Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Today is the feast of Saint Martin de Porres, a saint who suffered his share of rejection due to the color of his skin. Born in 1579, of an ex-slave, Panamanian mother, St. Martin was rejected by his own Spanish father because of the darkness of his skin. He turned his life over to Jesus and embraced the Dominican Order as a lay brother where he tirelessly served the poor and slaves, binding their wounds using his medical skills to heal them. He prayed ceaselessly before the Eucharist, which motivated him to seek out those in need. His color didn’t stop him from reaching out to others, nor did it prevent him from being a leading witness of the love of Jesus. St. Martin achieved what every Christian seeks and that is the crown of sainthood. He discovered the pearl of great price and cherished its possession.
 
This is Black Catholic History month. It offers us an opportunity to appreciate our brothers and sisters in the Black Catholic Community, to celebrate the long history and the proud heritage of Black Catholics. Many of us are so tied to our European roots that we forget that the African Catholic Church existed hundreds of years before our pagan ancestry received the faith around 800 to 900 AD.
 
Modern Black Catholic figures present inspiring stories overcoming tremendous social obstacles in order to serve Christ and His Church. Saint Josephine Bakhita was introduced to much of the Catholic Church in Pope Benedict’s encyclical, Spe Salvi. St. Josephine was kidnapped and sold into slavery, abused and beaten, her body scarred. She came to know Jesus, who she accepted as her master, and then freely followed Him into religious life.
 
As Pope Benedict stated: “Now she had ‘hope’ – no longer simply the modest hope of finding masters who would be less cruel, but the great hope: ‘I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me – I am awaited by this love. And so my life is good.’ Through the knowledge of this hope she was redeemed, no longer a slave but a free child of God.” (#3)
 
There are others who are awaiting canonization: Mother Mary Lange, who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, educated African American girls and nursed the terminally ill of the cholera epidemic of 1832, and Father Augustus Tolton, who rose from slavery to priesthood. His cause is being promoted by Bishop Joseph Perry, a former priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
 
This coming Sunday, November 8, we will hold a Black Catholic summit. Bringing together various individuals involved with Black Catholic ministry, we will discuss evangelization, pastoral challenges and envisioning the future. Engaging Catholic leadership, we will hopefully begin to move forward utilizing the talents of the Black Catholic Community as we implement the priorities of the 2014 Synod and celebrate the diversity of our Church.
 
We are blessed to have the contribution of our Black Catholic Community, as we work together to fulfill our responsibility to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the November 3, 2015 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.