Tenth National Black Catholic Congress
Welcoming Ceremony Address
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo, New York
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In the eternal now of God, God is. "[Jesus said,] 'I am the vine. . .'" Because God is, we learn whom God has made us to be and what God has given us the power to do. "[Jesus said,] '. . . and you are the branches.'" So I cannot be ashamed of the gift of my Catholic Christian and African heritage. Congress gives voice to our desire to be "authentically black and truly Catholic" (Black Bishops of the United States of America, What We Have Seen and Heard, 1984). You may not see a lot of Black Catholics in your region, but now the Lord has blessed you to see Black Catholics coming from the north, south, east, and west. There is also a connection with hundreds of millions of Catholics of African descent around the globe - and Catholics of every ethnicity.
This Congress also invites us to respond to the
power of God in the sacraments. The sacraments are able to accomplish what they signify because they were established by Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1131). Whether it will bear fruit in our lives depends upon our willingness to cooperate with God (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1134). Jesus said, "'Whoever remains in me and I in him [or her] will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing'" (John 15:5b).
The enemy of our souls wants to distract us from deepening our understanding of the sacramental life. If we can believe that we can grow as disciples without it, then we will be busy about a flurry of activity, but in the end, almost nothing that lasts will be accomplished.
The Official United States Catholic Directory of 2006 noted the disturbing trend of a rise in Catholic population but a decline in the reception of the sacraments, notably Baptism, First Communion, and Marriage ("U.S. Catholic population up, most other church data down,"
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20060630.htm). For such a time as this, let the National Black Catholic Congress be a source of grace in which God will start a nationwide revival of sacramental catechesis and reception among all Catholics in the United States.
This Congress also invites us to respond to the gift of Christ in the sacraments by offering
praise to God. Baptism has something to say about developing a proper sense of spirituality. Confirmation reminds us that we have been anointed by the Holy Spirit to offer prophetic witness to advocate for social justice and to sustain Catholic education in our communities and to advocate for social justice. The Eucharist is at the center of parish life. Reconciliation has something to contribute to the process of eradicating racism. Anointing of the Sick teaches us how to provide a compassionate response to people suffering from H.I.V. and/or A.I.D.S., in addition to their families, friends, and caregivers. The Sacraments of Vocation (i.e., Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders) speaks to our youth and young adults. Congress rejoices in the fruitful expressions of the work of the ministry because God is gloried in them.
The work continues. God knows all about us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows about those times in which we have been faithful and other times in which we have failed. Yet Christ trusts us to communicate His message. He invites us to trust that He will give us the capacity to do what He commands. God gives us the gift of Himself in lasting friendship. Jesus said, "'By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.'"
Our God is resolved to redeem us from the power of sin and death. As His beloved children, nourished by divine grace in the sacramental life, we are resolved to be redeemed. May all of those who agree with this consensus say with me, "Amen!" and "Thank God!"
Rev. Raymond Lee Harris, Jr., St. Paul College , 3015 Fourth Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017. All rights reserved, 2007.
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