Black History Month Reflection ~ Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) ~ by Phyllis Booth
Our guest homilist on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. George Clements, decided to focus on OUR STORY - not the readings of today or a phase of Black History.
He stated that OUR STORY - is the story of Black Catholics. Our Story is depressing; not a good story. It's a story of slavery, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, racial barriers in education, discrimination in housing, jobs, police repressions, etc. Our story is unique because our faith was a work in progress toward triumph. Our Faith helped our ancestors to overcome all the degradation of the slave master.
Our American Story is not the blatant lie being told. Our ancestors worked the farms, built houses, minded the children, improved and invented tools and machines to improve their masters' lot as well as their own. OUR Story was a work in progress. In Virginia - Richmond, VA, we were relegated to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Told to go there and stay in your place; to accept separate unequal housing, wages, schooling and social events. Our story included several brave White Catholics and Protestants who worked to improve the plight of Black Americans. Many White Catholics gave their time and talent and walked to Selma with the students and our ancestors. Several gave their lives to the cause.
From this work in progress, Bishops Russell and Sullivan and our present Bishop de Lorenzo worked to improve race relations and lay involvement among the churches and priests in the Diocese of Richmond. The Diocese of Richmond has one Black Monsignor and several African and other international priests. We have Archbishop Gregory in Atlanta, GA. Many dioceses in the nation are closing schools and churches. Bishop de Lorenzo doesn't plan to close St. Elizabeth. We must continue to BE A WORK IN PROGRESS - evangelize, increase our membership, train catechists to teach our children, train new leaders in the role of Sacramental preparation, continue to raise our weekly/monthly contributions and to maintain a realistic budget.
Our Story is a story of past hatred. There is no such thing as the good old days. The good old days will come when Blacks and Whites will work, play and live together. Our Catholic Story is not what we want it to be, but we are MOVING ON UP!
This is OUR STORY! THIS IS OUR SONG!
~ Image: Black History Poster
He stated that OUR STORY - is the story of Black Catholics. Our Story is depressing; not a good story. It's a story of slavery, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, racial barriers in education, discrimination in housing, jobs, police repressions, etc. Our story is unique because our faith was a work in progress toward triumph. Our Faith helped our ancestors to overcome all the degradation of the slave master.
Our American Story is not the blatant lie being told. Our ancestors worked the farms, built houses, minded the children, improved and invented tools and machines to improve their masters' lot as well as their own. OUR Story was a work in progress. In Virginia - Richmond, VA, we were relegated to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Told to go there and stay in your place; to accept separate unequal housing, wages, schooling and social events. Our story included several brave White Catholics and Protestants who worked to improve the plight of Black Americans. Many White Catholics gave their time and talent and walked to Selma with the students and our ancestors. Several gave their lives to the cause.
From this work in progress, Bishops Russell and Sullivan and our present Bishop de Lorenzo worked to improve race relations and lay involvement among the churches and priests in the Diocese of Richmond. The Diocese of Richmond has one Black Monsignor and several African and other international priests. We have Archbishop Gregory in Atlanta, GA. Many dioceses in the nation are closing schools and churches. Bishop de Lorenzo doesn't plan to close St. Elizabeth. We must continue to BE A WORK IN PROGRESS - evangelize, increase our membership, train catechists to teach our children, train new leaders in the role of Sacramental preparation, continue to raise our weekly/monthly contributions and to maintain a realistic budget.
Our Story is a story of past hatred. There is no such thing as the good old days. The good old days will come when Blacks and Whites will work, play and live together. Our Catholic Story is not what we want it to be, but we are MOVING ON UP!
This is OUR STORY! THIS IS OUR SONG!
~ Image: Black History Poster
Labels: black history month, Fr. George Clements, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Tuesday, February 14, 2012
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