 Cleveland
“Do Whatever He Tells You”
POSITION AVAILABLE
Mount St. Mary’s University
Division of Student Life
Director of the Center for Student Diversity
Yes, Critical Race Theory is compatible with Catholicism. Here’s why.
Podcast from Gloria Purvis.
Vince Rougeau: First of all, critical race theory, in the context of legal education, is an analytical tool. This boogeyman that some have created around critical race theory—that it’s this mind-control mechanism that is going to destroy our children and make them all feel terrible about being white—is nonsense. Read more...
Presented by: Rev. Stephen D. Thorne, NBCC Special Consultant
Father Joseph Brown: Priest-poet cites hospitality as key to address social tension
By Catholic News Service
Jesuit Father Joseph Brown wields a lot of influence in a creative medium he regards as a form of play.
Father Brown, professor of Africana studies at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, is a poet, writer, educator and apologist for Catholic spirituality, but with special emphasis on what the faith means for Black Catholics. Read more...
NEW From Our Sunday Visitor
Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood
Edited by Michael R. Heinlein; forward by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez
Bishop Roy Campbell, NBCC President, says the following about the book: "The book introduces readers to six Black Americans who dealt in their lifetimes with the human denigration and suffering that is manifested by American's original sin of racism. Yet they not only persevered, but truly lived as Christian people..."
Copies can be ordered by clicking here.
To help defray the shipping cost, enter code NBCC21 at checkout.
Diocese of Phoenix Black Catholic Vocations Initiative
Be Like Grandparents and Focus on Needs Of Others, DC
Prelate Says
By John Lavenburg | The Tablet
Homily for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Help the NBCC keep helping others.
Your donation makes it possible for us to give to programs that
benefit Black Catholics across the United States.
St. Thomas the Apostle has a new priest: the Rev. Michael Trail
By Aaron Gettinger | Hyde Park Herald
The Rev. Michael Trail, 31, is the new priest at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 S. Kimbark Ave. Read more...
Eucharistic Adoration:What is it and where and how to we celebrate this sacred act?
From Our Sunday Visitor brochure, "Eucharistic Adoration"
'Adoration is essentially an embrace with Jesus in which I say to him: "I am yours, and I ask you, please stay with me always." '
-- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Remembering...
Congratulations to Fr. Wesbee Victor, ordained to the Archdiocese of New York (above).
Other Items of Interest
‘For many divorced Catholics around the world, Pope Francis suggested, the cost and intimidating complexity of the annulment process were among the reasons they never sought an annulment.’
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7 Ways to coach yourself through a tough decision
By Cecilia Pigg | Aleteia
These steps can help you discern in any circumstance.
Are you grappling with a big decision? Maybe you’re considering a new job or wondering if you need to move. Maybe you’re figuring out whether to break up or stay in a relationship. Maybe you’re trying to decide if you should go back to school. Whatever your dilemma, here are seven steps to follow to make the process of deciding what to do next less painful and more freeing. Read more...
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Have you considered becoming a priest or religious sister or brother?
The purpose of this webinar is to simplify the process of applying for a DRF Grant and to walk potential applicants through the process of completing an application online. Attendees will learn about the review process and understand how the information they provide can negatively impact a grant award.
"I Leave My Life in Your Hands"
In this video, His Excellency, Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago speaks of the need for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
A meeting on Jan. 29 between Pope Francis and members of the Roman Rota, the Vatican’s highest judicial tribunal, raised an issue that Francis has returned to several times in his pontificate: annulment reform. Read more...
When Daniel prayed in the book of Daniel 10, the answers to his prayers were immediately released but was mysteriously delayed.
Amazon Price: $15.95
Portraits of the Black Catholic Men and Women
Rising to Sainthood
Download images by clicking on the portraits below
Click here to read biographies of the Holy Men and Women Rising to Sainthood. Click button under portraits to learn more about each Cause for Canonization.
Gold Medallist Proudly Shows the World the Reason for her Success! Let Us Boldly Proclaim Our Faith!
