Black Catholic sainthood and the significance of Black Catholic History Month

This lecture explores the profound intersection of Black Catholic sainthood and the Church’s mission for social justice, focusing on figures such as St. Martin de Porres, St. Josephine Bakhita, and Venerable Pierre Toussaint. Through their lives of service, faith, and resilience, these saints exemplify the call to holiness and justice, breaking barriers of race, class, and oppression. Drawing from both scripture and African American history, the lecture highlights how Black Catholics have historically navigated exclusion within the Church while contributing richly to its mission of equity and compassion. With scriptural foundations rooted in justice and mercy, from Isaiah to the Good Samaritan, we reflect on the role of Black Catholics in movements like civil rights and the ongoing struggle for racial justice today. Ultimately, this talk invites all believers to recognize the universal call to holiness through active engagement in the fight for justice, as modeled by the Black saints and faithful of the Church.