On the First Sunday of Advent in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the “Seek the City to Come” (STCTC) Planning Initiative reached a crucial moment. After a two-year synodal process that involved thousands of the faithful, newly merged parishes in Baltimore City and its nearby suburbs began to worship together.
By many accounts, the churches of these new parishes were filled, including newly merged Black Catholic parishes. It is a sign of hope, even as persons continue to grieve during this transition. In addition to grieving, there are tensions that are inherent in any transition. There is also concern for those who have decided to cease being active Catholics as a result of the mergers.
In Black Catholic Messenger, I have read Nate Tinner-Williams' coverage and Ralph Moore's columns on this topic. Due to the latter, I feel another perspective about STCTC should be shared. I participated in the process myself, as a vicar forane over two parishes in my region that were part of the merger discussions. As a Baltimore City native and Black Catholic, I am concerned about its impact on both constituencies. As a member of the Archdiocesan College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council, I needed to offer informed advice.
STCTC has been part of a nearly decade-long process to realign archdiocesan parishes to fulfill the goals of being mission-minded and forming missionary disciples of Christ. Archbishop William Lori issued two pastoral letters to guide this process in 2015 and 2021.
In a later column, I will comment extensively on the initiative. For now, I want to explain my background to offer some context. Archdiocesan leaders know that I am writing this column, as I informed them of my intentions. However, they have not reviewed the content. I am writing on my own behalf.
A priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 30 years, I am the third Black Catholic to be ordained therein. My service has included parish, university chaplaincy, seminary formation, and canon law ministries. They have been in various contexts: predominately Black, predominately White, and intercultural.
I have experienced instances of racism in my home parish, during seminary formation, and even in some parish assignments. I was scandalized by it. I have also had many positive and empowering experiences of the catholicity of the Church and Black contributions to it. This continues to be a blessing. For example, I began to discern about a vocation to the priesthood with the encouragement of my fellow parishioners at my home church, who were Black, White, and Latino.
In 2016, I became the first Black pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Randallstown, Maryland, a northwest suburb of Baltimore City. Prior to my arrival, Sunday Mass attendance had changed from being predominantly White to predominately Black. There were declines in worship attendance and offertory income due to several factors, including the closure of the parish school in 2010. The business manager and the finance committee chair stated that if these trends continued, keeping the parish open after 2020 would be unsustainable.
Cooperating with the Lord and each other, my parish has reversed those trends. We have experienced growth in worship attendance, other sacramental celebrations, offertory income, Sunday School attendance, works of mercy, and more. Even so, we still have challenges to address.
Personally, I have been active in the Black Catholic Movement. This includes serving as a consultant for the National Black Catholic Congress. Its board accepted my proposal for the 2023 Congress theme and its rationale: “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive.”
These undertakings happened by the grace of God, the help of collaborators, and the witness of the people of God.
As I will explain soon, I believe the STCTC initiative and its results are not a product of racism. Its purpose was not to marginalize Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It is part of a vision for all Catholics in my archdiocese to thrive.
Fr, Raymond Harris is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
