February is the Month of the Passion of Our Lord

The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus' sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind.

CONGRESS XIII:

Are You Ready for Some Excitement?

Early-Bird Discount

ENDS ON

February 28, 2023

Early-Bird Registration:

Adults: $395.00 | Youth: $350.00

Regular Registration:

Adults: $450.00 | Youth: $395.00

On-Site Registration:

Adults: $495.00 | Youth: $440.00

The Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received a grant from the USCCB Home Missions Collection to help participants attend Congress XIII. Recipients must reside in a Catholic Home Mission diocese to qualify. Interested parties should contact Mrs. Grimes directly at dgrimes@usccb.org as soon as possible.

For reference, see the list of Home Mission dioceses by clicking here.

Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell Jr., at center, the president of the National Black Catholic Congress, processes to the altar while serving as the main celebrant at a Sept. 17, 2022 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception marking the 25th anniversary of the Our Mother of Africa Chapel. The National Black Catholic Congress XIII gathering will be held in the Washington, D.C. area on July 20-23 at National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Ryan for the National Black Catholic Congress)

IN THE NEWS:

National Black Catholic Congress in Washington area in July 2023 continues historic tradition

By MARK ZIMMERMANN | Catholic Standard

During Black History Month in February, Catholics are being invited to register to attend this summer’s National Black Catholic Congress, which over the years has made history of its own.

The National Black Catholic Congress XIII will be held on July 20-23, 2023 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, marking the third time that the Washington, D.C., area has hosted the gathering, and each of those times, key participants included noted figures in U.S. Catholic history.

Be A Sponsor of Congress XIII!

Do you represent an organization with a mission and story to share? The NBCC provides that opportunity through Event Sponsorships or the Exhibition Center at Congress XIII.

Click the flyer at right to see a few of the sponsorships that are available, or scan the QR code below to visit the dedicated Congress XIII website for more info.

SERVICE PROJECT

For the first time, the NBCC will include a service project for Congress XIII attendees.

Working with corporate and community-based groups, No Child Hungry packs nutritious meals, holds drives, and works with those groups to give the meals to people in need.

No Child Hungry is committed to fighting hunger for every child. We believe that No child should go to bed hungry whether they live...around the corner or around the world!

NBCC Documentary to Premiere at Congress XIII

Heroes of the Faith:

Black Catholic Witness and Perspectives

The NBCC recently partnered with Solstice Productions to create a documentary that gives an overview of the history of Black Catholics in the United States. This production will show that Black Catholics have been in this country since the first ship carrying slaves landed in the early 1500's, centuries before the founding of America, and Black Catholics have been deeply involved in every aspect of the fight for freedom since that time.

Click the image above to watch a "Video Short" from Solstice Productions about Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman.

LENT

There is no better time to reconnect with or deepen one’s faith than Lent.

During this time, we can draw closer to God as we prepare for the joyous celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter.

"Yet even now—oracle of the Lord— return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord,

your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,

abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment."

Joel 2:12-13

Lent 2023: The Complete

Guide to the Catholic

Season of Lent

The weather begins to change, calendars

continue to turn, Christmas and New Year’s

celebrations drift further into the rearview mirror.

All are signs that Lent is drawing near.

Lent is one of the five seasons of the Catholic liturgical calendar, along with Advent, Christmas, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Read more...

National Eucharistic Revival

Purpose, connection, peace—these desires are written on our hearts for a reason. The answer lies at the very center of our faith: the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a joyful, expectant, grassroots movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States.

Find out what to expect along this journey and how you can get involved! Visit www.eucharisticrevival.org.

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Milestones: Timeline

HISTORY.COM EDITORS

Howard Univ., Washington, D.C., ca. 1900 - sewing class

In August of 1619, a journal entry recorded that “20 and odd” Angolans, kidnapped by the Portuguese, arrived in the British colony of Virginia and were then were bought by English colonists.

The date and the story of the enslaved Africans have become symbolic of slavery’s roots, despite captive and free Africans likely being present in the Americas in the 1400s and as early as 1526 in the region that would become the United States.

Carter G. Woodson

The Origins of Black

History Month

The story of Black History Month

begins in Chicago during the

summer of 1915. An alumnus of the University of Chicago with many friends in the city, Carter G. Woodson traveled from Washington, D.C. to participate in a national celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois.

Thousands of African Americans travelled from across the country to see exhibits highlighting the progress their people had made since the destruction of slavery. Awarded a doctorate in Harvard three years earlier, Woodson joined the other exhibitors with a black history display. Despite being held at the Coliseum, the site of the 1912 Republican convention, an overflow crowd of six to twelve thousand waited outside for their turn to view the exhibits.

Click the image above to download the pdf.

From Springtide Research Institute

Navigating Injustice Shares What Race, Faith and Mental Health Mean for BIPOC Gen Z

Mental health issues are a reality for many young people, and COVID only intensified the problem. In 2022, nearly half of young people (47%) told Springtide they were moderately or extremely depressed, 55% reported being moderately or extremely stressed, and 45% said they were moderately or extremely lonely.

Grant Funding for Sacred Places

Historic houses of worship across America contribute significant value to their communities, and their historic and cultural significance are essential parts of our national heritage. Although many historic sacred places are considered icons of stability in their communities, today congregations of every faith face challenges in stewarding their aging and architecturally complex facilities.

Apply for a grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places to keep these places as an important part of our national cultural heritage.

St. James the Greater Mission Church is known locally as Catholic Hill.

Nominations due:

March 15, 2023

Click to Submit

2023 St. Katharine Drexel Award

NOMINATE A DONOR

FADICA welcomes your nominees for the Katharine Drexel Award in Philanthropy.

Join FADICA in recognizing Catholic donors and foundations for their exemplary and outstanding contributions to philanthropy on behalf of the Church and the common good. Your nomination could honor the work of a significant donor or foundation that supports your work, which will lead to a spotlight on your unique mission. Read more...

PANEL DISCUSSION:

WHY CONFESSION?

Join four priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for a webinar discussion on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It's a chance to ask all of your questions about a sacrament that many people want to know more about. Submit your questions in advance or in realtime during the webinar.

http://bit.ly/3kveUBk

Email your questions in advance to revival@archphila.org

LATEST

NEWS

Check the NBCC Website for the latest news and reflections from the Black Catholic community.

Visit our Website forthe Latest News

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check out the NBCC Website for our calendar of in-person and virtual presentations and webinars on faith, well-being, social justice and more.

Visit our Calendar of Events

BUY NOW

MADONNAS

of COLOR

by Brother Mickey McGrath

Brother Mickey’s color-ﬁlled images and ﬁrsthand stories lend both new relevance and reverence to ancient titles and traditions surrounding the Black Madonna and help us to see her crucial importance in our divided and racist world. Mary the Madonna of Color reminds us that following her Son means centering our hearts on LOVE not FEAR.