Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2002

The NBCC Congress IX Pastoral Plan of Action

During Congress IX in Chicago, Illinois, attendees reached consensus on a prioritized action plan for one, three and five years for the eight declaration of principles on Spirituality, Parish Life, Youth and Young Adults, Catholic Education, Social Justice, Racism, African and HIV/AIDS. The following prioritized action plan is as follows.

PRINCIPLE: SPIRITUALITY

Within a Year to Plant the Seed

• Identify and incorporate cultural symbols, language and experiences in parish liturgies.
• Initiate parish based Scripture study programs from an Africentric perspective for all age groups.
• Promote and support the interest and response of Black women and men desiring to dedicate their lives to various aspects of Church ministry.

Within Three Years to Nurture Growth

• Develop parish and arch/diocesan lecture series or seminars that teach about the contributions and history of Black Catholics in the Church.

Within Three Years to Nurture Growth

• Create/establish a National Black Research Institute (in partnership with the National Black Catholic Congress and other national organizations of Black Catholic leadership) to:
  
  • identify resources and maintain a current national database of resource speakers, facilitators, teachers, and other experts who can be called upon to assist parishes and dioceses in ministerial development and program implementation for peoples of African descent.
    
  • commission the publication of a well-researched and inspirational manual on the lives of Black Saints.
    
  • collect and disseminate information on Black Catholic interests and concerns (spirituality, canonizations, social and cultural demographics, poverty, etc.).

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