Sr. Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, speaks at St. Augustine Church in Washington in 1986. Bowman died in 1990 and her sainthood cause was opened in 2018. She has the title "Servant of God." (OSV News/CNS file/Catholic Standard/Michael Hoyt)
November 7, 2025
Founded in 1990 by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, Black Catholic History Month runs throughout November each year as an opportunity to highlight the heritage, patrimony, and witness of African-American Catholics.
Below is a list of events around the country carrying on the tradition and celebrating Black Catholic faith. The list will be continually updated throughout the month. (Are we missing your event? Email us at [email protected].)
National
- 11/3: Feast of St Martin de Porres.
- 11/5: Feast All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus (Blessed Jacques Bonnaud)
- 11/6: Feast of All Saints of Africa webinar with Dr. Chiquita Tuttle and Nate Tinner-Williams.
- 11/7: Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary Founders’ Day webinar with Supreme Lady Hilda Wiltz, Supreme Knight Dr. Chris Pichon, and past National Lay Board member Jari Honora.
- 11/10: Founder's day for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (founded by the African-American nun Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin).
- 11/13: Generation V(ocations) webinar with Dr. Ansel Augustine; Fr Robert Boxie III; Fr Joshua Johnson; Sr Josephine Garrett, CSFN; Tyler Hunt; Dcn Michael ad Javaunda Parker.
- 11/13 (virtual): " Mother Mary Lange and Black Catholic History Month" webinar with Janice the Griot.
- 11/13: Birthday of St. Augustine of Hippo.
- 11/17: Feast of Venerable Henriette DeLille.
- 11/21: Feast of St. Gelasius I, the last of the three African popes in the early years of the Christian Church.
- 11/28: Anniversary of the elevation of Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the first African-American cardinal in history.
Arlington
- 11/8: Annual Minkisi Retreat with Ralph McDonald at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.
- 11/23: BCHM Mass with Bishop Michael Burbidge at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston.
- 11/24: Prayer Service for Unity and Healing in the United States with Bishop Michael Burbidge, the Diocesan Advisory Council on Racism, the Black Catholic Ministry, and the Office of Multicultural Ministries at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
Atlanta
- 11/1: "Answering God's Call to Holiness from the African Diaspora" Mass and workshop with Dr. Stephen G. McMullen and Frs Avery Daniel and Urey Mark at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Catholic Church.
- 11/20: Bowman Scholars Concert at the Lyke House Catholic Center.
Austin
- 11/15: Day of Reflection with the Black Apostolate with Fr Kingsley Chisom O'haeri at Holy Cross Catholic Church
Baltimore
- 11/1: All Saints’ Day Behavioral Health Retreat with Dr. Thelma Daley at New All Saints Catholic Church.
- 11/14-16: Church Revival with Fr Royce Thomas, CSsR at St. Bernadine Catholic Church.
Baton Rouge
- 11/1: "The Creole Gumbo of Identity: Lineage, Passing, and the Ingredients of Race" discussion with John W. Durel and Dr. Joy Banner at the Louisiana Book Festival.
- 11/2: BCHM Mass with Bishop Michael Duca and homilist Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Joseph N. Perry of Chicago at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Beaumont
- 11/3: Mass for the feast of St. Martin de Porres at St. Martin de Porres Church in Corrigan.
Boston
- 11/6: "She Refuses to be Comforted: Black Madonnas, Black Study, and Birth in the Time of Death" lecture with Dr. Amey Victoria Adkin-Jones at 245 Beacon Street in Chestnut Hill.
- 11/15: 32nd Annual Bishop James Augustine Healy Award Dinner at Boston College High School.
Brooklyn
- 11/1: Film screening on St. Martin de Porres at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Springfield Gardens.
- 11/9: Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary Founders' Day Mass at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
- 11/21-23: BCHM celebration at various locations with St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church in Queens.
- 11/22: BCHM Mass and celebration at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church.
- 11/22: Praise dance concert with the St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor Liturgical Praise Dancer at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church in Queens.
Camden
- 11/15: BCHM concert with M. Roger Holland II and the diocesan gospel choir at Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Cherry Hill.
- 11/16: BCHM Mass withM. Roger Holland II and the diocesan gospel choir at Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Cherry Hill.
Charleston
- 11/9, 16, 23, 30: BCHM storyteller series with St. Mary Catholic Church in Rock Hill.
Chicago
- 11/2 All Souls Day Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, at St. Moses the Black Catholic Church.
- 11/12 (hybrid): "Honoring the Seven African Americans on the Road to Sainthood" at Catholic Theological Union.
Colorado Springs
- 11/8: Annual St. Martin de Porres Mass and Dinner at St. Peter Catholic Church in Monument.
Columbus
- 11/3: BCHM pilgrimage with Sr Pat Dual, OP at Ohio Dominican University.
Denver
- 11/8: Black Catholic day of reflection with Fr Andrew McNair at Cure d’Ars Catholic Church.
Detroit
- 11/2: "Worthy to Be Praised" concert with Keir Ward and the Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Cost $15.
- 11/8: BCHM Rosary and Mass with Fr Ted Parker at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Chicago
- 11/6-8: Second annual music workshop with Rawn Harbor (held at various locations). Cost $15.
Dallas
- 11/1: BCHM Mass and Sister Thea Bowman Award ceremony with Bishop Edward Burns at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Davenport
- 11/3: Mass and procession for the feast of St. Martin de Porres with the St. Martin de Porres Society at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Fort Wayne-South Bend
- 11/1: BCHM celebration with keynote speaker Fr Kareem Smith and Fr Bill Schooler at St. Augustine Catholic Church in South Bend.
