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Affiliating School:
All Saints Catholic School,
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Dawn Crutchfield
Director of the Office for Black Catholics
dcrutchfield@richmonddiocese.org

The Office for Black Catholics
Established July 1, 1980

Mission of the Office of Black Catholics

To attract and retain black Catholics and promote inclusion by sharing the richness of the black culture with the Catholic community at large. 

  • The Office sponsors annual retreats for Black Catholics
  • Co-sponsor Kujenga with the Office of Christian Formation
  • Co-sponsors retreats with Campus and Young Adult ministry
  • Sponsors the annual Diocesan Liturgy for Black Catholics
  • Is a resource of personnel and activities for November (National Black Catholic History Month)
  • Supports campus ministry on historically Black campuses
  • Supports prison ministry
  • Participates in the National Black Catholic Congress agenda
  • Acts as an advocate for all people of African dissent

Goals

  • Increase the number of blacks in leadership roles in the parishes and diocesan wide
  • Increase the number of black parishioners in parishes
  • Maintain the number black parishioners in the diocese
 
The Black Catholic Commission
 
...acts as a catalyst for change in areas of promoting evangelization and eradicating racism. The office provides a resource bank of experts and a clearinghouse of information for the parishes, diocesan staff and other institutions to combat racist attitudes toward black people.

Goals

  • To promote evangelization and vocations
  • To foster special ministries.
  • To sensitize all diocesan offices to the fact that Blacks are an integral part of the Church.
  • To have active input in the process, appointments and reassignments of priests and religious who serve in predominantly Black communities.
  • To establish significant and meaningful representation on policy and decision making boards of the Diocese.
  • To provide a clearinghouse of information and a resource bank of efforts for parishes and diocesan institutions.
  • To address social justice and spiritual issues of Black Catholics.

  • To assist the Bishop of The Diocese of Richmond in making the Church more relevant to the needs and hopes of Black people

Committees

The Black Catholic Commission uses the Congress IX Pastoral Plan of Action, established by the National Black Catholic Congress, as a framework for addressing these eight principles:  promoting vibrant expressions of spirituality and experiences of parish life; affirming the presence and contributions of youth and young adults in our Church; sustaining Catholic education in our communities; advocating for social justice; eradicating racism; strengthening bonds with Africa; and providing for a compassionate response to those who suffer from HIV and/or AIDS.

Commission Members
COMMISSIONER PARISH COMMITTEE
  Mr. Charles Anderson Saint Gerard, Roanoke Parish Life/Spirituality
  Ms. Sandra Antione Sacred Heart, Richmond Social Justice/Racism
  Ms. Lavern Avant Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk  
  Dea. Calvin Bailey, Ex-Officio Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk  
  Mr. Marshall Banks Cathedral of the Sacred Heart  
  Ms. Gretta Barnes Saint Joan of Arc, Yorktown  
  Dr. Henri Barnwell Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Africa/HIV&AIDS
  Msgr. Walter Barrett, Ex-Officio Holy Rosary, Richmond  
  Rev. John Boddie, Ex-Officio Francis de Sales, Mathews  
  Mrs. Phyllis Booth Saint Elizabeth, Richmond Parish Life/Spirituality
  Mr. Joseph Brown Saint Paul, Portsmouth Social Justice/Racism
  Rev. Theophile Brown, Ex-Officio Mary, Mother of Church Benedictine Abbey, Richmond  
  Rev. Ernest Bulinda, Ex-Officio Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk  
  Rev. Rene Castillo, Ex-Officio Saint Gerard, Roanoke  
  Ms. Cynthia Diggs Holy Rosary, Richmond Social Justice/Racism
  Ms. D. Karen Garland Holy Rosary, Richmond Youth/Catholic Education
  Ms. Wilma Harris St. Paul, Richmond Social Justice/Racism
  Mr. David Johnson Saint Gerard, Roanoke Social Justice/Racism
  Mr. V. Kevin Jones, Co-Vice Chair Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Africa/HIV&AIDS
  Rev. Silvio Kaberia, Ex-Officio Good Shepherd, South Hill  
  Ms. Tonya LeSane, Co-Vice Chair Holy Rosary, Richmond Youth/Catholic Education
  Ms. Deidre Love Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Youth/Catholic Education
  Ms. Oretha McInnis Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Parish Life/Spirituality
  Ms. Freddie Monk Saint Gerard, Roanoke Social Justice/Racism
  Rev. Columba Nnorom, Ex-Officio Saint Peter the Apostle, Lake Gaston  
  Mr. Otis Ogden Saint Gerard, Roanoke  
  Ms. Candace Parker Holy Rosary, Richmond Youth/Catholic Education
  Ms. Yvadne Robinson, Secretary Saint Benedict, Richmond Youth/Catholic Education
  Mr. James Satterthwaite, Chair Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Social Justice/Racism
  Ms. Christine Thomas Saint Peter, Richmond Africa/HIV&AIDS
  Ms. Minnie Thomas Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Parish Life/Spirituality
  Mr. Arthur Thompson Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Africa/HIV&AIDS
  Ms. Roma Willis-Turner Saint Gerard, Roanoke Parish Life/Spirituality
  Ms. Ashley Womack Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk Youth/Catholic Education
  Ms. Cathy Woodson Saint Elizabeth, Richmond Social Justice/Racism

 Director's Calendar 2008

July

7/19 - 7/25         Social Action Conference on Racism - Atlanta, GA

7/26                  Facilitating Day of Discernment at St. Peter’s the Apostle, Lake Gaskins

7/27 - 7/29         OFF

7/30 - 8/1          VACATION

 August

8/2                    Attending Sparrow Clubs Board Meeting - Portland, OR

8/4 -8/8             VACATION

8/12 - 8/16         attend HIV/AIDS Catholic Conference - Atlanta, GA

September      

Ethnic Advisory Board Meeting with Bishop  (TBD)

9/12 - 9/14        Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR) Retreat

9/20                  Evangelization workshop in Richmond

9/25 - 9/27         National Association of Black Catholic Administrators (NABCA) Annual meeting

October

10/1                  Attend LMR monthly meeting (5:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

10/7                  Monthly meeting with Bishop (2:00 p.m.)

10/24 – 10/25    Filipino Commission Retreat, Richmond

November

11/2                  Monthly meeting with Bishop (2:00 p.m.)

11/3 – 11/4        LMR Retreat

December       

Ethnic Advisory Board Meeting with Bishop (TBD)

 

 

 Current News

 

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