AAMEN Quarterly Newsletter

Ojisé (The Messenger)
Di o cese of Raleigh
African Ancestry Ministry
Volume 3, Issue 2
The Good Shepherd’s Corner
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As the Church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the words of
the psalmist echo in our hearts:
“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.” We rejoice in Christ’s triumph over sin
and death and recognize that in Him
we discover newness of life.
We are privileged to share in Christ’s victory through
the sacraments of the Church, which restore us to a
life of grace. Thus, we are inspired to draw ever closer to Our Lord Jesus, most especially in our frequent
celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and our
faithful participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass and reception of the Holy Eucharist, the source
of our strength.
With the apostles and disciples, we too are sent forth
to be witnesses to the Risen Lord. We do so through
the holiness of our lives, the practice of our faith and
the generous outreach and compassion we extend to
others, particularly those most in need. More than
ever, others need to see the joy we have in our relationship with Jesus and in our commitment to live
according to His Gospel. In this way, we invite others
to faith in Jesus Christ and contribute to building up
the Church.
During this Easter season, I pray that God will renew
our faith in Christ’s victory over sin and death. May
Our Risen Lord abundantly bless you and your family
with His peace and joy in this holy season and always.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh
April 2014
Inside this Issue
The Good Shepherd’s Corner….…
1
From our Vicar….………………..
2
My faith journey ……………..
3
1st year of Pope Francis……….….
4
Our Youth ……………...………...
4
Women’s Retreat.……………........
5
2014 Black and Indian Mission…...
6
Did you know?..................………..
7
Native American Ministry Workshop
8
SM/AAMEN “Taste of Soul” Event
9
International Women’s Day……....
10
Boys Lenten Retreat……….…..….
10
Ojisé (The Messenger)
Page 2
From Our Vicar, Padre Leon
During Black History Month, Bishop Burbidge convened a meeting of the African chaplains, African
priests, and pastors of parishes with AAMEN chapters. This is the second time such a meeting has
been convened, and the general feeling among those
gathered is that such a meeting is needed. In addition to discussing our biggest event of the year, the
annual African Heritage Celebration, we also discussed the need re-examine how we evangelize the
African and American community. The point was
made and agreed upon by all those present that we
are a multi-cultural ministry. What works for the
African American community may not work for the
Igbo community, etc. We have to be sensitive to
that important component; but we are all, by virtue
of our baptism called to evangelize. It is not just the
job of the priests. It is the responsibility of each of
us to share our faith with everyone we encounter.
We can and should invite others to experience the
beauty and expressiveness of our culture and spirituality. We left the meeting in good spirits and committed to continuing our efforts to serve the African
Ancestry communities in the Diocese of Raleigh
AAMEN Quarterly Communications Meeting at St. Ann Catholic
Church Fayetteville
Several AAMEN Chapters met on Saturday, March 23, 2014 at St. Ann
Catholic Church to exchanges ideas as well as share the news about their different communities. The opening prayer was led by Fr. Greg Anatuanya from
Sacred Heart Catholic in Pinehurst, NC. He encouraged participants to stay
prayerful, to get closer to God; Fr. Greg mentioned the examples of Jesus
Christ who used 12 apostles to reach so many people and encourage us to do
the same for our communities. Discussions were not just about communities’
activities, but also centered on how “to go out and capture more people”.
Volume 3, Issue 2
Page 3
My faith journey
I come from the Philippines, from a small town called
Imus, Cavite where observance of religious feast days were followed religiously by our community. One of the most famous is
the celebration of the “Black Nazarene.”
In our Tagalog dialect we call it “Ang Poóng Itim na Nazareno” and in Spanish, it’s known as :Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. It reminds us of the stations of the cross where Christ carried
his cross on his way to the Calvary. Adorning the statue's head are
the traditional "Tres Potencias" ("three powers") halo, symbolizing
the three powers of the Holy Trinity. The three rayos ("rays") are
used to exclusively identify Christ in traditional Hispanic iconography, and are an angular evolution of the common cruciform halo. The feast day is January 9; the statue was made by an anonymous Mexican sculptor, and the image arrived in Manila via galleon from Acapulco, Mexico, sometime in the first decade of the
1600s. Folk tradition attributes the very dark color of the statue to
a fire on the ship that charred the originally white skin. My arrival
to the United States as an immigrant brought me to a much deeper
journey of my faith as a
Roman Catholic. The church is my second home, and my refuge. I
find peace and comfort, but it is the Black Nazarene that strikes close
to my heart.