St. Paul's Community Chapel in Mumbai
Use of NBCC Copyrighted Material
When using NBCC photos, videos, or staff-written articles, you acknowledge and agree that the NBCC is not responsible for any action taken or activity that occurs as a result of the information provided on this website. All proprietary items of the NBCC are subject to copyright, and may be used solely in a not-for-profit manner, and attribution must be made to the NBCC by including the following disclaimer: Used with permission of the NBCC– ® NBCC 2021.
Content Available through the website is provided as-is: You acknowledge that the NBCC does not make any representations or warranties about the material, data, and information, such as data files, text, computer software, code, music, audio files or other sounds, photographs, videos, or other images (collectively, the “Content”) which you may have access to. Under no circumstances is the NBCC liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to: any infringing Content, any errors or omissions in Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, transmitted, linked from, or otherwise accessible through or made available via the website. You agree that you are solely responsible for your reuse of Content made available through the website, including providing proper attribution.
Our Lady of Sorrows in Birmingham, AL
Social Justice Issues
Former St. Peter Claver School principal remembered for strong faith, leadership
By Dave Hrbacek | Catholic Spirit
The Church and the Racial Divide: Reflections of an African
American Catholic Bishop
FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON
How Can A Marriage Be Declared Null?
by Rev. Michael Smith Foster, J.C.D.
A series of articles that are informative regarding the nullity of marriage
Pope Francis’ tricks for warding off anxiety
By Kathleen N. Hattrup | Aleteia
Francis is an advocate for mental health, and has opened up about his own methods for dealing with weaknesses.
Pope Francis sent a message to the second National Conference for Mental Health, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Health, which was held last weekend, praising the initiative as a step toward “fully overcom[ing] the stigma with which mental illness has often been branded.” Read more...
A Call for An Increase in
BLACK CATHOLIC VOCATIONS
HOW VULNERABLE ARE YOU TO STRESS?
The following test was developed by Psychologists Lyle H. Miller and Alma Dell Smith at Boston University Medical Center. Score each item as follows:
(1) Always; (2) Most of the time; (3) Sometimes;
(4) Rarely; (5) Never
Click the form below to download.
Also ordained was Thomas
Bamoah, for the Diocese
of Yendi, Ghana.
Fr. Thomas Bamoah receives
the anointing of the hands
by Archbishop Aymond.
Our Lady's 15 Promises to Those Who Pray Her Rosary
By Mary Thierfelder | The Catholic Company
The Holy Rosary is an enormous source of grace and spiritual protection, one of the most powerful sacramentals of the Catholic Church. Sister Lucia dos Santos, one of the children to whom Our Lady appeared at Fatima, once said, "There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families ... that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary."
was the Director of the Office for Black Catholics for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He is a consultant for the Sub-Committee for African American Catholics for the United States Conference for Catholic Bishops and has participated in all of the National Black Catholic Congresses since 1987. Presently, he is a doctoral student at Bowie State University and chairs the Archbishop’s Commission for Racial Healing for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Joyful Mysteries:
Annunciation: humility;
Visitation: love of neighbor;
Birth of Jesus: detachment;
Presentation: obedience;
Finding in the Temple: greater commitment & devotion to Jesus.
Luminous Mysteries:
Baptism: openness to the Holy Spirit;
Miracle at Cana: Mary’s intercession;
Proclamation of the Kingdom & Repentance: Christian witness
and conversion;
Transfiguration: courage to bear
the cross;
Institution of the Holy Eucharist:
greater love for the Eucharist.
Congratulations to the Newly-Ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ!
From uneven responses to the
COVID-19 crisis to the raw racial
tensions exposed by the death of George Floyd in 2020, Americans over the past year have become more conscious of the diversity of our population and the struggles that many different cultures experience on a day to day basis. Read more...
Just Released!
NBCC Summer E-Blast Featuring Eucharistic Adoration and the New Vocations Infomercial by Bishop Joseph Perry.
Click below to view the newsletter.
Click here to listen to this or Gloria's other podcasts.
