Black bishop’s legacy leaders aim to transform communities
Bishop Joseph Abel Francis (1923-1997), the first and only African American Auxiliary Bishop in Newark, advocated for the socioeconomic and spiritual health of his community and demanded the Catholic church take a public stance against racism. He strove to change Black lives through education and faith. The first Black Bishop in the Northeast, he led the Black Catholic Clergy in the 1970s and was the principal author of the pastoral letter against racism, “Brothers and Sisters to Us.”
The Bishop Francis Scholarship Fund (BFSF) Dinner Dance at The Highlawn in West Orange on Nov. 9 was a celebration of Black Catholic History Month, Bishop Francis’ 100th birthday, and faith-based leaders who embody his ideals of interfaith and interracial collaboration and achievement through education. The event was presented by the African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark. Every year, the scholarships assist about 100 high school students with educational expenses, wraparound services like food and transportation, and youth and family retreats. The scholarship was established to honor Bishop Francis’ efforts to ensure African American youths continue their studies.
“He came from poverty, reaped the benefits of education, and helped other African Americans do the same. He also encouraged everyone to treat each other as equals,” said Rahsaan Garlin, Liaison Associate for the Apostolate. “I use his legacy for direction: Give your time and service, be a pillar for the community, and lean on one another. Our mission is to nurture inner-city youths to become persons of service not looking for anything in return. We help develop their character and encourage self-reliance and responsibility. We also understand the social justice issues African American youths face, so we give them a platform through our ministry.
Father Edwin Leahy, OSB
The evening’s honorees were chosen by the Apostolate Advisory Board based on how they exemplify Bishop Francis’ life of service. All three are nurturers entrusted to lead: Karen Cavaness, Principal of St. Joseph School in East Orange is stern, cool under pressure, and empowers youth whose trust she earned; Father Edwin Leahy, OSB, Headmaster of St. Benedict Prep in Newark gives students ownership of the school’s decision-making in hiring, meetings, scheduling, curriculum, discipline, and more; and Henry Rawls, President, The Nubian Cultural Center for Research & Development operates a choir ministry, and enriches the lives of many through the arts. His organization believes in providing “a hand up, not a handout.” It aims to improve lives and create racial and ethnic harmony in Jersey City, Newark, and Plainfield through film, dance, and the visual arts.
Father Leahy helps African American youths embrace their cultural identity, use their voices, and grow spiritually. He was raised by two families: his Irish American parents and the African American and Latino community in Newark. The Blessed Sacrament Church in the South Ward sowed his childhood seeds of faith.The longest-serving Headmaster in St. Benedict’s history, Father Leahy is in his 50th year. His mantra is love, courage, and conquering every day, powered by the Lord to do one’s best. Enrollment at St. Benedict has grown from 89 in 1973 to just under 1,000 today.
Allowing youths to take ownership of their education and learn from their mistakes builds leadership. “Tend to the heart and community,” he said. “We meet and pray together every morning, tend to the hearts through a counseling center, therapy, and group sessions. We create leaders in academics and faith. Our youth leaders are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Sikh. We meet every day, face to face to celebrate our faith in prayer.”
Bishop Francis had an enormous influence on the predominantly Caucasian monastic community in the 1970s, he noted. “This was at a time when the African American community was waking up to their roots in South Africa and liturgies changed from their Western European styles. When he spoke at conferences, he said share schools, share food pantries, and share faith.”
St. Joseph School Principal Karen Cavaness is a product of the East Orange community, where she grew up, raised five children, and pursued her passion to become an educator. She became a substitute teacher at St. Joseph in 1994 and rose through the ranks to principal in 2011. A matriarch to 205 children in a school that nurtured her, she strives to help families afford a Catholic education regardless of their faith, through the Marion and Joseph Alexander Scholarship Fund she established.
“I guess it’s in my blood,” Cavaness said. “Bishop Francis influenced me as a minority woman to keep going, keep moving, and keep serving the Lord. We encourage our students to pray about our virtues and be patient. God is always with us, our foundation.”
When Bishop Francis needed a representative to escort Coretta Scott King to receive an award in Newark, he chose Henry Rawls. Rawls was a priest for the Diocese for two years in 1977 when he was approached by Bishop Francis to discuss the establishment of the Office of the Black Catholics. “He treated me as a son,” Rawls said. “I was working in parishes in Newark before moving to Plainfield. Back then, churches were more ethnic, more tribal. You had your Italian, German, Polish, and Black parishes, and they didn’t mix much. There was not much warmth for ‘foreigners.’ Today, priests have rugged individualism, are more anti-establishment, and we still have churches of one ethnicity, but they open their doors more.”
Rawls served 10 years in the priesthood and felt burned out taking over a church with three distinct groups — white, Haitian, and Black populations merging. Four years later, he worked for Hale House for Children in New York, moved on to the National Black United Fund, and served as the Choir Director for Christ the King in Jersey City for 17 years. As President of the Nubian Center, he now unifies the masses through the arts, seminars, and special events. “The priesthood needs to work on unifying diverse Black communities that come from Europe, Africa, and all over the world,” Rawls reflected. “Because people are fearful of differences, we need to understand each other more, the different ways we dress, the food we eat, the ways we pray. I’d look for a way to bridge the gap, unite choirs to learn each other’s music, and talk about and resolve issues harmoniously.”
A man said to have never accepted mediocrity, Bishop Francis continues to inspire.
