The Catholic Standard and Times

The Catholic Church doesn’t simply want to evangelize African Americans, it needs their faith-filled presence in the Church.

That was the core message of Cardinal Justin Rigali’s homily at a Nov. 5 Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul Mass to honor St. Martin de Porres, and to mark the silver anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics by Cardinal John Krol.

“The Church needs you, needs you for your mission to communicate Jesus by example; by the example of your lives and the conviction of your faith,” the Cardinal told a joy-filled congregation drawn from the four corners of the black community.
“We need your gifts of joy and compassion, we need your gifts of vitality and strength, we need all your gifts which find their roots in Mother Africa,” he said. “Let us make no mistake, the Church in the African American community of this archdiocese is alive, and you are witnesses to it, and you are apostles to make it grow ever greater.” [See page 8 for the full homily.]

The Office for Black Catholics, formerly the Office for the Black Apostolate, became part of the Archdiocesan Office for Urban Ministry in 1979-80 and, as such, planned, developed and coordinated the Church’s Apostolate to the African American community. John Mosley was appointed acting director in 1980 and was succeeded by Marie Drew (1980-87), Deacon Stephen Hannum (1987-90), Linda Love (1990-97), Immaculate Heart Sister Boreta Singleton (1998-2002), Patricia Shelton (2002-04) and, since 2004, Father Stephen D. Thorne.

The establishment of the Office,was by no means the beginning of Philadelphia’s African American Catholic history.

Baptisms of black children in Philadelphia are recorded as far back as the Colonial era, but a distinct black ministry did not develop until the late19th century.

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur started a school for black children in 1877, and over time four parishes dedicated to black ministry were established — largely through funding by St. Katharine Drexel. Those parishes, St. Peter Claver, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Catherine and St. Ignatius, differed from the other personal parishes in the Archdiocese. Others were founded to serve immigrant Catholics who were not proficient in English; the black parishes were established because the congregants were largely unwelcome in white parishes.

Because that really amounted to condoning a form of segregation that was counter to the Gospel message, the designation as black parishes was removed by Cardinal John F. O’Hara in the 1950s.

Of the four parishes, only St. Ignatius survives, but formerly white churches in neighborhoods with a high concentration of African Americans now have predominantly African American congregations, and many have adopted worship styles that reflect their African heritage.

Father Thorne said there are now 27 or 28 parishes that are predominantly black, with more than 25,000 registered black Catholics.

“Today was a great example of the vitality and joy black Catholics bring to the Church, and we keep bringing those gifts, going to the Church the Holy Father says needs us,” Father Thorne said.

While his office has changed over the past quarter century, with new programs emerging, he said, “the mission is the same. We are still an extension of the Church, and bringing the Good News of the Church to African Americans throughout the Archdiocese.”

A number of people associated with the Office for Black Catholics over the years attended the Jubilee Mass. “God keeps blessing us to be able to continue amid all the difficulties and struggles that black Catholics face — overcoming the lie that we are a problem and not a gift,” said Linda Love, one of the several former directors present.

Masses such as the annual Mass for St. Peter Claver are important, added Adina Ekwerike of St. Cyprian Parish, who is originally from Jamaica. “It is especially important for the younger children,” she said. “It helps them to remember who our saints are, and the people we look up to and hope to become. We are all saints in our own way, that’s our charge.”

The Cathedral liturgy included a huge procession of tuxedo-clad Knights of Peter Claver, white- garbed Ladies of Peter Claver, and uniformed parochial school children, It featured the St. Martin de Porres Mass Choir, under the direction of Darin Williams, which, with its 75 singers and eight musicians, provided a joyous selection of African American church music adapted to a Catholic liturgical setting.

“The sound we are aiming for is giving to God the glory and honor and praise that He is due,” said Williams, who is music director at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church. “One of the richest blessings we have is our musical gift — given by God, Himself. It is a unique and wonderful honor to serve God and his Church.”

Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Rigali were Bishop George V. Murry of St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands; Auxiliary Bishops of Philadelphia Robert P. Maginnis, Michael F. Burbidge, Joseph R. Cistone and Joseph P. McFadden; retired Auxiliary Bishop Louis A. DeSimone, and many priests of the Archdiocese.

Bishop Murry presided at another celebration of the silver anniversary of the Office For Black Catholics held at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School on Saturday evening. At that time, Catholic layman William C. Collins was presented the annual St. Martin de Porres Award.

Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and freelance writer.

‘The Church in the
African American community of this Archdiocese is alive’

Homily of Cardinal Justin Rigali
Mass for the 25th Anniversary of the
Office for Black Catholics
and Celebration of the Feast of
Saint Martin de Porres
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Nov. 6, 2005

Dear Bishop Murry, All of us extend a very warm welcome to you and thank you for coming to Philadelphia for this weekend. We especially thank you for your words of inspiration last evening at the Jubilee Reception for the Office for Black Catholics.

Dear brother Bishops and Priests,

Dear Deacons, men and women Religious,

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Praised be Jesus Christ for his Incarnation as man.

