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Black Catholic History in Baltimore

Why November?
2025 Highlights
Resources
Saintly Seven

Why is November Black Catholic History Month?

November as Black Catholic History Month

was established in 1990 through the advocacy of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus.
During the same year, the first celebration of Black Catholic History Month
began in November in various cities in the United States with the celebration of
St. Martin de Porres’ Feast Day. On November 3rd of that year, a liturgy
celebrated the 150th anniversary of St. Martin’s transition to eternal life.
In the world today there are more than 200 million people of African
descent in the Roman Catholic Church.

The reason for the selection of November to celebrate Black Catholic History is
the number of important dates within this month:

November 1st – All Saints Day – an opportunity to review the lives of saints of
African descent living in the first 300 years of Church history;
November 2nd – All Souls Day – a time to remember the Africans lost in cruel
treatment in the Middle passage crossing the Atlantic Ocean;
November 3rd – Feast of St. Martin de Porres, the only saint of African descent
in this hemisphere;
November 20th – the death of Zumbi Palmares in Brazil, the South American
founder of a free state for Blacks.

Black Catholic History Month is a time for us to celebrate the contributions of
Black Catholics to the Roman Catholic tradition.

Office of Black Catholic Ministries – 2025 Highlights

12th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. /Rev. Monsignor Edward Michael Miller Peace Walk

Normally, the annual peace walk at St. Bernardine features a procession through the neighborhoods surrounding the West Baltimore parish.

While ice and cold weather prevented an outdoor presence this year, the program went on inside the church.

“It’s cold out there, but it’s warm in here,” Archbishop William E. Lori said in his opening remarks at the 12th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. /Rev. Monsignor Edward Michael Miller Peace Walk.

Read the full article on Catholic Review
Baltimore City Councilman Paris Gray (District 8) speaks during the 12th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Rev. Monsignor Edward Michael Miller Peace Walk on Jan. 20 at St. Bernardine Catholic Church. (Christian Kendzierski)

Sacred Jazz at the Baltimore Basilica

His Eye is on the Sparrow

God Bless the Child

In the Beauty of Holiness

St. Bernardine Choir 50th Anniversary

The joyful sound of 75 voices singing in praise filled St. Bernardine Catholic Church all the way up to its trademark gold dome July 27 as the church’s beloved choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with a reunion concert.

Featuring both prior and current members and directors, the choir performed for almost three hours to a sold-out house – 500 tickets total.

“It’s great to see a full church,” said Monsignor Richard J. Bozzelli, pastor of St. Bernardine, just before the concert began. “If you’re going to have a successful church, especially an African American church, you need to have good preaching and good music. That’s very important.”

Read the full article on Catholic Review

All Saints Day Behavioral Health Retreat

In its quests to meet the needs of parents in West Baltimore, New All Saints Parish will host its All Saints Day Behavioral Health Retreat Nov. 1.

Spiritan Father Kenny Udumka, pastor of New All Saints in Liberty Heights, said the retreat provides a great resource for the community he serves.

“The behavioral health retreat at New All Saints Church will increase awareness, connect individuals with needed services and promote early intervention and treatment,” Father Udumka said. “It will connect participants to support systems that will help them to build resilience against mental health challenges.”

Read the full article on Catholic Review
all saints day behavioral retreat
In its quests to meet the needs of parents in West Baltimore, New All Saints Parish will host its All Saints Day Behavioral Health Retreat Nov. 1. (Courtesy Office of Black Catholic MInistry)

The Office of Black Catholic Ministries invites you to a 3 Day Church Revival!

NOV 14 – 16
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Friday and Saturday
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Sunday

St. Bernadine Catholic Church
3812 Edmondson Ave, Baltimore

Light refreshments will be provided

Revivalist: Father Royce Thomas C.Ss.R., St. Alphonsus Rock Catholic Church, St. Louis, Missouri

revival awaken the fire within

National Black Catholic History Month Resources

Maryland Bishops on the Emancipation of Maryland

Black Catholic Syllabus – Recommended Readings

Black Catholic History Month Resource Packet

Black Catholic History Month Rosary

black catholics on the road to sainthood

Servant of God Fr. Martin Maria de Porres Ward, O.F.M. Conv

First African American to join the Conventual Friars Minor. Fr. Martin worked as an Educator, Chaplain, Vocations Director, and Pastor in South America.

Cause for Canonization

Venerable Mother Mary Lange

Founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore in 1829 before the Emancipation Proclamation. Mother Mary Lange’s cause for canonization was introduced by Cardinal Keeler, former Archbishop of Baltimore in 1991.

Cause for Canonization

Venerable Henriette DeLille

Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans in 1842 at a time when white orders of religious women would not admit African American women into their orders as professed sisters.

Cause for Canonization
augustus tolton

Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton

Born a slave in Ralls County, Missouri in 1854, he became the first Black American priest recognized as Black. He was ordained in Rome in 1886. In 2010, his Cause for Canonization of Fr. Augustus Tolton, received affirmation and he received the distinction of Servant of God. In 2019, Pope Francis advanced the cause for Sainthood which deemed Fr. Tolton Venerable.

Cause for Canonization

Servant of God Julie Greeley, O.F.S.

Julie Greeley, O.F.S. was an African-American philanthropist and Catholic convert. An enslaved woman later freed by the U.S. government, she is known as Denver’s “Angel of Charity” because of her aid to countless families in poverty.

Cause for Canonization
julie greeley

Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Born a salve in Haiti, Pierre died a freeman in New York City. He started NY’s first school for black children and helped provide funds for the Oblate Sisters of Providence, a religious community of Black nuns in Baltimore. He also cared for the sick and dying during a yellow fever epidemic.

Cause for Canonization

Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman

Teacher of faith and culture, noted for her outstanding defense and support for inculturation. She worked as an educator and liturgist to evangelize the Church in promoting cultural diversity.

Cause for Canonization
Sr. Thea Bowman

Saintly Seven Video Gallery

Venerable Mother Mary Lange

Venerable Henriette DeLille

Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton

Venerable Pierre Toussaint

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