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Events — San Francisco — California — Black women — Lectures — Masses — Bay Area

Celebrate BCM's 5th anniversary in San Francisco! Join us for the inaugural Rudd Lecture

,   and  BCM Staff
3 min read

Five years never felt so good.

Black Catholic Messenger was founded in 2020 to bring light to the voice and witness of African-American in the Church, and we’re celebrating our anniversary with a bang in the Bay Area.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown San Francisco, we will host the inaugural Rudd Lecture and Dialogue, where we will be joined by the esteemed scholar Dr. Kim R. Harris as our speaker for this free and inclusive event.

Inaugural Daniel Rudd dinner and lecture
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Gospel Mass: 5pmLecture: 7pm🎉 Excitement is in the air! The Black Catholic Messenger Foundation is celebrating five years of sharing Black Catholic stories and perspectives, and we want YOU to join us for a special event in San Francisco. 🎉Capping off our 2025 Black Catholic Awareness Week, we are hosting the inaugural Daniel Rudd lecture and dinner on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral. Enjoy an evening of food, fellowship, and inspiration featuring Dr. Kim Harris of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, who will share insights on the Black Catholic experience. Don’t miss out!Bio: Dr. Kim R. Harris is the Assistant Professor of African American Thought and Practice in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University.In addition to teaching courses on Black liberation and Womanist theologies, Harris leads music in a variety of liturgical and academic settings. She is a liturgist, composer, and recording artist, presenting lectures on the music of the Black Catholic experience, the spirituals of the Underground Railroad, and the freedom song of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Harris is a member of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium and the North American Academy of Liturgy. She is an academic member of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as a liturgical consultant for the Archdiocese of New York Office of Black Ministry.A gifted cantor, leader of song, and a passionate cultural advocate, Harris earned a PhD in worship and the arts from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. In fulfillment of her degree, she composed Welcome Table: A Mass of Spirituals, one of the complete Mass settings included in the second edition of the “Lead Me Guide” Black Catholic hymnal from GIA Publications.Those interested in volunteering can send an email to info@blackcatholicmessenger.org.PARKING: While Old. St. Mary’s does not have dedicated on-site parking for visitors, there is street parking nearby, as well as parking garages. Click here for more information.
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A gifted musician and liturgist, Dr. Harris serves as an assistant professor of African American Thought and Practice in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, and as a visiting faculty member of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana. We are thrilled to have her join us for this auspicious occasion.

Before the lecture, we will celebrate a vigil Mass at Old St. Mary’s, featuring gospel music from talented choir members here in the Bay Area. You will not want to miss this spirit-filled liturgy!

This exciting event is part of a larger celebration planned for the first week of November, when our community celebrates Black Catholic History Month each year. We are calling it Black Catholic Awareness Week, running from Nov. 2-9 and capped off by our in-person event in San Francisco. Stay tuned for more info!

We hope you will join us in celebrating both BCHM and the 5th anniversary of BCM, which is a moment to remember the importance of Black Catholic media. The work was first pioneered by Daniel Rudd, whose American Catholic Tribune was the first national newspaper dedicated to African-American Catholics. We honor his legacy with our work and our upcoming lecture event.

The festivities on Nov. 8 will begin at 5pm PT with our gospel liturgy, followed by the lecture and dinner with Dr. Harris at 7pm. Tickets are free and interested parties can register online. Also consider adding a donation to help us continue our mission of amplifying Black Catholic voices.

We hope to see you this fall in San Francisco! More details to come.

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The inaugural Daniel Rudd Lecture would not be possible without the support of the Paulist Fathers, who have generously contributed to the event with a Paulist Mission Impact Grant. Click here to learn more about their important work.

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