Fr Rayford Emmons, first Black Catholic priest in Philadelphia, celebrating 50 years of ministry
The veteran minister and Catholic convert will be feted with a Jubilee Mass and celebration this month at Holy Cross Church in Mt. Airy.
Black men
Black head coaches with Catholic roots to face off in 2024 NBA Finals, making history
Joe Mazzulla and Jason Kidd will lead their respective teams on basketball's biggest stage this month, starting Thursday night in Boston.
New film on Venerable Augustus Tolton premiering June 2 in Chicago
The documentary, featuring never-before-released letters from the nation's first openly Black Catholic priest, will screen at the DuSable Museum.
Black Catholic seminarian Zachary Smith, SVD to be ordained a priest
The young University of Pittsburgh and Divine Word College alum is expected to serve in Japan to begin his priestly ministry.
James W. Crawford III nears presidency of Texas Southern University
The Black Catholic former Navy JAG and president emeritus of Felician University was named the sole finalist for the position in April.
Webcomic probes U.S. Catholic stories of race, resistance, and social justice
Dr. Matthew Cressler's vision for an accessible throughway to the nation's thorny history of race and religion has resulted in a uniquely modern initiative.
Music clinic with Rawn Harbor set for June 7-8 in Houston
The nationally known Black Catholic liturgist will lead the event in Texas ahead of an appearance at the Archbishop Lyke Conference in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Symposium on Fr Clarence Rivers and 'What We Have Seen and Heard' set for Nov. 22-24 in Dayton
The 3-day event will feature keynotes, breakouts, and a Rivers Gospel Mass with Cdl Wilton Gregory of Washington, one of the letter's authors.
MLK speechwriter Clarence B. Jones awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
The nation's highest civilian honor, bestowed by President Joe Biden, went to the 93-year-old activist, former attorney, and businessman on May 3.
Ed Dwight going to space 60 years after (almost) becoming first Black astronaut
Ed Dwight Jr. was rejected by NASA in the 1960s, but will now head toward the stars as part of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space tourist program.
Ricky Malebranche to be ordained to the transitional diaconate in Virginia
The 36-year-old George Mason graduate formerly worked in counseling and has studied at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland since 2019.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs homes raided in federal sex trafficking probe
The Catholic-raised Black business mogul has been the subject of several recent sex assault lawsuits and resigned from his media company in November.
Review: 'A Symphony of Tiny Lights' illuminates Dr. John H. Francis, eco-justice pioneer
A new short doc on a planet-walking environmental activist—who once considered the monastery—does right by its subject and his love for the earth.
Virtual prayer service to honor Dr. Ansel Augustine, USCCB's new African-American liaison
The former diocesan official is returning to D.C. to help lead the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee on African-American Affairs.
Remembering the first African-American Catholic permanent deacons
Dcn Tim Tilghman recounts the beginnings of the permanent diaconate in the United States—and the American religious community that made it happen.
Dr. Norman Francis statue unveiled at Xavier University of Louisiana
The work honors the 47-year presidential tenure of Francis at XULA, the nation's Catholic HBCU. He retired in 2015 and spoke at the historic event.