The Black Nazarene symbolizes our multi-cultural connection
and faith with others; the Africans, the Hispanics and the Asians. Its
rich origin and history brings us back centuries ago to where we all
originated. The Black Nazarene is a symbol of healing, strength just
like St. Raphael and the Archangels. The Black Nazarene gives justice
to the oppressed, a healer and a companion just like St. Christopher.
The Black Nazarene is known as the liberator, like the Black Christ
Liberator amongst the African-American community.
We, Asians, like the Africans have, a lot of things in common.
The Black Nazarene has been known around the world, yet so few are
familiar with the devotion or know its origin. We live in a very diverse multi-cultural world. We travel many roads but we all have
something in common: We are Catholics. We believe in one God the
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
by Maria Romp
Ojisé (The Messenger)
Page 4
Happy First Anniversary, Pope Francis
STATEMENT OF THE USCCB ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF POPE FRANCIS
Gathered together in Washington, DC, for their annual March meeting, the
members of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops have noted with thanksgiving the first anniversary of the election of His Holiness Pope Francis as the 266th successor of the Apostle Peter.
In his first year in office, Pope Francis has consistently called upon Catholics
to look again at the fundamental values of the Gospel. He has encouraged us to be a
Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society. He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured. His Holiness has also set in
motion a process that will lead to the reshaping of the Roman Curia in a way that will enhance the effectiveness of
his ministry and better serve the needs of the Church in our present day.
In this way the Holy Father has brought to light new dimensions of the Petrine Ministry and added new life
to the office he holds. His constant outreach to the alienated, his emphasis on mercy and his sheer humanity have
served as an inspiration not only to Catholics but also to other Christians and people of good will around the globe.
On this first anniversary of his election, the Administrative Committee invites the prayers of all the faithful that
Christ our Lord will bless Pope Francis and grant him many years of fruitful ministry as Bishop of Rome, as the
Servant of the Servants of God.
Permission to reproduce granted by Sr. Mary Ann Walsh , Director of Media Relations
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Kudos to the AAMEN Youth
A Designer in the House
A Big Thank You
Music in our Hearts
Miss Marguerite Batta, a 10th
grader at the Research Triangle
High School in Durham is the
winner of the first of its kind
project, recently launched by
the Research Triangle Park
Foundation, NC to design a TShirt logo, using specific
guidelines.
The AAMEN Office thanks
Patrick Mativo, Jr. for inviting his friend Francis (9th
grader) during the recent
Boys’ Lenten Retreat that
was held at the St. Alponsus
Center in Wilson, NC.
Michael A. Kamuhu, a.k.a
Tony (10th grader), gave a
piano recital on Sunday,
March 9, 2014 at Peace College in Raleigh. The occasion was part of the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity Talent
Hunt Program.
Volume 3, Issue 1
Page 5
Women’s Retreat: What do I bring to the table?
After the success of last year’s first women’s retreat, we decided to do it again. This year,
on the Saturday before Lent, the AAMEN office
hosted our second women’s pre-Lenten retreat.
We were fortunate enough to have Sr. Rose Adams, IHM serve as retreat leader for our women’s
retreat. The theme for the retreat was “What do I
bring to the table?”
St. Michael Women’s Network ministry
chair, Karen Fiumara, asked us to partner with the
women of the parish to host this event. We agreed
with the thought that this would allow more people to experience working with our ministry and
to give them an experience of an AAMEN event.
The retreat was held at the new Catholic Center in
our state of the art conference room, and we decorated the conference room with Afrocentric fabric
and table tents to soften the look of the room. Participants brought religious items to serve as focal
points for prayer and decoration. The retreat began with Padre Leon celebrating Mass for the
women who gathered
for the retreat.
Our retreat
theme came out of
discussion with many
women over the year.
As women, the roles
we play inside and
outside of the Church
are vital. We know
this from sacred scripture, history, and experience, but many
times we don’t
acknowledge our own
value. This retreat was
an opportunity for us
to affirm one another
and acknowledge the
gifts that we are to each other, to the domestic
church (homes), and to our parishes.
Sr. Rose’s presentation appealed to the
various learning styles. We had time for small
group discussion, large group session, and time
for silent meditation which everyone honored. She
showed us a beautiful slide show of Marian images. We sang and we laughed. Each of us identified
different gifts, which is an amazing testimony to
the great diversity God has created when He made
each of us. She asked each of us to draw or write
our gifts on a sheet of paper which had an image
of an altar on it. We then presented our gifts in
prayer to the altar in the chapel. We gave each
participant a Magnificat Lenten companion in anticipation of Lent at the end of the retreat; but I
think the gift of the retreat and the time with other
women on the journey was the biggest take away
of the day.
by Lauren Green
Page 6
Ojisé (The Messenger)
2014 Black and Indian Mission Collection
apostolic letter on prayer and fasting by Pope Paul
VI).
