Sharon Lavigne, 'Cancer Alley' activist, granted honorary Italian citizenship
The Louisiana native received the honor while in the country for meetings with students, fellow climate advocates, and top Vatican officials.
Awards
Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd enter Naismith Hall of Fame again with Olympic 'Redeem Team'
Kobe Bryant is again entering the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, this time as part of the 2008 U.S. men’s Olympic squad, also known as the “Redeem Team.” He is one of two Catholics from the roster, along with Jason Kidd. The hoop hall’s class of 2025
Bessie Stringfield documentary short eligible for 2025 Oscars
The award-winning film qualified with a weeklong cinema run in Southern California and has won awards at film festivals across the country.
Beyoncé leads 2025 Grammy nominees as Black Creoles with Catholic connections loom large
Houston's finest is up for 11 awards from her country album "Cowboy Carter," making her the most nominated artist in the show's history.
Black Catholics shine in wild week at 2024 Paris Olympics
Athletes across several sports (and the diaspora) have set records, shattered expectations, and brought glory to their home countries—and to God.
Simone Biles wins all-around gold at 2024 Paris Olympics
At 27, she is the second-oldest champion in the event and has won more Olympic gymnastics medals than any American in history.
Simone Biles is back: U.S. women's gymnastics team takes gold at Paris Olympics
The 27-year-old Black Catholic, now the oldest Olympic gold medalist ever in the sport, anchored the squad with strong showings on Tuesday night.
Ahead of Paris Olympics, Simone Biles wins 2024 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Performance
It is her second comeback award since a return from a two-year hiatus, and comes just weeks after her triumph at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials.
Dr. C. Vanessa White receives award from Catholic Theological Society of America
White received the inaugural Distinguished Scholar/Leader Award from the CTSA's Committee on Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups (CUERG) in June.
Ralph McCloud to receive Eileen Egan Peacemaker Award from Pax Christi USA
The longtime administrator departed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in April as the highest-ranking lay African American in the Catholic Church.
MLK speechwriter Clarence B. Jones awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
The nation's highest civilian honor, bestowed by President Joe Biden, went to the 93-year-old activist, former attorney, and businessman on May 3.
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot to receive 2024 Laetare Medal, highest U.S. Catholic honor
The Louisiana-born Black Catholic businesswoman is the CEO of the food bank network Feeding America, the nation's largest nonprofit.
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. led Black Catholics at 2024 Grammys
Several nods led to just one win across all categories, with a characteristically full slate of nominations for co-religionists from Louisiana.
Dr. Shannen Dee Williams wins Wesley-Logan Prize for book on Black nuns
Williams also won the 2022 Letitia Woods Brown Award for Best Book in African American Women's History from the Association of Black Women Historians.
Black Catholics up for 2023 Teacher of Peace Award
Dr. Craig Ford Jr. and the National Black Sisters' Conference are among this year's nominees for the award from Pax Christi USA.
Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary host 'historic' national convention in New Orleans
Their first-ever joint senior and junior convention was held from July 13-19 in New Orleans, the city of their national headquarters.