HOUSTON — The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary made history this month in Texas, celebrating their 110th national convention—including the landmark centennial convention of the women’s division.
The six-day gathering from July 24-29 featured various forms of fellowship, fundraising, and fraternity for the nation’s oldest and largest extant Black Catholic organization, which boasts of more than 15,000 members in the United States and beyond.
Held in one of the fraternal order’s organizational strongholds—Texas being second only to Louisiana in membership—the event was well-attended and opened with a Mass on Sunday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart featuring a capacity crowd.
The convention included the participation of eight bishops from across the country, including one of its newest members, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Boxie III of Washington. The young Black Catholic prelate was initiated and exemplified into the Knights’ fourth degree in the week before the convention, during the annual convocation of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, also held in Houston.
The order also celebrated its own honors during an awards banquet on Monday night, feting top councils, courts, local officers, and others. The winners of Claverism's most prestigious award, the Gold Medal of Merit, were Kim Procter of Detroit; Leonard Stiell of Mobile, Alabama; and Lena Charles of Opelousas, Louisiana. The latter was honored as a notable non-member of the Knights and Ladies.
The business proceedings of the convention included the election of national officers for the order. Returning to his position is the supreme knight, Dr. Christopher Pichon, along with all incumbent officers up for reelection. New officers include Pichon’s young adult son, Cortney, who was elected director general of the Junior Knights division, and Vincent White, who was elected national secretary. Outgoing secretary Alexander Taylor will move on to his new role of Central States District president.
On the Ladies’ side, Supreme Lady Hilda Wiltz was also elected to a second two-year term, as were all other incumbent members of the National Council Board up for reelection. New to the board is Rita Womack, who was elected as Central States District deputy.
For the Meritorious Fourth Degree, the new board members for the Ladies include Supreme Navigator Tasha McShan, Supreme Captain Joyce Lombard, and Supreme Outer Sentinel Andrenette Chevis. For the Knights, the new members are Supreme Navigator Gregory Warner, Supreme Outer Sentinel John Kerstan Major, and Supreme Inner Sentinel Aaron Noel.
Scenes from the 110th national convention of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, held in Houston from July 24-29, 2026. (Nate Tinner-Williams)
The Ladies Auxiliary kicked off their centennial celebration with a commemorative tree-planting ceremony in the Houston area, honoring their growth into the engine of the Claver family.
Originally founded in 1922 in Galveston, Texas, the Ladies were officially recognized as the second lung of the Clavers four years later. They have since come to outnumber the Knights themselves in active members, providing various forms of service at the parish, regional, national, and international level.
Their convention events included a number of fundraisers, including a national baby shower, raffle, and silent auction, all of which are supporting Star of Hope Mission to assist the less fortunate in the Houston area.
“Our theme is rooted in faith, flourishing in service,” Wiltz told BCM earlier this year of the Ladies’ mission and her passion for making sure they continue to thrive.
“It's a genuine love for community, for people, for friendship, unity, and Christian charity. It's a commitment to making sure that you grow the order.”
Among the convention’s various presentations was a Tuesday afternoon session with several leaders of the Black Catholic Flourishing Project, a long-term effort in partnership with FADICA (Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities). Using an action plan developed by a group of national representatives, it is intended to provide resources and support for the African-American Catholic community.
Dr. David Robinson-Morris presented to the Clavers alongside two co-leads, the Resurrectionist priest Manuel Williams and Sister of Social Service Eva Marie Lumas. Their message emphasized that the BCFP vision cannot be fulfilled without the active participation of groups like theirs.
“That work will be done by the lay Catholic faithful and nobody has done that better than the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver,” said Williams, who was presenting to the Clavers after speaking to the Clergy Caucus about the project just days earlier.
“This is not to put down people of other cultural groups. It is to say” Can we tear down the pedestals to build platforms where everybody can stand?” added Lumas, who spoke on the importance of Black Catholic patrimony and presence in the U.S. context.
"It is not about blaming or shaming. It's saying, ‘Take my hand and let's move together into a future that we built together for the common good.’”
Scenes from the 110th national convention of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, held in Houston from July 24-29, 2026. (Nate Tinner-Williams)
In various convention sessions, the Knights and Ladies spoke of the important role the order plays in Catholic life and for individual members in need, though a common theme was the tension between expansion and retention.
The order has been active in reactivating dormant councils and courts, as well as in establishing new units in locales like New York City, at HBCUs and one of the nation's seminaries, and even in Hawaii.
Like the Catholic Church overall, however, the Claver family has at times struggled to retain younger members—from the Junior Knights and Junior Daughters —after they reach the age when they can transfer to the senior division. Likewise, members at the convention spoke of a desire to see councils see more participation from younger adults and to inspire vocations.
“[I] encourage you in a particular area of service with our young people and encouraging them for service in the Church, specifically priestly and religious vocations,” said Bishop Boxie during his homily for the Conclave Mass on Saturday.
“To create a culture of vocation where they can see a life of service in the church as a priest, as a religious, as a permanent deacon. There's no greater service than service to the Lord.”
By Wednesday, the leaders of the Knights of Ladies spoke of hopefulness about the future of the order, both because of the successful activities of the order this week and because of the enduring legacy of the Claver family.
“Let us continue this mission,” said Supreme Knight Pichon in a post-convention message.
“Let us continue on with the focus of how we come together at the table and truly love each other like family.”
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
