11/03/2026
November is Black Catholic History Month, a time to recognize the faith, contributions, and enduring witness of Black Catholics throughout the Church's history.
Black Catholics have helped shape the Church in the United States through education, religious life, parish leadership, charitable service, and the perseverance of communities that remained faithful even in the face of discrimination. Among these witnesses are the seven African American Catholics whose causes for sainthood are underway, including Venerable Henriette Delille, who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans in 1842 to serve people in need.
As we observe this month, may we grow in our appreciation for the rich history of Black Catholic life and the many ways the universal Church is strengthened by the gifts of all her members.
Learn more here: https://www.usccb.org/committees/african-american-affairs/black-catholic-history-month
image: Venerable Henriette Delille, ca. 1855–1860. Courtesy of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Public domain in the United States.