On the very first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Cardinal Wilton Gregory stressed the wisdom that the elderly and grandparents carry with them each day, and encouraged all Catholics to “become more observant of their needs.” Read more...
Photo from 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals Winning Moment
African American spelling bee champ makes history with flair
By Ben Nuckols | AP
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Zaila Avant-garde understood the significance of what she was doing as she stood on the Scripps National Spelling Bee stage, peppering pronouncer Jacques Bailly with questions about Greek and Latin roots. Read more...
Simone Biles leaves the Olympics with an important lesson for her fans
By Cerith Gardiner | Aleteia
The gymnast's message addressed the issue all Christians have to face.
The National Black Catholic Congress®
When Simone Biles recently withdrew from the individual all-around finals that are taking place tomorrow the sporting world went into shock. The diminutive, powerful, and seemingly invincible gymnast was human after all. Considered the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has spent the last few years wowing crowds with her daring routines. Pulling off moves that were so complex and death-defying, that every time she performed she risked serious injury, or even death, if things didn’t go according to plan. Read more...
CONGRESS 13 UPDATE:
The next Congress gathering will be held in 2023. Please check back for further updates.
Ajani Gibson was one of five
transitional deacons ordained to
the Archdiocese of New Orleans
on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Newly-ordained Fr. Ajani Gibson
blesses Bishop Joseph Perry
Mount St. Mary’s is eager to begin an enhancement of its Center for Student Diversity to better serve our increasing number of underrepresented students and to better educate the general student body on the importance of diversity in preparation for the global world. To that end, the Mount is searching for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual who is looking to grow professionally while guiding this initiative forward. For more information or to apply,
Catholics: We need to talk about sex, religion and politics.
By Gloria Purvis | America Magazine
You may have heard the old admonition never to talk about sex, religion or politics in polite company. Often these conversations can lead to discord, division and sometimes even violence. We all know the particularly hot issues: Marriage. Abortion. Gender identity. Adoption by same-sex couples. As a result, many people try to avoid talking about these topics altogether. Read more...
DAILY MASS
Saint Joseph Church
Upper Marlboro, MD
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Black Catholic Spirituality
Deacons Dan Dashner, Ajani Gibson, Michael Lamy, Truong “Peter” Pham and Andrew Sanchez were ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Also ordained to the priesthood was Deacon Thomas Bamoah, who will serve the Diocese of Yendi in his home country of Ghana.
Black Catholic Vocations
Statistics from
the Black
Mental Health
Alliance
Health Crisis
In 2018, for the first time
in the history of such
research, the rate of
suicides for Black children
between the ages of five and 12 has exceeded that of white children, and more than a third of elementary school-aged suicides involved Black children.
Representation Matters
Only 6.2 percent of psychologists, 5.6 percent of advanced-practice psychiatric nurses, 12.6 percent of social workers, and 21.3 percent of psychiatrists are members of minority groups.
Community Stigma
In research studies, Black people have indicated that mild depression or anxiety would be viewed as “crazy” in their social circles. Many of those interviewed also believe that discussions about mental illness would not be appropriate even among family.
For more information go to: Black Mental Health Alliance
USCCB program aims to engage diverse group of Catholic young adults
By Christina Lee Knauss | CNS
PERPETUAL ADORATION
LIVESTREAMED
Archdiocese of New Orleans 2021 Ordination Mass
DID YOU MISS THIS WEBINAR? Click the video play button below to watch now!
Father Augustus Tolton Vocation Action Circle
is to encourage our African American Community to pray for priestly vocations. Here’s how it works:
- Make a list of names of Black men and pray daily through the intercession of Fr. Augustus Tolton that they may be granted the grace of a priestly vocation.
- Participate in a monthly Mass offered for an increase of priestly vocations from the African American Community.
- Pray daily for Black seminarians through the intercession of Fr. Augustus Tolton. A list of Black seminarians will be sent to you upon registration in the Fr. Augustus Tolton Vocation Action Circle.
- Write Black seminarians at least at Christmas and Easter to encourage them in their vocation to the priesthood.