Give Alms: Without your financial help, our
“mission to the missions” turns into a mission to no
one. Giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice
pleasing to God. – Catechism of the Catholic Church,
2447.
Your financial support of the three organizations of the Black and Indian Mission Office enables
us to help form children in the faith, educate young
people, and build hope – a hope often so hard to find
in the areas our missionaries serve. Donations can
take many forms! Estate and legacy gifts, stocks,
The Black and Indian Mission Collection
bonds, real estate—and, of course, cash—are some of
exists to help communities build the church and
the practical ways you can help us spread the Gospel.
preach the gospel of Jesus among the
African American, Native American, and Alaska Na- Perhaps your employer will match your contribution!
If you are interested in contributing, please send your
tive People of God.
The national Black and Indian Mission Collec- contribution to your parish or to the Diocese of
tion, the first national collection mandated by the U.S. Raleigh; contributions will still be accepted until June
30, 2014.
bishops in 1884, continues its “mission to the missions” today. The generosity of God’s faithful people
from Maine to California and Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands enables us to build the Church in African
The Black and Indian Mission Collection
American, Native American, and Alaska Native com(BIMC)
munities.
-Exists to helps bishops and dioceses to
The traditional date for the collection is the
First Sunday of Lent, which this year was Sunday,
build the Church in African-American and Native
March 9, 2014. There are several ways you can join
American and Alaska Native Communities.
our Mission to the Missions:
-Exists to help bishops and dioceses to
Pray: Your prayer support is critical! “With
build the Church in African American, Native
all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity
American, and Alaska Native communities.
in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones”. (Eph
-Supporting the BIMC helps encourage
6:18). We are, first of all, in need of your constant prayers
young African-Americans and Native Americans
for the work of our office, for those in service of the
to give their lives to the Lord, as priests, brothers
Gospel, and for those they serve. Pray for those whose
or sisters
lives are enriched by the support of our office! Pray
- Funding from the BIMC helps dioceses
for the success of our missionaries’ work! And pray
for the work of our national office.
form lay ministers and catechists to spread the
Fast: Your acts of prayerful fasting can help
Gospel in their own communities.
move mountains. “The penitence of the individual
Christian also has an intimate relationship of its own
with the whole ecclesial community” (Paenitemini,
Page 7
Volume 3, Issue 1
Did you know?
Extraordinary Servants
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters
On August 30, 1927 four IHM Sisters arrived in
Little Washington, NC: Sister M. DeChantal McHale, superior, Sister Sergius O'Donnell, Sister Gertrude Marie
Jelley and Sister St. Ann Quinn. With their arrival, the
school, which housed a chapel and the sisters' residence,
became the Catholic Church of Little Washington. On
September 11, 1927, Bishop Hafey dedicated these areas
and reserved the Blessed Sacrament for the first time in
Washington, NC.
Reverend Charles Hannigan of New Bern was
given charge of the Little Washington mission which consisted of nine persons--four sisters and five lay persons, all
of whom were converts to the Catholic faith. They were
Mr. David Keyes and his wife, Stephen Bonner and his
wife and Mrs. Louisa Little. Father Hannigan went from
New Bern to Little Washington twice a week. Once again,
the deprivation of daily Mass and Holy Communion was
the greatest hardship experienced by the sisters. In October
1927, Bishop Hafey purchased the Mallison Home on
North Market Street for the convent. The sisters moved
into it on January 10, 1928. Reverend Mark Moislein, CP,
a golden jubilarian in his
seventy-fourth
year of life,
arrived to act as
pastor for both
black and white
peoples of
Washington,
North Carolina.
Through his
zeal and the
dedicated work
of the sisters
the school soon had to be enlarged to provide for all of the
students. In one year, by May of 1928, four of the nonCatholic students were baptized.
True to IHM heritage in music, the sisters prepared the children in Gregorian Chant, and on December
8, 1927, the first Gregorian Mass ever sung in North Ca
lina was sung by all-black, all-Protestant students of St.
Joseph's School choir in New Bern. Bishop Hafey commented that he wished it were possible to take that choir to
every church and chapel of the Raleigh Diocese and particularly to the Raleigh Cathedral. The sisters received
great praise from the bishop and from the people for the
46-year IHM presence and work in Little Washington.
compiled by Valerie Batta
References: Annals of Mother of Mercy, Little Washington,
NC. Archives, IHM Generalate.
