Black History Month
Celebrating Black History helps everyone understand and appreciate the contributions of Black Americans. It's an opportunity for all people to reflect on the past and inspire the growth of acceptance and love into the future.
February’s celebration of Black History Month in the United States traces its roots to the 1920s. During the 1976 Bicentennial Year presidential message Gerald Ford described Black History Month as an occasion to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Despite the many accomplishments of Black History Month’s goals, the contributions of Black Catholics is often overlooked. Because of that, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States began observing November as National Black Catholic History Month in 1990.
It is important to promote an awareness of the many Catholic individuals who have achieved greatness in addition to the accomplishments of all black Americans. No national celebration of Black History Month would be complete without including these Catholic stories — or the countless stories of black Catholics left untold.
Here are a few ideas for making Black History Month an opportunity for learning and sharing about our rich Catholic traditions with your Church of the Home. (adapted from www.teachingcatholickids.com)
Pray together
Use this Black Catholic Rosary via the USCCB. (Link opens a PDF file.) Each set of mysteries has a theme and each decade builds on that theme. There’s a special prayer for each mystery. Praying this rosary is a beautiful way to learn and reflect on Black History.
Learn about Black Catholics
The National Black Catholic Congress has put together a list of noteworthy black Catholics. Here are just a few saints from this list:
St. Anthony the Great of Thebes
St. Antonio Vieira
St. Augustine
St. Benedict the Moor
St. Bessarion
Sts. Felicitas & Perpetua
St. Josephine Bakhita
St. Katharine Drexel
St. Martin de Porres
St. Monica
St. Moses, the Black
St. Peter Claver
Sts. Valentine & Dubatatius
St. Victoria
You’ll also find short biographies of Black Catholics here.
Watch Together & Discuss
Join us for Mass at 4:00 PM on Saturday, 8:30 or 10:30 AM on Sunday, or on www.gbres.org/live, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook page.
READINGS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S MASSES
2 VIRTUALLY SUNDAY REFLECTIONS
Why do bad things happen to good people? This questions has been pondered upon for generations. But even in the bleakest of moments, God is there. When bad things happen, God is present through our actions of being there for the person. Join Sr. Marla as she reflects on this weekend's scripture readings.
Many times, we put ourselves into situations and moments which are not the easiest. So why do we get ourselves into those situations or moments? When we reflect, we realize that it is amid the uneasiness, those situations are actually life-giving. Join Steve has he reflects on this weekend's scripture readings.
This Weekend's Bulletin
(click to read)
Families
Parish Lyceum
The Parish Lyceum will feature a variety of topics, guidelines, and relevant information to nurture the PIESS of our lives – physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social.
What is the Bishop's Appeal?
The Bishop's Appeal is a stewardship opportunity for each of us to reach out to thousands of people in search of Jesus' love. Each gift given supports the ministries of the Diocese of Green Bay which serve our parishes, Catholic schools, and communities. Your gift truly helps bring the heart and hands of Christ to our children, young adults, families, and neighbors here in northeastern Wisconsin.
Why Give to the Bishop’s Appeal?
And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40
Your gift to the Bishop’s Appeal will help in countless ways. Children and families are able to attend lively, interactive education programs learning the Word of God. A young woman in an abusive relationship is able, through counseling with Catholic Charities, to stand on her own feet. Married couples struggling with infertility are able to become parents through Adoption Services. Your gift to the Bishop’s Appeal makes happy endings possible.
93% of every dollar raised goes to Diocesan ministries and services here in northeast Wisconsin.
Make a tremendous difference, and give to the Bishop’s Appeal. How much you give is less important than the spirit in which you give. Even small donations add up to large donations.
To make a gift today, contact your parish, visit the Bishop’s Appeal website at www.catholicfoundationgb.org/give, or call Tammy at 920-272-8123.
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