'We have come so far on the shoulders of those who have suffered' — Mass celebrates Black History Month

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, celebrated the annual Archdiocesan Black History Month Mass at the Cathedral Basilica on Sunday, Feb. 12. with Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito concelebrating.

Large banners with portraits of black Catholic candidates for sainthood were displayed at the altar. Bows made from kente cloth decorated the ends of pews. Approximately 300 people from diverse backgrounds attended the Mass, many wearing traditional African clothing. Some of these outfits contained emblems of religious orders such as the Catholic Women’s Association of Nigeria. Ogoo Anuwu, great-niece of Iwene Tansi, an Igbo Nigerian priest, wore her grand uncle’s face on her chest.

There are an estimated 34,000 Black Catholics within the Archdiocese of Newark, according to the most recent statistics published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The African American, African, & Caribbean Apostolate shares their Catholic faith, working to eradicate racism and oppression, encouraging Black youth to embrace their cultural identity, and promoting leadership in the Black community, among other activities.

Groups such as the Knights and Ladies of St. John processed into the Mass and sat throughout the Cathedral, decorating it in groups of black and white uniforms. Mass attendees were treated to three choirs: the choir of Igbo Catholic Community of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Newark, the Cathedral choir, and a choir made up of people from different parishes throughout the Archdiocese.

The first reading from the Book of Sirach referenced God’s gift of free will to humanity and that it is a person’s choice to choose right or wrong. The second reading from Corinthians was about the wisdom of God and those who follow Him.

In his homily, Cardinal Tobin referenced the readings and their connection with Black History Month, stating that religious rules are necessary, but that we must go beyond the text. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the 2023 Black History month theme is black resistance. Cardinal Tobin connected the theme with Martin Luther King’s six principles of nonviolence. “Black resistance is a form of love: love for people who persist to do monstrous things and for their community to be sources of light,” Cardinal Tobin said.

Carolyn Monel, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley in Orange, felt a deep impact from Cardinal Tobin’s homily. “We have come so far on the shoulders of those who have suffered and sacrificed so much for us to be afforded the opportunities,” Monel said. “[For] progression [to] be gradual, we may have some setbacks, but we know that there’s a God up above who’s our guiding light and we just keep our light shining because it overshadows the darkness in the world. “

Toward the conclusion of the Mass, members of the African American, African & Caribbean Apostolate presented the Cardinal with two gifts as a gesture of thanks of his work with the Apostolate. One was a statue of a symbol that was placed in front of Catholic churches that welcomed Black people during the pre-Jim Crow era. The second gift was a diamond needlepoint of Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, a Black candidate for sainthood who taught young people about the joys of being Christian.

But the celebration didn’t just stop after the Mass’s conclusion. Members from the choir of the Igbo Catholic Community filled the Cathedral with song. Austine Uche Nwankwo, assistant choirmaster, works with the singers, many of them professional choristers in Nigeria.

“Generally, it’s always a beautiful thing to worship in this building, where we worship God; it’s a spiritual experience,” he said.

To learn more about the African American, African & Caribbean Apostolate, visit its webpage.

Procession before the presentation of the Gifts (Photo by the Archdiocese of Newark/Alexandra Rojas)

Featured Image: The choir of Igbo Catholic Community of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Newark performing during the Black History Month Mass (Photo by the Archdiocese of Newark/Alexandra Rojas)