Exiit qui seminat

Since 1976 the United States has officially recognized February as Black History Month, not only recognizing the struggles, accomplishments and strides of African Americans and their tremendous contribution to our country, but also the impact of the African diaspora on the world in which we live. While we don't often think about it in the same way, the Catholic Church is filled with a rich diversity throughout her history of so many saints and prominent figures from Africa and of African descent. With Pope Francis currently on a pastoral visit to Africa, it's important to remember that by 2025, it is estimated that one-sixth (230 million) of the world's Catholics will be African. The continent has given the Church 3 popes (Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades, and Pope Gelasius I), early Church Fathers like Origen, Tertullian, St. Augustine and Clement of Alexandria and numerous saints. Father Al would always talk about the idea of a parish pilgrimage to visit the Shrine of Ugandan Martyrs in Kampala. Fr. Dimitri has a strong devotion to Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian American whose cause for sainthood is on-going and is the first and only member of the laity that is buried in the crypt at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. St. Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother from Peru in the 1600s, cared and ministered to slave ships in Lima. All of this helps us realize that being a One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church aren't just words. They mean something. The Catholic Church exists throughout the whole world. Some places we are blessed to be able to worship freely, like here in this country. Other places the Church is still persecuted and the faithful martyred for their belief. So as we recall Black History Month, let's not forget that the Church is a vital and vibrant part of that history.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Rob Sinatra