Personal stories offer inspiration during Black History Month

February is Black History Month in the United States. How will the Archdiocese of New Orleans celebrate the month?

Dr. Ansel Augustine, our new director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, had a great idea to conduct brief video interviews with Black Catholics across the archdiocese who are involved in some form of ministry. The interview subjects are laymen, laywomen, women religious and a bishop. The interviews will be released periodically on nolacatholic.org during Black History Month. We hope these interviews provide a cross-section of views from people of various ages and backgrounds. They will tell their personal stories about the gifts and challenges of being Black and Catholic in today’s society. This kind of wisdom and knowledge often is best passed on as an oral history.

Who are the people being interviewed?

In addition to Dr. Augustine, eight other people will share their stories: Bishop Fernand Cheri, who has served since 2015 as our auxiliary bishop; Sister of the Holy Family Judith Barial, who is promoting the beatification cause of Mother Henriette Delille; Grant Tregre, an engineer who is also studying for his doctorate in ministry; Lisa McClain, director of campus ministry at Xavier University of Louisiana; Dr. RaeNell Houston, superintendent of Catholic Education and Faith Formation for the archdiocese; Percy Marchand, associate director of the Knights of Peter Claver and a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc Parish; Adrian Jackson, the director of the archdiocesan CYO/Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office; and Cheralynn Branche, the former principal of Xavier Prep and president of the GU272 Descendants Association.

What do you hope will be achieved by people hearing their personal stories?

In speaking with Dr. Augustine, I believe it’s very powerful and affirming to hear stories that many people have never heard, and that can be a source of inspiration.

What have the last two years been like, particularly in the Black Catholic community?

The last two years have been extremely challenging for the entire church. Our church parishes have done a great job getting parishioners the right information on how to take care of themselves during the pandemic. Dr. Augustine was telling me that 19 members of his extended family or circle of friends, especially the elders he knew, died from COVID-19. Most of those deaths happened in the early stages of the outbreak. The pandemic has certainly not been just a New Orleans thing. What’s happening across the country as well has been a challenge. We want all of our people to come back to church, because the churches, especially in the Black community throughout the country, have been the central gathering spot, the safe haven, for people to be filled with the word of God so that they can go out and minister to the community and do the work we need to do. So, one of the main challenges I’ve been hearing is: When can we be back in our church homes safely? When will we finally get back to the new normal?

What are your hopes for the Office of Black Catholic Ministries?

We want the office to advocate for the needs of Black Catholics within the archdiocese and serve as a liaison with other offices. I know Dr. Augustine has talked about bringing resources and creating opportunities for Black Catholic voices to be heard and appreciated throughout the archdiocese and beyond. They did a great job organizing various Martin Luther King Day activities across the archdiocese. A major concern is to make sure that the elders in the Black community remain safe from COVID. The elders are vulnerable, and they would normally be the ones who traditionally support the office’s programs. We need to keep them safe. That’s why much of the programming has remained virtual for the time being.

Is there hope to solve the racial problems that face not only the archdiocese but the nation?

The hope is in our young people and those who work with them. They want to create a better world for the young people and those coming after them. Dr. Augustine wrote a book that every parish youth group may find helpful reading: “Leveling the Praying Field: Can the Church We Love, Love Us Back?” It’s a resource for youth and young adults and campus ministers and those whom they serve to have tough and important discussions.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarion­herald@clarionherald.org.