25th Anniversary "Brothers and Sisters to Us"
U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statement on Racism
November, 1979-November, 2004
 Twenty
five years ago the U.S. Catholic bishops approved "Brothers and Sisters
to Us" a pastoral statement on racism. The theme for this year's
anniversary is "Looking Back, Pressing Forward, Seeing Today's
Realities."
The 25th Anniversary events and programs
officially opened at the November 2004 General Meeting of the U.S.
Bishops. The Bishops' Committee on African American Catholics and the
Secretariat for African American Catholics hosted a breakfast forum in
commemoration of the 25th Anniversary to share with the U.S. bishops the
research findings of a survey on the implementation of the pastoral
statement. In addition, the opening Mass of the Bishops' November
plenary was dedicated to celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the
pastoral statement.
During the 2004-2005 calendar years, the
Secretariat for African American Catholics is encouraging dioceses,
national organizations and parishes to host activities to celebrate this
milestone year and continue to educate and discuss the effects of racism
in the present day.
Here are some special activities during the
anniversary year:
In conjunction with the Year of the
Eucharist, the Department of Black Catholic, Ethnic and Community in the
Diocese of Pittsburgh will be hosting a special anniversary Mass. They
have also developed an education packet, "One Bread, One Body: The 25th
Commemoration of Brothers and Sisters to Us."
Catholic organizations such as Pax Christi
and the Jesuit Conference Social and International Ministries devoted
the winter edition of their newsletter to reflections on the 25th
Anniversary.
For more information about the 25th
Anniversary of Brothers and Sisters to Us check out the Secretariat for
African American Catholics website at
www.usccb.org/saac.
Catholic organizations such as Pax Christi
and the Jesuit Conference Social and International Ministries devoted
the winter edition of their newsletter to reflections on the 25th
Anniversary.
For more information about the 25th
Anniversary of Brothers and Sisters to Us check out the Secretariat for
African American Catholics website at
www.usccb.org/saac.
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