"Evangelization is the heart of our faith. Evangelization has no color. Our job is to bring people to Christ."
-- Fr. Wayne Payssee, Executive Director, Black & Indian Mission
People experience Christ through their generational, gender, and cultural experiences. Each of us has something embedded in us that attracts us to want to have a closer relationship with God, the Holy Spirit. When we evangelize, we assist those that are seeking Christ or have lost touch with Christ, with coming back into the church and staying in church. Just as each individual has their God-given gifts and talents that should be shared with the church community, so does each culture and sub culture. By sharing our gifts, we experience the fullness of Christ through scripture (word), liturgy (worship), the sacraments (community), and in others (service).
Mission of the Office for Black Catholics
The Office for Black Catholics fosters the rich diversity of the Black Catholic Community within the Diocese of Richmond. Its mission is to evangelize, enhance and celebrate the contributions of persons of African descent and the gifts they have to offer the Church and society. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Office for Black Catholics advocates for an increase in vocations, diverse leadership, equality in education, social justice, and pastoral ministries throughout the Church and the community. The office’s outreach is accomplished through the coordinated efforts of diocesan staff resources and dedicated volunteers.
Types of Activities and Events:
- Provides catecheses and formation
- Sponsors annual retreats for Black Catholics
- Black History Month celebrations in February
- Black Catholic History Month celebrations in November
- Supports Campus Ministry on historically Black campuses
- Adopted the National Black Catholic Congress pastoral plan
- Contributes in the process of appointments and reassignments of Black clergy
- Supports and encourages Catholic schools
- Partners with diocesan offices
Goals
- Increase the diversity of leadership roles in the parishes and diocesan wide
- Attract and retain Black Catholics in the diocese