Six U.S.-born Black Catholics set for ordination to diaconate, priesthood in 2026
They are among at least nine North American Black Catholics receiving Holy Orders this year in the United States.
Society of the Divine Word
Fr Darrell Kelly, SVD, Mississippi-born priest who served in the South, dead at 64
Ordained in his 40s, Kelly served African-American parishes in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, before health issues forced his retirement.
National Black Catholic Men's Conference set for September in New Orleans
The 2025 Fr Chester P. Smith National Black Catholic Men's Conference is set for Sept. 4-7 in New Orleans, bringing the annual gathering back to the Crescent City for the first time in 15 years. The event, to be held at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, is organized
Black Catholic seminarian Zachary Smith, SVD to be ordained a priest
The young University of Pittsburgh and Divine Word College alum is expected to serve in Japan to begin his priestly ministry.
'An epoch-making time': Centennial Mass for first Black Catholic seminary draws thousands to Bay St. Louis
A celebratory weekend at St. Augustine Seminary culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime liturgy attended by beaucoup bishops and Black Catholics alike.
St. Augustine's, first all-Black Catholic seminary in U.S., to celebrate centennial
The Mississippi school educated many of the nation's first Black Catholic priests, including several who would go on to become bishops.
National Black Catholic Men's Conference set for October 12-14 in Louisville
The annual event is now in its 20th year, gathering men from across the African diaspora for faith, fellowship, and Black unity.
New Gospel Mass premiering Saturday at the University of Notre Dame
The new work was composed by Fr Carl Gales, a Divine Word priest ordained last year.
Reflection: The life and afterlife of Claude Newman, Black death row inmate who saw the Blessed Virgin
Marian apparitions in the United States are all but non-existent, but one Black Mississippian born this day in 1923 may have broken the mold. Nate Tinner-Williams explores.
Fr Thomas James, SVD, longtime educator and pastor, dead at 80
An African-American Verbite has died in his native Diocese of Lafayette after 53 years of priestly ministry in Louisiana and Los Angeles, California.
Tampa's St. Peter Claver, oldest operating Black primary school in Florida, hosting annual gala Saturday
A historic Black Catholic school in Southwest Florida is celebrating 128 years with its annual scholarship gala on Saturday evening.
Archdiocese of Newark to celebrate late Black bishop, diaspora ministry on Saturday
Dual Black Catholic anniversaries are afoot in the Newark archdiocese, where Cardinal Joe Tobin will celebrate a Mass for the occasions on Saturday.
African-American SVD seminarian makes final vows Saturday, nears ordination
Buffalo native Edwan "Manie" Manuel, SVD has completed one of the last steps in his seminary formation, ahead of his diaconate ordination next month.
'Walk Together, Children': Fr Carl Gales, SVD's homily for Joint Conference Jubilee Mass
A homily this week from one of the nation's newest African-American Catholic priests, covering racism, resilience, and freedom.
Black Catholic Joint Conference encourages 'Ubuntu', 'Sawubona'
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — More than a hundred Black Catholic women religious, clergy, religious brothers, deacons’ wives, and seminarians gathered in Indiana this week for their annual Joint Conference, this year under the theme of “Walk Together, Children” at the University of Notre Dame. The focus permeated the week’s events,
Fr Charles D. Burns, SVD dead at 90
A newsmaking African-American priest and cousin to Thea Bowman who made waves in the Civil Rights and Black Catholic Movements passed away this month in Los Angeles.