A picture of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, as well as pictures of Servant of God Julia Greeley and Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, are seen during the Diocese of Owensboro’s Nov. 4, 2023 Black Catholic History Month Mass at St. Stephen Cathedral, in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Prayer for our world encouraged during Black Catholic History Month
BY F. VERONICA WILHITE, OFFICE OF BLACK CATHOLIC MINISTRY
November is Black Catholic History Month. During this month we celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics. Three commemorative dates fall in November: St. Augustine’s birthday, Nov. 13; St. Martin de Porres’ feast day, Nov. 3; and the memorial of Our Lady of Kibeho on Nov. 28. November is also when Catholics celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, an occasion to recall in a special way the saints and souls of Africa and the African diaspora who were lost enroute and after arriving as slaves in the Americas.
As Catholics, celebration of the lives of the saints is a strong tradition. As Americans we only have three native-born saints: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (canonized 1975), foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph; St. Katharine Drexel, (canonized 2000), educator for the Indian and Negro population and foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and Xavier University of Louisiana, the only Historically Black Catholic University in the United States; and St. Kateri Tekakwitha (canonized 2012) the first and only Native American to be canonized.
As Black Catholics we had a few African saints in our tradition such as St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Monica and St. Augustine along with St. Martin de Porres from South America. Today there is a growing number of American candidates for sainthood six of whom are Black. We ask for your prayers especially during this month and throughout the year for the causes for sainthood of these six Black holy people:
- Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman F.S.P.A.
- Venerable Henriette Delille
- Venerable Pierre Toussaint
- Servant of God Mother Mary Lange
- Venerable Father Augustus Tolton
- Servant of God Julia Greeley
Our Lady of Kibeho is the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition in Africa, which occurred in Kibeho, Rwanda. Our Lady first appeared to a young schoolgirl, Alphonsine Mumureke on Nov. 28, 1981. Subsequently she appeared to Anathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie Claire Mukangango. The message of Our Lady of Kibeho was a simple one of love and repentance. She also showed the three girls horrific visions of what would happen if people did not repent. In 1994, the visions the three schoolgirls saw came to pass in the Rwandan Genocide. Among those killed at Kibeho was Marie Claire Mukangango. Today, Kibeho has been restored and the shrine at Kibeho is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. a place of repentance, of peace and of healing for Rwanda and for all people.
The best known ‘apostle’ of Our Lady of Kibeho is Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan Tutsi, the only survivor of the genocide in her entire family. Today, she speaks about the grace and forgiveness of God and devotion to Our Lady. According to Immaculée, Our Lady encourages prayer. During this current time of turmoil and political unrest, let this month of Black history celebration be especially prayerful and reflective on our love of God and our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
F. Veronica Wilhite is the director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry.
Originally printed in the November 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
