After Congress XIII, African American Commission ponders how to build back better

“Write the vision,” and set up a pastoral plan for one’s diocese.

That was the key message brought back by delegates attending last summer’s National Black Catholic Congress XIII in Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. On Friday, May 10, the Diocese of Buffalo’s African American Commission hosted a meeting to discuss how local Catholics might write that vision and form that pastoral plan.

“A people without a vision perishes,” said Sister Roberta Fulton, Director of Cultural Diversity for the diocese. “We come here tonight with that intention, that we have a vision. What do we want to see the Catholic Church look like in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York? What is our vision? What is our plan? How can we thrive?”

Every five years, the National Black Catholic Congress convenes to explore, discuss, and propose strategies and ideas to engage and energize African American Roman Catholics both within the Church, and in the community. There are an estimated three million Black or African American Catholics in the United States, representing about six percent of the overall Black or African American population, and only about four percent of the overall U.S. Catholic population.

Though their numbers have been fewer compared to the broader Catholic community, the Black Catholic population has historically been robust in the pursuit of faith-fueled social justice. Still, many of those in attendance at Congress XIII admitted Friday that they felt re-energized to be around so many African American peers, a refreshing change from many other occasions when they’ve felt marginalized.

“It strengthened my weakness in faith, to see so many people of color still willing to praise God with all the troubles we have in this country,” said Mary Ann, who identified herself only by her first name, and who revealed that last year’s Congress was the first she had attended.

After opening remarks and testimonials from attendees of Congress XIII, the nearly two dozen people in attendance separated into four breakout groups. The questions they were asked to ponder: What dreams or visions do you have for Family 21 and the Diocese of Buffalo? As you look at Family 21 and parishes within the diocese, what troubles you and warrants attention? How and what can people of faith do to address challenges and troubles within diocesan parishes and in the community?

Dr. Althea Porter, who distributes an online newsletter on behalf of the African American Commission, shared the thoughts of her breakout group.

“There should be an authentic coming together of all parishes. That means actually representing one identity as a family of parishes, yet also embracing our distinctive differences, knowing we have different parishes,” Porter told the room. “We also mentioned we should start from square one, at the stage we are now we should start the process of developing a family, because of the recent understanding of losing clergy.”

Another issue addressed by the breakout groups is the universal concern of bringing more young people back into church. 

“You have young kids coming and being baptized, but they don’t return to the church until it’s time for them to make their First Holy Communion or Confirmation, and then after that you don’t see them,” said Deacon Ronald Walker. “Another thing is, be aggressive with your own kids and others by bringing them back to church.”

Suggestions raised at last summer’s Congress include intergenerational faith formation, reclaiming those who have left the Catholic faith, and workshops and prayer experiences that engage and address challenges that young people face today.

The meeting ran for about two hours, and although ideas were raised and notes were written down, Sr. Fulton reminded those in attendance that this was not an end to the process but only an early step toward forming a local pastoral plan.

“We’re not trying to write something for us to put on the shelf as a pretty book,” she said. “We want to be realistic about it. Action steps, these are things we are going to want to be doing.”

Those attending this local meeting were not exclusively of African American descent. Sr. Fulton added that the action and engagement must not be exclusive, either. 

“At the Congress there were more than Black people there. It was open to all people.”