Joseph Lawson Howze, Bishop Emeritus
We all know that Monsignor Thomas Paul Hadden
was the first native North Carolinian, African American ordained priest for the Diocese of Raleigh, on
December 20, 1958.
Bishop Joseph Lawson Howze, a native of
Daphne, Alabama, was ordained a priest on May 7,
1959 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. Bishop
Howze served the Diocese of Raleigh as a priest for
13 years, serving as parish priest in Charlotte and
Ashville. In 1973, he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop
for the Diocese of Natchez – Jackson, MS. In 1977,
he was ordained Bishop of Biloxi, MS, thus becoming the first African American Bishop in the 20th
Century, to head a Diocese in the United States
by Curtis Deloatch
Page 8
Ojisé (The Messenger)
Native American Ministry Workshop
“Our story has
never been
told,” Patty
Grant-Edgemon
affirmed with a
smile. “And
when we do try
to tell it, we are
told, ‘Get over
it’”. Edgemon
is a member of
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and
for the past six years has been the program manager
for A NA LE NI SGI (They Are Beginning), a program that encourages health, healing, and wellness
in all ages in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Grant-Edgemon spoke recently during a days
-long workshop on American Indian Spirituality entitled, “Walking Our Spiritual Paths: An Introduction to the Spirituality of the Cherokee People”.
Local representatives of the Native American Catholic community representing our diocese attended this
event to see how others approach Christianity and
Native spirituality. It was their hope to make good
connections with Cherokee leadership and the faith
community there, while developing for our own diocese a better sense of how to open doors to Native
People. The entire event was sponsored by the Catholic Community of Appalachia.
Presenters throughout the five day workshop
spoke of their own spiritual journeys and how they
often
struggled to find
balance
when they
moved
away from spirituality.
Each day began
with
shared prayer
and each
afternoon ended
with a
theological reflection
and discussion
session
led by Father
John
Rausch of Stanton,
Kentucky .
Many of
the participants
were baptized Catholics who had come to see how
some Cherokee had balanced their traditional beliefs
with more institutionalized practices.
For example, tribal member Pastor Jack Russell at Living Waters Lutheran Church has worked
for the last ten years to help to slowly bridge the gap
between the two types of belief. Pastor Jack uses
traditional symbols to recognize and give honor to
Cherokee belief prior to a church service, and is as
inclusive as he is able to
be throughout the service
itself, making good use
of music and language.
Catholic participants
were struck by the similarities between these
practices, as Native
American Masses often
work to accomplish the
same thing. For instance, Pastor Jack emphasized the need to offer smudging prior to the
Lutheran service, just as Native Catholics will offer
smudging before Mass. Smudging, or drawing the
smoke of sacred herbs such as sweet grass or sage
over and around one’s body is a way to cleanse the
mind and enter into a prayerful state; to recognize
that one is in the presence of God.
The participants also had a visit from Reverend Dr. Ben Bushyhead, a retired Methodist minister
and EBCI member. He emphasized the need to understand the perspective of the other, and offered
some of his own thoughts on why Native Americans
in general have not abandoned everything they have
for Christianity. For one thing, American Indians
have always cared for each other, he explained, so
gathering to the church for tithing doesn’t make as
much sense to them. However, Dr. Bushyhead cited
the several examples of spiritual practices that
bridge tradition and religion, such as using traditional languages in song and scripture, and the use of
water for cleansing. (continued on Page 11)
Page 9
Volume 3. Issue 1
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Cary
African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN)
Chapter Activities “Making a Difference in the Community”
Every year, St. Michael’s
AAMEN (SM-AAMEN)
Chapter hosts a “Winter
Gear” drive for local charities
in the area. This year, SMAAMEN Chapter collected
donated items to benefit the
teens in Wake County Foster
Care program and Note-InThe Pocket Organization.
The Wake County Foster
Care program received 24
bags of donated winter gear
items for teens. The remainder of the collected items
from SM-AAMEN and items collected throughout the
Diocese were shared with the Diocese of Raleigh’s
Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Project. These items
were donated to the Note-In-The Pocket Organization.
