By Lizsandra Trastoy - Florida Catholic Newspaper
Photographer: LIZSANDRA TRASTOY| FC
Participants in the black Catholic youth conference pose for a photo during their lunch break.
Photographer: LIZSANDRA TRASTOY| FC
Josephite Father Anthony Bozeman, pastor at St. Raymond Parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, blesses the food during the lunch break at the youth conference.
Yet a group of about 50 high school students, most from Holy Redeemer Parish in Liberty City, did turn out at Our Lady of the Lakes Church Oct. 19 for a youth gathering � �Walking with Swag for Christ� � put on by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry.
The night before, the office had hosted a training workshop for adults involved in youth ministry in South Florida�s predominantly African-American parishes.
�It�s all about strengthening their faith,� said Katrenia Reeves-Jackman, director of the office. �Blacks have a long history of Catholicism beginning with the slaves. Many people don�t think blacks are Catholics, they think we are Protestant or Baptist.�
The fact that they are few in number leads many black Catholic young people to feel �ostracized and ashamed of their religion,� Reeves-Jackman wrote in the flyer announcing the conference. �This is often one of the reasons that African American youth convert to other means of organized religion shortly after their 18th birthday.�
Photographer: LIZSANDRA TRASTOY| FC
Most the teens at the conference wore purple shirts identifying them as members of Holy Redeemer Parish in Liberty City.
�This is a great opportunity for the Catholic people of South Florida,� said Father Anthony Bozeman, a Josephite priest from the Archdiocese of New Orleans who was one of the speakers at the conference. �Young African American Catholics can see that they are not only the Church of the future, but they are also the Church of today.�
�I�m very impressed with the teenagers here today,� Father Bozeman added. �They have a great love for Christ and they are not ashamed of sharing it. You don�t find that in teenagers nowadays.�
When asked why �swag� was part of the conference theme, Father Bozeman explained �It�s a theme they can identify with. They can use their culture and their style to bring the Gospel of Christ to their peers, in their classrooms, to their teachers, churches, and even evangelizing in the faith of their communities.�
Social media did not get a totally bad rap at the conference.
BLACK CATHOLIC HISTORY MONTH EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
The month of November, designated Black Catholic History Month 23 years ago, is the time to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of black Catholics, who trace their faith history back to Africa centuries ago. In the Archdiocese of Miami, the black Catholic community will celebrate with two events:
The month of November, designated Black Catholic History Month 23 years ago, is the time to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of black Catholics, who trace their faith history back to Africa centuries ago. In the Archdiocese of Miami, the black Catholic community will celebrate with two events:
- a luncheon Saturday, Nov. 2, at noon at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, 16701 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach. Donation is $40.
- a Mass, Sunday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral, 7525 N.W. Second Ave., Miami. Archbishop Thomas Wenski will be the celebrant of this Mass marking the feast of St. Martin de Porres, patron of the black community worldwide.
�Media is a vehicle we can use to share the good news of God, in a way that young people may share their faith with others,� said Mandley-Turner, executive director of the Office of Multicultural Ministry for the Archdiocese of Louisville and co-founder of the National African American Catholic Youth Ministry Network.
She said black Catholic young people face a number of challenges today. Some of the challenges they face �are outside the Church, and deal with the culture of death, since youth are exposed to violence.�
�In order for youth to come and engage in the Church, they have to be able to experience God from their own perspective,� Mandley-Turner said.
Gracia Kabuanseya, a 17-year-old from Africa and a member of Holy Redeemer youth ministry, said the conference will help teens stand up for their Catholic beliefs. �The mission here today is to tell youth that it�s ok to love your religion.�
�You don�t have to be ashamed of your religion,� said Shani Fulton, also from Holy Redeemer Parish. �Youth is losing their faith in God and that�s why they are falling apart. We need to spread the word of God, so that others may live a better life.�
Wahouna Bouquet, a parishioner from St. Bartholomew in Miramar who came from Haiti to the U.S. two years ago, said the conference personally helped her. �In this conference, you learn how to be confident, how to love yourself, and you leave feeling the love of God.�
For more information on black Catholic groups and organizations in the United States, as well as their history and numbers around the world, go to www.nbccongress.org.
Photographer: LIZSANDRA TRASTOY| FC
After their lunch break, volunteers with the Office of Black Catholic Ministry pose for a picture with Father Anthony Bozeman (right).