- Support financially Black seminarians in need of help through the Fr. Augustus Tolton Vocation Action Circle.
Prayers to be said at the elevation of the host at Mass
By Philip Kosloski | Aleteia
When you see the priest elevate the consecrated host, you can pray these prayers. There is a pious custom in the Catholic Church of offering a brief interior prayer at the moment when the priest elevates the consecrated host at Mass. Read more...
Praying A Scriptural Rosary
Father Thorne is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who has served in parish ministry, administration and education for over 20 years. He has earned academic degrees in philosophy, theology and education. From 2004-2011, he
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: Biggest Differences to Remember
By Jeff Hayward | ActiveBeat
In the medical world, the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” are often thrown around, often interchangeably. However, they refer to two different things: one of them being more a category, the other being a specific disease.
While many of the symptoms, including memory loss and confusion, can occur in dementia diseases as well as Alzheimer’s, there are some differences. Read more...
Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash
Resources for African American Men
from Dr. Billie Terrell
to view the NBCC Webinar Series by Dr. Terrell, click here.
- OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Spotlight: They Call Me Dad: Anthony Hamilton Connects With His Sons Through Music
- THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG - A WTTW Community Conversation
- From the Social Work Networker, (2004) “THE FATHER INFLUENCE,” article by Dr. Billie Terrell
- "IMPACT OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN MENTAL HEALTH", NASW Newsletter, February 2007
- "THE IMPACT OF ETHNIC SOCIALIZATION AND ETHNIC IDENTITY ON THE SELF-ESTEEM AND PARENTING ATTITUDES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN FATHERS", Diversity in Society Conference, St. Anne's College, Oxford, England, 2006 (I have the pdf of this paper)
- "DIVERSITY IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY", Faculty Development Seminar, College of St. Francis, August 1995
Additional Mental Health Resources and Emergency Contact Numbers can be found by clicking here.
St. Peter Claver School in St. Paul is a thriving place
for its K-8 students. Much of the credit goes to Teresa Mardenborough, who became principal in 2002 and remained in that post until her retirement in 2009. Read more...
AN EXPLANATION OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
Explainer: What is an annulment?
(And why does Pope Francis want to make it easier to get one?)
Consider implementing this program in your diocese!
Catch the new issue of the
Josephite Harvest
for news, interviews
& commentary.
Click on the image at right for a downloadable pdf file.
The only Catholic bishop who has consistently written on race matters, Bishop Braxton describes his family's history and his experience as an African American that he brought to his ministry as a Catholic priest and bishop.
SOCIAL READJUSTMENT SCALE
This quick self-check can help you identify how much stress your life experiences may have caused and how you may physically respond to that stress.
Circle each event that has occurred within the past year. If one item has been repeated, you may count it more than once. Click the form below to download.
Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:
"Healing the Sick"
July 15, 2021
St. Teresa Parish, Belleville
From His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Diocese of Belleville
Click image to download
[[File:Simone Biles.png|Simone Biles]]
Understanding the Daniel Rudd
Fund Application Process
Fr. Emmanuel Antwi and Fr. Christopher Awiliba for the Diocese of Savannah.
In his apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (RVM), St. John Paul II tells how we are to assimilate the mysteries of the rosary by meditating on the life of Jesus as we contemplate each mystery. When we immerse ourselves into the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and we are rewarded by the "fruits" of the mysteries listed below:
Introduction by: Ms. Pearlette Springer, Former DRF Grant Recipient
Ms. Pearlette Springer currently serves as the Coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Indiana.
Praying Aggressively to
Counter Spiritual
Wickedness!
By Rev. Kinglsey Ogbuji, SSJ
How one woman with a van is changing lives in Northeast Ohio
She's spreading the message 'Never Give Up, Never Quit'
By Danita Harris | News 5 Cleveland
WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio — Sharon Johnson, founder of the faith-based nonprofit “Never Give Up, Never Quit,” has been committing random acts of kindness for over 30 years across Northeast Ohio. To continue her mission, she has opened a soap shop to help fund her charity crusade. Read more...