Praised be Jesus Christ for His life and ministry.

Praised be Jesus Christ for His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Praised be Jesus Christ for Sunday, His Day, the Day of Resurrection and new life.

Indeed, we gather on Sunday to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our lives as Catholics. It is this sacred food and drink that nourishes us as disciples in mission.

As we entered this great basilica this afternoon, we sang, “We are marching to Zion, beautiful Zion, that beautiful City of God!” What a powerful image. We, the Church — bishops, priests, deacons, religious, faithful laity, are indeed marching to Heaven, our true home. Yet, in this pilgrimage, we must always be ready and prepared.

In our Gospel for Mass this Sunday, Jesus speaks again in a parable. He is teaching His disciples about how important it is to be prepared. In the story, five virgins were wise and five were foolish. Five were prepared for the Bridegroom’s arrival, while five were not.

And when did the Bridegroom arrive? When they least expected him.

This story points our attention as followers of Christ, to stand always ready and waiting for Jesus. That’s what it means to be truly wise, to live our lives as Christian people waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For when our Lord returns, He expects us to be ready. How do we stand ready? How do we stay marching? It is by living our faith. We must do much more than simply talk about Jesus, we must act like Jesus!

We celebrate at this holy Mass 25 years of the faithful service of our Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics. In the name of the Archdiocese, I express my deep gratitude for all that has been done to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ among our African American brothers and sisters, all that has been done to imitate Jesus. I especially am grateful for the dedicated service of the directors of the Office for Black Catholics, who have served our Church so faithfully for the past 25 years.

I am reminded of the beautiful words of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, when he hosted a historic meeting with Black Catholics in New Orleans. He said, “Dear brothers and sisters: your black cultural heritage enriches the Church and makes her witness of universality more complete. In a real way the Church needs you, just as you need the Church, for you are part of the Church and the Church is part of you.”

Yes, my brothers and sisters, the Church needs you! We need your gifts of joy and compassion. We need your gifts of vitality and strength. We need your gift of sacred song. We need all your gifts, which find their roots in Mother Africa.

Let us make no mistake, the Church in the African American community of this Archdiocese is alive!

Today, we humbly ask the intercession of Saint Martin de Porres, our patron, to pray for us that we may be ready and prepared to proclaim and live our faith as he did, and one day to join him in the choir of Heaven. Let us continue to march to Zion, that beautiful city of God! Amen.

Saint Cyprian:
Unity, faith and hope

The name, Saint Cyprian, was chosen by the parishioners after deciding to consolidate the parishes of Transfiguration of Our Lord and St. Carthage. St. Cyprian, whose name is mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, was a lawyer in Carthage, North Africa, and later became a priest. He was an outstanding orator; he was noticed by Rome and was ordained a Bishop of Carthage. His theme was that all bishops and Catholics should always be in union with Rome and faithful to the Church. Because of his outspokeness, St. Cyprian was martyred in 258 A.D. In recognition of his theme, St. Cyprian Church established the theme of Unity-Faith-Hope.

St. Cyprian’s Feast Day is celebrated September 16th.

Special Devotions:
First Friday exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass, with the recitation of the rosary; Legion of Mary; Forty Hours Eucharistic devotion.

Ministries Most proud of:
Helping Hands for the Hungry and Parish Outreach program (these programs assist the needs of the poor and needy). Children’s Church, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Parish Pastoral Council, adult computer education.

New programs: Hospitality Committee, Youth Forum.

Programs of interest: Annual African & African American Art Show, held in February. The artifacts on display are personal treasures of parishioners and guest artists.

Ethnic celebrations or traditions: Celebration of Black Catholic history in November; Black History Month in February; gathering of African communities, especially Nigerian and Togo communities.

Interesting Church artifacts: Stained-glass windows, statue of St. Cyprian, interior structure of the church.

Amusing incidents: Third Sunday Children’s Liturgy, when children got opportunity to ask parishioners religious questions.

Poignant occasions: Annual Parish Carnival, celebration of Parish Patron Feast.

Commonly asked questions: How many parishioners does the parish have? How did the consolidation of the two former parishes go? How many priests are in the parish?
What does the pastor want people to know: St. Cyprian’s is a very vibrant and healthy parish that is nestled in West Philadelphia. It continues to grow in membership, programs, and spirituality. It maintains the mission of the universal Church to teach, educate, share the faith, and assist those in need.

Parish Facts:

St. Cyprian Catholic Church
525 Cobbs Creek Pkwy
Cluster: Philadelphia-South

Date Founded:
July 1, 2000

Current Pastor:
Msgr. Federico A. Britto

Name of School:
St. Cyprian School
Number of Students: 247

Name of School:
St. Cyprian Children’s Center
Number of Students: 33
Staffed by: Lay faculty

Number of Faculty:
School (15)
Children’s Center (15)

Number of Registered Individuals: 1,188

Number of Registered Families: 725

Annual number of:
Baptism: 20 to 30
Marriages: 4 to 8
Funerals: 15 to 20