"The National Black Sisters' Conference Then & Now"
By Sr. Donna Banfield
 The National Black Sisters' conference was founded in 1968. A young black woman in temporary vows, Sister Martin dePorres Grey, RSM was intrigued by the fact that the black Roman Catholic clergy had organized themselves and were meeting to discern how they could address the needs of the black catholic community.
She felt compelled to do the same for the black religious women in the United States. This historic meeting of black catholic women religious came about with the support of the superior general of the Sisters of Mercy and the Bishop of the Pittsburgh diocese and took place at what was then Carlow College.
The impact of this meeting is summed up in the words of some of the participants:
"It was a sight to see for the first time so many BLACK women in habits all in one place. There was joy, excitement and energy. We were on fire with zeal to help our people and to eradicate the sin of racism from the Church…
"It was at the conference that I learned to appreciate myself as a black catholic religious woman. It was there that I was educated and updated. I also realized the why of my purpose, identity and direction as it related to me and my people"
"Our 1968 meeting was like a big "Wow", there were so many of us-I never knew it before this gathering. A feeling of LORD, it is good for us to be here."
and another…
"There are no "pat" answers. Just saturate yourselves in all this blackness. When the time comes for you to act, you will know what to do"
Sister Martin saw this meeting as simply a one-time event. The goal was to meet and to network. It would enable black sisters to impact a change in the various communities in which they served. The Holy Spirit guided this meeting to become the formation of the National Black Sisters' Conference.
In the early 70's it was felt that the NBSC's primary concern was how to maintain Catholic Education in the black community. This was the organization's goal: to plan and design programs to impact the education of our people.
Today, while much has changed within the black community and the world the need is the same…EDUCATION! Education is our focus, in the classroom, in our churches, the family, and our society as a whole.
The NBSC members strive to make a difference through the program committees: Education in the African American Community, Black Women's Project, and Formation.
Today our organization mirrors religious congregations. The members are older and not able to be as active as they once were. We need our youth to invigorate us with their energy, ideas, and skills.
We continue to pray and to listen to the Spirit which moves among and within us, so that we may discern how best the National Black Sisters' Conference will be of service in the 2000's.
Sr. Donna is a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament and presently serves as President of the National Black Sisters' Conference. She ministers in New York City at St. Charles Borromeo School as a primary grade teacher.
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