GREENSBORO — Parishioners of St. Mary’s Church commemorated Black History Month with a special reflection and celebration Feb. 17-18.
The celebration, organized by the parish’s Black Catholic Committee, was themed “Keeping Hope Alive.” St. Mary’s Church was founded in 1928 as a parish for black Catholics, but today the Greensboro parish includes people from a variety of economic, social and spiritual experiences, as well as diverse ethnicities.
The weekend celebration was led by Vincentian Father Charles Strollo, pastor, and guest celebrant Josephite Father Anthony M. Bozeman, pastor of St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Parish in New Orleans.
Pictured: Vincentian Father Charles Strollo, pastor, and Father Josephite Father Anthony M. Bozeman, pastor of St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Parish in New Orleans, celebrate Mass Feb. 18 at St. Mary’s Church. Assisting at Mass is Deacon Emmanuel Ukattah. (Photos provided by Ann Graves)
Father Bozeman emphasized the celebration’s theme, “Keeping Hope Alive,” throughout his talks and in a roundtable discussion that he led Feb. 17. He also delivered the homily at Mass Feb. 18, to a standing-room-only crowd of faithful.
Father Bozeman challenged St. Mary’s parishioners to turn negatives into positives as Jesus did when He turned His death on the cross into eternal salvation for all mankind.
He also challenged parishioners to remember that God did not bring people this far to let them down.
“Racism is a sin and we will always have setbacks,” he said. But we must remember that God is always in charge, he added.
Al Baxter directs St. Mary’s choir as they sing special music for the Mass.
Father Bozeman distributes Holy Communion at Mass.
Parishioners prepare a multicultural potluck supper after Mass.Father Bozeman pointed out that black history is American history – a history that belongs to all Americans. America would not be what it is today without the toil, sacrifices and contributions of black Americans, he said.
He challenged black parishioners to know their history and to proudly share it with other Americans. He also reminded blacks of their kinship to Africa, and that the oldest known human skeletal remains were found in Africa. He also spoke of Crispus Attucks, a black Catholic who was the first solider to die in the American Revolutionary War.
“We must always know who we are and whose we are,” he said, in order to fight the negatives of racism.
His words were both reviving and inspiring, parishioners said.
After Mass families enjoyed a potluck supper featuring foods from parishioners’ multicultural traditions.
— Ann Graves, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Ann Graves is the chairperson of the Black Catholic Committee of St. Mary’s Church in Greensboro.
CHARLOTTE — If you are looking for an opportunity to enrich your marriage this year, “Renew: A Couples Retreat” may be just the thing. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is hosting a day of inspiration and reflection for married couples from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in the New Life Center Banquet Hall at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. The cost per couple is $40, which includes lunch, and free child care is available by reservation.
“The pre-Cana workshops offered by Catholic Charities have always been an important part of preparing and supporting engaged couples for marriage,” said Alecia Acquaviva, Catholic Charities’ marriage preparation coordinator. “We feel passionate about extending that same support to couples at every stage of marriage. And we hope to offer this retreat and others like it at locations throughout the diocese in the future.”
The retreat offers a combination of practical relationship skills and spiritual guidance. Topics include “The 5 Love Languages,” “Couple Communication,” “Romance as Gift,” and “Sacramental Marriage.” Couples will have an opportunity to reflect and share privately after each presentation. They will also have the option to attend the 9 a.m. Mass together if they choose. Besides Acquaviva, presenters will include Jenny Cox, a licensed marriage and family therapy associate, and Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe.
Space is limited. Register online at www.ccdoc.org/renew. Contact Acquaviva at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details. Child care reservations may be made by calling 704-543-7677, ext. 1003.
— Jenny Cox is a longtime member of St. Matthew Church. She has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and is a licensed therapy associate in private practice with Compassionate Life Counseling