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Contact Us
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Stephanie BernardOffice of Black Catholics
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RESOURCES & Forms
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PowerPoint Presentations
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Mission Statement
The Office of Black Catholics strives to educate and witness to the community by providing opportunities for spiritual, educational, cultural and ministerial growth to the African American community within the Diocese of Lafayette.
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A History of Louisiana Black Catholic Bishops Bishop Dominic Carmon, SVD was appointed titular bishop of Rusicade and auxiliary bishop of New Orleans on December 16, 1992. Bishop Carmon retired December 13, 2006. He died on November 11, 2018 at the age of 87.
Bishop Joseph Abel Francis, SVD was appointed titular bishop of Valliposita and auxiliary bishop of Newark on May 3, 1976 and served there until his death September 1, 1997. Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Joseph Francis was ordained a priest for the Society of the Divine Word on October 7, 1950.
Bishop Raymond Rodly Caesar S.V.D. (Born 14 Feb 1932 in Eunice, LA, was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Goroka, Eastern Highlands- Papua New Guinea on August 5, 1978 and died June 18, 1987.
Bishop Fernand Cheri, III OFM the Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans, and the Titular Bishop of Membressa, Bishop Cheri was appointed January 12, 2015 and installed March 23, 2015. Born January 28, 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana and died on March 21, 2023.
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre born October 25, 1963 in New Roads, Louisiana was appointed titular bishop of Pudenziana and auxiliary bishop of New Orleans December 13, 2006. He was appointed Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux on September 23, 2013, and he was installed Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma, LA, October 30, 2013. On February 8, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Fabre as the tenth Bishop and fifth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. He was installed at the Kentuchy International Convention Center on March 30, 2022.
Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD Most Reverend Curtis J. Guillory was born in Mallet, Louisiana on September 1, 1943., was appointed titular bishop of Stagno and auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston on December 21, 1987. Bishop Guillory became the bishop of Beaumont in Texas on June 2, 2000.
Bishop Leonard Olivier, SVD Most Reverend Leonard Olivier was born on October 12, 1923 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was ordained a priest for the Society of the Divine Word in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. On November 7, 1988, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated bishop on December 20, 1988. Olivier was a Fourth Degree Knight of St. Peter Claver, a Fourth Degree Knight of St. John and Columbus as well as a board member of the National Black Catholic Congress. He retired in 2004. He passed away on November 19th, 2014.
Bishop Harold R. Perry, S.V.D., D.D. Most Reverend Harold Perry born on October 9th, 1916 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was ordained on January 6th, 1944, and was the 26th African American to become a Catholic priest. On September 29, 1965, Perry was appointed titular bishop of Mons in Mauretania and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans by Pope Paul VI. He received his Episcopal consecration on January 6, 1966, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi. For many years he also served as national chaplain of the Knights of Peter Claver. He left this world on July 17th, 1991.
Bishop James Terry Steib, SVD was appointed titular bishop of Fallaba and auxiliary bishop of St. Louis on December 6, 1983 and was later appointed bishop of Memphis in Tennessee on March 23, 1993. Born in Vacherie, Louisiana. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on August 23, 2016.
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Bishop Ricard entered the Josephite Seminary College at Newburgh, New York following graduation from high school. He completed his theological training at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C. and was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968. Bishop Ricard is now the Bishop Emeritus of Pensacola-Tallahassee and residing at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, DC where he is serving as rector for his former religious community, the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (S.S.J.).
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About the Office of Black Catholic Ministries
The Office of Black Catholic Ministries was established in 1973 by Bishop Gerard Frey, the third Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette. Bishop Frey was concerned about the needs and aspirations of the 74,000 African American Catholics in the 45 parishes compromising the Diocese of Lafayette.
Responsibilities of the office include:
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Direct diocesan programs, events and ministry efforts for the Black Catholic Ministry
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Organize and provide formation programs for lay leaders in the African American community for outreach and Evangelization in accord with the office and diocesan mission.
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Assist in developing, coordinating and implementing projects and events that involve African Americans
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Coordinate activities as they relate to the African American Catholic Youth Congress and other programs
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To endeavor to serve all African American parishes in the diocese
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Collaborate with other diocesan offices to foster communication and mutual support in order to accomplish the total mission of the diocese
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Offer workshops and presentation on cultural evangelization and, multicultural ministry to parishes, schools and others upon request.
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Provide workshops, gathering and conferences addressing cultural/ethnic and racial harmony, (Racial Sobriety Program)
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Assist Diocesan Parishes with developing and implementing the National Black Pastoral Plan
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Develop appropriate modes and models of Catechesis sensitive to the African American perspectives in line with the National Catechetical Directory and diocesan policies.
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Identify, train and develop resource teams sensitive to the needs of African Americans
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Assist parishes in the selection of materials, resources, medias, etc.
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Represent the Office of Black Catholic Ministries at designated meetings, events, and other affairs
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Keep abreast of National Church news, magazines, brochures, important Church documents, in the area of African American formation
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Collaborates with and maintains good communication with pastors, pastoral administrators, parish leaders and pastoral office leaders
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Coordinate efforts with other ethnic leadership committees for greater outreach in the community by assisting with liturgies and ministry services
Links
Listed below are websites for companies and organizations that provide scholarships for African Americans.
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