Monday Message, November 3, 2025
KNOW
We have a Parish Leader Check-In tomorrow. The link is here.
Catechist Retreats are this Saturday and Sunday for Spanish catechists. Thanks to Deacon Ed for arranging the details. We look forward to hosting Katherine Angulo. English retreats are in February. Please let your catechists know to save the dates. No costs. Lots of gifts.
Please spread the word about the Bishop’s Lecture Series, which is scheduled to take place later this month. The flyer is here.
Pam Rittman with the Bishop’s Appeal – from which we all benefit – is looking for a catechist or parish catechetical leader to answer a few questions, which can be found here. If you can help, please email Pam directly.
To track your catechists in Catechists 2.0, go to LEAD, then My Learners, then filter by Groups, and choose Catechist 2.0. From there, you can add additional filters to see whether people are authorized to serve (have completed formation and are VIRTUS-compliant) or if they need a gentle reminder. If you have people who are teaching and are not yet enrolled in formation (you shouldn’t be), please share this link with them.
All Advent resources are now online, including the digital calendar image for you to print if you missed your share of the 10,000 we printed. Click here for details.
The Bishop will meet with more parents this week. Have you spread the word? So far, more than 300 parents have engaged with the bishop.
Want to learn more about Dilexi te, the new apostolic exhortation by Pope Leo? Look no further than right here.
You may have noticed that in recent issues of What’s Next? we have begun including information about what is new in LEAD, as well as a section called “Managing the Middle” with tips for parents of older adolescents. If you have missed any of those, you can see the library of newsletters here.
REVIEW
On July 24, 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as Black Catholic History Month to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics. Two commemorative dates fall within this month: Saint Augustine’s Birthday (November 13) and Saint Martin de Porres’ Feast Day (November 3). More importantly, November not only marks a time when we pray for all saints and souls in loving remembrance, but also a time to recall the saints and souls of Africa and the African Diaspora.
Some people forget that Christianity did not originate in Europe and even express surprise when they learn that Black Catholic History began in the Acts of the Apostles (8: 26-40) with the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Philip the Deacon. This text is essential for several reasons. First, it chronicles the conversion of the first Black African in recorded Christian history. Second, the text suggests that the man was a wealthy, literate, and powerful emissary of the Nubian Queen, as well as a faithful, practicing Jew, before his baptism. Clearly, he was not an ignorant heathen. Third, the Ethiopian Eunuch’s conversion predates the conversions of Saints Paul and Cornelius. Most significantly, many cite this conversion as the moment when the church transitioned from a Hebrew and Hellenistic community to the truly universal and Catholic Church.
Black Catholics trace their faith history back to Christian antiquity, long before other nations heard the “Good News.” Christian Africa was indeed a “leading light” in early Christendom. Black Catholics point to three popes who were born in Africa: Saints Victor I, Melchiades, and Gelasius I. All three shepherded the early church through its most challenging and tumultuous times in history. Black Catholics claim many Black Saints, like Saints Cyprian, Zeno, Anthony of Egypt, Moses the Black, Pachomius, Maurice, Athanasius, Pisentius, Mary of Egypt, Cyril of Alexandria, Monica of Hippo, Augustine of Hippo, Perpetua, Felicitas, and Thecla. Some of these mystics, monastics, and martyrs have literally shaped the church into what it is today.
Black Catholic History Month provides an opportunity to learn about and share the rich heritage of our Catholic faith. Ubi Victoria Veritas! The Victory of Truth!
For more details, please visit the Institute’s site, which we should have updated by this morning.
LAUGH
