Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • July 10, 2020 3 July 18 New Wine Graduation, 2 p.m. July 19 Msgr Mercier’s 94th Birthday, 8 a.m. July 19 Rite of Candidacy Jesse, St. Charles Borromeo, 9 a.m. July 21 Confirmation, Our Lady of the Gulf, 6 p.m. July 26 Installation Mass Fr. Gillespie, St. Mary, Woolmarket, 11 a.m. Black Catholic spirituality a force in fight against racism, say pastor BY GINA CHRISTIAN Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- Two Black Catholic pastors in Philadelphia say their parishes are drawing strength from the Eu- charist, prayer and a rich spiritual heritage in the fight against racism. “St. Katharine Drexel used to say, ‘We go in to go out,’” said Father Stephen Thorne, pastor of St. Martin de Porres in North Phila- delphia. “What she meant was that (our time with) the Blessed Sacrament gives us the en- ergy to go forth and do justice.” “Black Catholics continue to lead first through prayer,” said Msgr. Federico Britto, pastor of St. Cyprian Parish and administra- tor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in West Philadelphia. “Our culture is one of prayer, which is very celebratory in our liturgies. And we are hoping that through prayer, we will be heard, and there will be transforma- tion and resolution.” Both Msgr. Britto and Father Thorne said that prayer is the natural starting point for eradicating racial inequality, since racism it- self is a sin, as the U.S. bishops stated in their 2018 pastoral letter on the issue. Without addressing the moral root of the problem, external actions -- such as protest- ing and reassessing historical figures -- are incomplete and often without lasting effect, Father Thorne told CatholicPhilly.com, the news website of the Archdiocese of Philadel- phia. “The hard work is changing hearts and minds,” he said. “You have to know that you Black Catholics participate in a revival in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia in this undated photo. CNS photo/Sarah Webb, CatholicPhilly.com won’t be at God’s banquet table in the kingdom if you’re a racist, because it goes against God’s na- ture.” The church itself must confront racism in the pews, said both pastors. “Black Catholics know racism exists in churches,” said Msgr. Britto. “Even though the bishops have spoken about it, it’s still a system- ic issue.” In particular, he said, there is a need for more men and women of color in religious life and pasto- ral leadership. “If Black Catholics see people of color in leadership roles, that says to them, ‘OK, maybe there is a possibility here in the Cath- olic Church,’” said Msgr. Britto. Several canonized and potential saints have already helped to pioneer the church’s path toward equality for all its members, said Msgr. Britto and Father Thorne. Born in Peru to a Spanish father and a Black mother (1579-1639), St. Martin de Porres has long been a patron of Black Cath- olics. In recent years, he has been joined by a growing number of role models, including: ? Pierre Toussaint (1776-1853), a for- mer slave who became an entrepreneur and philanthropist and has been declared “Vener- able,” one phase of his canonization cause. ? Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange (1784- 1882), foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence. ? Mother Henriette Delille (1813-1862), foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, also declared “Vener- able.” ? Julia Greeley (born between 1833 and 1848; died 1918), a former slave who pro- moted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. ? Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990), who became a Catholic as a child and entered reli- gious life as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. ? Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), a former slave who became the first known Black Catholic diocesan priest in the United States. He, too, has been declared “Vener- able.” “They went through a lot as far as racism and injustice are concerned,” said Msgr. Brit- to. “But their prayerfulness, their conviction, their hands on the plow kept them focused and got them to the finish line.” Others, though not themselves of col- or, have been partners in that process, said Father Thorne, citing Philadelphia’s St. Katharine Drexel, who devoted her life and her family fortune to the service of African Americans and Native Americans. Father Thorne also pointed to current archdiocesan priests, such as Msgr. Wilfred Pashley, pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Phil- adelphia, as longtime friends of the area’s Black Catholics. “Msgr. Pashley has spent his entire min- istry, 57 years, in the African American com- munity,” said Father Thorne. “And so many others are doing that work today as well.” Following international outrage over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis under police restraint, some parishes are beginning to team up to tackle systemic racism head- on. Parishioners from St. Martin de Porres and from St. John Chrysostom Parish inWall- ingford plan to meet in a virtual town hall in late June to discuss the issue. St. Raymond of Penafort Parish also has announced its pas- toral team is developing an online series of reflections about racism and its impact. Such conversations also should focus on the richness of Black Catholic spirituality and how it nurtures the entire body of Christ, said Msgr. Britto and Father Thorne. SEE BLACK CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY, PAGE 7 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) July 10, 2020 Volume 37, Issue 23 The GULF PINE CATHOLIC , published every other week, is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Editorial offices are located at 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532. Periodical postage paid at Gulfport, MS. —POSTMASTER— Send address changes to: The GULF PINE CATHOLIC 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —PUBLISHER— Most Rev. Louis F. 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