Houma-Thibodaux
- 11/8: St. Martin de Porres Mass at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Houma.
Indianapolis
- 11/3: Mass for the feast of St. Martin de Porres at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Dinner to follow.
Jackson
- 11/15-16: "Journey with Sister Thea" pilgrimage to Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama. Cost $300.
Kansas City-St. Joseph
- 11/2: BCHM Mass with Bishop James Johnston and Fr Leonard Gicheru at St. Monica Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
- 11/28: Centennial jubilee celebration for St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church at the Kansas City Marriott downtown in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Lafayette
- 11/15: African American Catholic Youth Congress at St. Thomas More Catholic School.
Metuchen
- 11/8: BCHM Mass with Fr Patrick Winbush, OSB at St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway. Brunch to follow.
Mobile
- 11/15-16: "Journey with Sister Thea" Masses and celebrations in Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama.
Nashville
- 11/16: All-African Mass with Bishop J. Mark Spalding at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
New Orleans
- 11/4-9: Xavier University of Louisiana centennial homecoming.
- 11/5: Inaugural Dr. JW Carmichael Jr. Premedical Society Medical Symposium with the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine at Xavier University of Louisiana.
- 11/8: Black saints celebration and Servant Leader Awards at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church.
- 11/15: Centennial gala for St. Leo the Great School at Delgado Community College. Tickets start at $135.
- 11/16: "Harmony & Hope: The Music of Social Justice" concert with Givonna Joseph and John Boutte at Loyola University New Orleans’ Nunemaker Auditorium.
New York
- 11/22: New York Black Catholic Congress at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in New Rochelle.
Newark
- 11/30: Bishop Francis Scholarship Brunch with the African American, African and Caribbean Apostolate at Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne.
Oakland
- 11/11: Sister Thea Bowman Lecture and Mass with Fr Maurice Nutt, CSsR at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.
Philadelphia
- 11/1: St. Martin de Porres Mini-Conference and Mass with Fr Victor Laroche, OP at the Shrine of St. John Neumann.
- 11/10 (hybrid): Mother Mary Lange Lecture in Black Catholic Studies with Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt at Villanova University’s Villanova Room in the Connelly Center.
Providence
- 11/1: St. Martin de Porres Senior Center 70th anniversary gala at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.
- 11/3: Dedication of Providence College’s St. Martin De Porres, O.P. Center for Health and Human Dignity with Dr. Celia Cussen.
Richmond
- 10/31-11/1: Annual Black Catholic retreat with Fr Steven Bell, CSP at the Roslyn Retreat Center.
- 11/7: "Faith, Hope, and History: Catholic Education and Partnership" presentation with Fr Tochi Iwuji at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church in Roanoke.
- 11/8 (hybrid): Discussion with "Descendants: The Divided Lineage of a Louisiana Creole Family" author John W. Durel at the Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach.
- 11/12: Deacon Charles Williams Speaker Series for Racial Healing with Fr Silvio Kaberia at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Holy Hour followed by dinner and presentation.
- 11/22: Eucharistic procession from the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to St. Joseph Memorial Site.
Sacramento
- 11/6-7: BCHM revival with Fr Anthony Bozeman, SSJ at St. Anthony Catholic Church.
- 11/8: BCHM Mass with Fr Anthony Bozeman, SSJ at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
San Antonio
- 11/8 (hybrid): "Black Catholic Ministry: The Ministry and the Ministers" with the Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership at the Oblate School of Theology’s Tymen Hall. Cost $10.
San Francisco
- 11/8: BCHM Mass and Inaugural Daniel Rudd Lecture with Fr Bart Landry, CSP and Dr. Kim Harris at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in Chinatown. Dinner to follow.
- 11/13: "Breaking the Silence: Courageous Conversations Around Racism, Power, and Privilege" with Sr Patty Chappell, SNDdeN at the University of San Francisco’s Maraschi Room in Fromm Hall.
Savannah
- 11/22: BCHM Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warner Robins.
Seattle
- 11/15: Black Catholic Advisory Circle Conference with Dcn Harold Burke-Sivers; Sr Genevieve Osayame, EHJ; and Christina "Mohini" Srinivasan, OP at St. Paul Catholic Church in South Seattle. Cost $10-40.
St. Louis
- 11/9, 16, 22, 23: "Great Women of the Holy Scriptures" performances with ValLimar Jansen (various locations).
- 11/22: BCHM celebration with keynote speaker Fr Robert Boxie III and ValLimar Jansen at the St. Charles Lwanga Center. Lunch included.
Trenton
- 11/28: Our Lady of Kibeho Mass and Rosary with Fr Dean Gaudio at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Toms River.
Washington
- 11/3: St. Martin de Porres Gospel Mass and Dinner at the Catholic University of America’s St. Vincent Chapel.
- 11/9: BCHM program with Janice the Griot at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Largo, Maryland.
- 11/15: "On Holy Ground: Pilgrimage of Remembrance" and Mass with Cardinal Robert McElroy and Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Cemetery in Bowie, Maryland.
- 11/16: "Brunch with Mother Mary Lange" with Shemika Renee at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in St. Inigoes, Maryland.
- 11/22: BCHM pilgrimage to Mt. Olivet Cemetery with St. Augustine Catholic Church.
This story was first published in the Black Catholic Messenger.
