“Wilderness Within: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” (Sr Josephine Garrett, CSFN)
Published in time for Lent 2025, the new devotional combines reflections, journaling, and art to inspire a faith-filled journey toward Easter. Released in December, it is the second book from Garrett, an African-American Catholic religious sister based in Tyler, Texas.
“Racism: Challenges to Being Church” (Cardinal Peter Turkson and Fr Emmanuel Katongole)
An edited volume of essays on the topic of racism, this book comes courtesy of two African priests known for their work in Rome and the United States. Turkson currently serves as chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Katongole, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kampala, serves as a professor of theology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.
“Catholics for the Common Good: An Eternal Offering” (Daryl Grigsby)
Grigsby, a retired public servant, covers 36 contemporary Catholics in this new reflective text, including Sister of Social Service Simone Campbell, Dr. Diana Hayes of Georgetown University, Venerable Augustus Tolton, Mary Lou Williams, and Dr. Lena Frances Edwards. It is Grigsby’s fifth published book.
“Life at the Center: Haitians and Corporate Catholicism in Boston” (Dr. Erica Caple James)
This book covers the creation and growth of the Haitian community in the capital city of the Bay State, including Catholic institutions that have assisted with resettlement. A free ebook version of the text is available through Luminos, an Open Access publishing program. Dr. James is a professor of medical anthropology and urban studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“A Private Collection of Heartfelt Thoughts” (Andrew Lyke)
A compilation of personal reflections from Andrew Lyke, a healthy marriage advocate and nephew to the late Archbishop James P. Lyke of Atlanta. The book covers family, Andrew’s Catholic faith, and the experience of resilience in poetic verse, prayers, and even eulogies.
“The Early County Massacre: Goolsby Vs. The State of Georgia” (Orice Jenkins)
Jenkins, a multi-genre recording artist, delves deep into the history of violence in the Deep South, specifically in rural Georgia. The so-called “Grandison Goolsby War” takes center stage, linking White terrorism with the history of anti-Blackness in the Jim Crow era. Published in summer 2024, it is Jenkins’ first published text.
“In the Shadow of Freedom: The Enduring Call for Racial Justice” (Alessandra Harris)
Alessandra Harris, an established novelist, released her first non-fiction book last year, covering the history of racial injustice from a Black Catholic perspective. Therein, she calls for a renewed commitment to restorative efforts from the Church and the world at large.
Coming soon
“Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins” (Dr. Ansel Augustine)
This upcoming text from the African-American liaison at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops covers the influence of Ignatian spirituality on the work of solidarity and the Church’s other social teachings. Set for release later this summer, it is the second book from Dr. Augustine.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
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