Florida Catholic | Black Catholic History Month

What is Black Catholic History Month in the church and who are the Knights of Peter Claver?

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 11.30.07

Black Catholic lay group celebrates 10 years of service in Diocese of Orlando

ORLANDO | November was designated as Black Catholic History Month by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus July 24, 1990, recognizing the long history and proud heritage of black Catholics in the church.

As of 2000, there were 200 million Catholics of African descent worldwide, according to the Catholic African World Network, and November was chosen for important dates significant to them.

These dates include:

• Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, recognizing the many hundreds of African martyrs in the first 300 years of the church.

• Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, remembering the many Africans who lost their lives in the forced ocean crossings to the New World as slaves.

• Nov. 3, the feast of St. Martin de Porres, the only saint of African descent in this hemisphere.

• Nov. 13, the birthdate of St. Augustine of Hippo in A.D 354. He was the first doctor of the church from North Africa. His mother, St. Monica, is best known for praying relentlessly for her pagan husband and son.

• Nov. 20, the death of Zumbi dos Palmares in Brazil, South America, founder of the first republic for former African slaves.

In addition, the national order of the Knights of Peter Claver was founded Nov. 7, 1909, in Mobile, Ala., by four Josephite priests and three laymen because black men in the South, at that time, could not gain admission to the Knights of Columbus.

The organization’s major goals are to support local pastors and bishops, to participate collectively in parish and community activities, to promote civic improvements and to encourage lay apostolic and Catholic action.

In 2007, there are more than 100,000 members in the order and its ladies auxiliary in 368 chapters, representing 47 dioceses in the United States.

The order is a charter member of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights and is committed to evangelization — the primary work of its namesake, St. Peter Claver, as well as to the charitable works of the church and the education, vocation and advancement of African-Americans. n

For more information, visit the Web site www.nbccongress.org.

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What is Black Catholic History Month in the church and who are the Knights of Peter Claver?

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