History of the Black Catholic Congress

The first Black Catholic Congress was in Washington, D.C., January 14, 1889.

Pope Leo XIII sent a cablegram with his blessings. Two hundred delegates met with President Grover Cleveland. The first recognized priest of African descent, Rev. Augustus Tolton, celebrated High Mass. These men of great faith were not only concerned for the plight of Blacks in America, but issued a resolution to the men and women of Ireland; "We express our sympathy with our brethren of Emerald Isle, who like ourselves are struggling for justice."

The second Black Catholic Congress was in Philadelphia, PA, July 5-7, 1892.

A committee was formed to draw up a constitution for a permanent organization. It is recorded that the Congress supported the provisions of the Brussels Treaty against the slave trade in Africa.

The third Black Catholic Congress was in Philadelphia, PA, July 5-7, 1892.

A committee was formed to draw up a constitution for a permanent organization. It is recorded that the Congress supported the provisions of the Brussels Treaty against the slave trade in Africa.

The fourth Black Catholic Congress was in Chicago, IL, September 4-8, 1893.

The newly created Peter Claver Catholic Union was approved. The Congress concludes with a mass meeting attended by five thousand people.

The fifth Black Catholic Congress was in Baltimore, MD, October 8-11, 1894.

Dr. William Lofton, President of the Congress stated, "We hope to hail the day…when the American people, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and the laity shall rise up in their might and stamp out the prejudice which is today destroying the life's blood of the country." After the fifth National Black Catholic Congress in Baltimore, these forums came to an abrupt end.

The sixth National Black Catholic Congress was May 21-24, 1987 in Washington, D.C.,

It was here that The National Pastoral Plan for Black Catholics was developed. The Black Catholic Movement had been dormant for ninety-eight years.

The seventh National Black Catholic Congress was in New Orleans, LA, July 9-12, 1992.

Delegates passed Resolutions at Congress VII supporting the Public Policy Statements in areas of National Family Policy, Medicaid, Universal Health Care and Welfare Reform and eleven Pastoral Statements pertaining to the African-American Family.

The eighth Congress was August 28-31, 1997 in Baltimore, MD.

Three thousand participants were challenged to bear the responsibility of sharing our faith. Our Mother of Africa Chapel was dedicated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

The ninth National Black Catholic Congress was 2002 in Chicago, IL.