The SM-AAMEN Chapter started the celebration
of Black History Month by publishing articles each
week in the church’s bulletin on current Bishops of
African ancestry in the U.S. The articles covered the
biographical profiles of Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Bishop John H. Ricard,
and Bishop Terry Steib. We also challenged the parishioners by posing a Black History Month trivia
question each week, providing the answers the following week. In honor of the signing of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the SM-AAMEN
Chapter celebrated by hosting a “Taste of Soul” Black
History Month event on February 22. Attendees enjoyed a menu of delicious soul food that included collard greens, corn pudding, potato salad, pasta salad,
rice with vegetables, fried chicken, baked chicken,
black eyed peas, corn bread, tea, sweet potato pie and
coconut cake. The program included a viewing of the
documentary “Sisters of Selma”. The documentary
showed how some Catholic nuns went to Selma, Alabama, to help the oppressed – African-American citizens of the South fight for their civil rights. They
joined the civil rights struggle, and in so doing, the
Church and the sisters were themselves transformed.
The film featured a Franciscan Sister of Mary, Sisters
of St.
Joseph
of Carondelet,
Sisters of
St. Joseph of
Rochester, a
Sister of
Blessed
Virgin Mary, and co-members of the Loretto Community. The evening event ended with table discussions
about how the film informed the attendees of the
Catholic Church’s involvement in the civil rights
movement and how the Seven Themes of Catholic
Social Teachings were in support of the Sisters reaction to the March in Selma, Alabama.
In May the SM-AAMEN Chapter will collect donated diapers, cribs, car seats and gift cards. The Gabriel Project will use these articles to help women
with unplanned pregnancies and children.
In June the SM-AAMEN Chapter will host its
first AAMEN Scholarship Fundraiser, a dance,
“Oldies But Goodies”. This event will benefit students of African ancestry attending St. Michael the
Archangel Catholic School.
by Renay Ceasar
Ojisé (The Messenger)
Page 10
International Women’s Day, InStepp
Calendar of Events
April 2014
On March 8, 2014, the world
13
Palm Sunday
celebrated its 103rd International Wom- 20
Combined French/Swahili
Easter Mass
en’s Day. To mark the event locally,
over a hundred women, mostly immiMay 2014
grants, gathered at the Hayti Heritage
3
St. Ann AAMEN Chapter
Center in Durham, NC for fellowship,
Spring Gala
friendship and fun; the 3rd time this
16-18 Diocesan Youth
event is sponsored by InStepp, a local non-profit organization whose
Convention
main mission is to empower immigrant women. It is however time to
June 2014
admit that educational and employment opportunities for foreigners
are sparse, eventhough immigrants form a vital part of our churches, 11-15 Lyke Conference, New Orleans
restaurants, workforce, and other local groups.
Immigration issues are world issues; in response to inhumane treatment inflicted to immigrants and
to mark their solidarity with them Pope Francis visited Lampedusa (Italy) last year and just recently, the
USCCB Committee on Migration traveled to Nogales, AZ. We must welcome immigrants with Christian
hospitality; seeking justice for them is taking action for an immigration reform. Catholics of the world
should unite in solidarity with migrants and immigrants because it is about protecting the life and dignity of
the human person.
by Valerie Batta
2014 Boys Lenten Retreat
On March 22, 2014, about 14
young men from different AAMEN
Communities gathered in the St.
Alphonsus Center, under the leadership of Mr. Tristan Evans, to reflect on how they see themselves as
an image of God and what each of
them can do best to be “a man of
God.” While coming up with creative ways of doing things for God’s
people, they also learned about
hands-on activities such as setting
up a sound lab and creating their
own music. Each boy went home
with a copy of the book, “Saints of
Africa” and an AAMEN signature
T-shirt.
Volume 3. Issue 1
Page 11
Native American Ministry Workshop (continued from Page 9)
Finally, participants visited Kituwah, the mother home of the Tsalagi where one may still see the remains of an ancient burial mound. Sitting upon the mound itself they heard the stories of the early Cherokee, and then walked to the nearby river where they took part in a water ceremony and blessing led by Freeman Owle, a Cherokee elder. Again the Catholic participants were reminded of coming to water in the river
for baptism and a renewal of baptismal vows with the sprinkling of water with fresh boughs.
The week was punctuated by Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cherokee, and the
Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoon. The church, built in the shape of a Tsalagi round house, boasts a
large stained glass window and tile images of each of the Cherokee clans on the floor.
Throughout the week, the participants were treated to community meals provided by the generosity
of the Cherokee women. River trout, fry bread tacos, and brown bean bread were in abundance, and it was
difficult to go to bed hungry. But even more fulfilling was the chatter of the Cherokee community itself, as
those who brought the meals stayed and shared both food and conversation. As Edgemon-Walker explained,
the Tsalagi are healed when they share who they are openly and freely. They have the “empowerment to be
who we are as Indigenous, both spiritually, and culturally.”
What’s
Coming
Up?!