Celebrating Six Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
Catholics gathered in fellowship and celebration at All Saints Church in Syracuse on April 13 to witness a powerful, dynamic and engaging presentation by ValLimar Jansen, a national and international speaker, storyteller, vocalist and recording artist. The presentation inspired, educated and energized those in attendance who came to celebrate six Black Catholics who are on the path to sainthood.
The presentation was part of the Black Catholics Convocation, a three-day event held at the Syracuse parish this month.
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia and Fr. Frederick Daley join in celebration of six Black Catholics on the road to sainthood.
In his opening remarks, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia referred to a document titled: What We Have Seen & Heard: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization from the Black Bishops of the United States (1984). He first read the document while in the seminary. “I found my copy just to reread it for today’s welcoming remarks,” he said. “What I loved then and still love now is the first section of the document, The Gifts We Share.” The Bishop recited: “There is a richness in our Black experience that we must share with the entire People of God. There are gifts that are part of an African heart. We thank God for the gifts of our Catholic faith, and we give thanks of the gifts of our Blackness… Finally, it is our way to witness to our brothers and sisters within the Black community that the Catholic Church is both one and also home to us all.”
During the two-hour presentation and performance, Jansen shared the stories of the six Black Catholics in an uplifting and dramatic style that had congregants on their feet. (Editor’s note: see the sidebar story for brief bios of the six)
Three of those celebrated have been given the title of Venerable (the second of four steps in the process leading to sainthood) and have been recognized by a pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life. The three other candidates hold the title of Servants of God, which is the first step on the path to sainthood.
At the end of the presentation, Jansen answered questions from the audience. When asked how we, as Catholics and citizens, can become unified and find hope for the future, Jansen said, “the first thing you can do is believe things can get better. Some of us believe things are spiraling downward. Don’t get sucked into a downward spiral. Think of what these six individuals were able to accomplish without internet, cars, and the other resources we have. They had a vision and despite the obstacles they faced, they realized their vision.”
Jansen said that people perish without a vision. “What vision do you have?” she asked. “Not just for the Diocese but for your community, your city. I think too often we only think about ourselves. By being more open to a vision that includes community, we become energized in ways we haven’t been before.”
Parishioners from across the Diocese attend celebration at All Saints Church in Syracuse.
Darris Williams, a parishioner at All Saints Church, said he thought the presentation was thought-provoking, spiritual and lively. “It is obvious how much ValLimar loves the Lord. She explained how He works through other people to make things happen; to make miracles happen,” Williams said. “She described the struggles of those six African Americans and how they dealt with them. We see now that racism has never really gone away. But in their day, it was more pervasive.” Williams said that Jansen reminded the audience that the struggles the six African Americans faced deepened their faith and brought them closer to the Lord. “Some of the struggles as far as race and the Catholic Church continue in our country today. But ValLimar encouraged us to not give up hope.”
During the afternoon group breakout sessions, participants were asked if African American Catholics, who are typically minorities in majority white parishes, feel their pastoral needs are being met?
Some Black participants said they feel “invisible” in majority of white parishes. One woman said that the religious and congregants of majority white parishes “don’t live in our neighborhoods, they don’t know our struggles.” Another woman became tearful as she related how no one would shake her hand during the sign of peace during Mass. A member of one group stressed that “leadership sets the table.” Participants felt a personal welcome entering church would set a positive tone.
Reflecting on the day, the words read by Bishop Lucia from the Pastoral Letter on Evangelization from the Black Bishops of the United States acts as inspiration for all citizens: “To be Catholic is to be universal. To be universal is not to be uniform. It does mean, however, that the first of individuals and of particular groups become the common heritage shared by all … For it is giving that we receive. Finally, it is our way to witness to our brothers and sisters within the Black community that the Catholic Church is both one and also home to us all.”
