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The historic St. Peter Claver Center for
Evangelization in Philadelphia held a special "Red Carpet Reception" to honor
the local archdiocese's African American priests. This took place in grand style
at the South Philadelphia historical facility recently.
Pictured are (from left) Rev. Stephen D. Thorne, pastor of
St. Therese in Mount Airy and director of the Office for Black Catholics;
Rev Msgr. Frederico Britto, founding pastor of St. Cyprian in West Philadelphia;
Rev. Msgr. David H. Benz, senior pastor and parochial vicar of St. John the
Evangelist in Morrisville; and Rev. Anthony M. Bozeman, a former Philadelphia
priest who is now pastor of the St. Joan of Arc Church in New Orleans. Stepping onto the red carpet that extended from the
sanctuary foyer to the sidewalk were four pastors. Rev. Stephen D. Thorne, Rev.
Monsignor Frederick A. Britto, Rev. Monsignor David H. Benz, and Rev. Anthony M.
Bozeman a former Philadelphia priest who is now pastor of an Uptown New Orleans,
Louisiana parish. Also honored, but not present, were Rev. Rayford E. Emmons and
Rev. Monsignor Albert V. Norrell.
The theme of the Red Carpet Reception was, "The Gift
of Vocations." It was a celebration of the fact that those honored has given the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia a combined 131 years of service. It was funded in
part by the Martin de Porres Foundation.
"This is truly a celebration," said Carolyn C.
Jenkins, the former executive director of the St. Peter Claver Center. She has
recently been appointed the executive director of the Office for Black Catholics
in Camden. She is a member of the St. Raymond of Penafort parish in Mount Airy.
"We know of the Ethiopian eunuch and that there were
black popes," continued Jenkins. "What we may not know is that in 1854 James
Healy was the first black priest in the U. S., but felt he could not serve so
that Augustine Tolton was the first ordained black priest who served. It was 88
years later before we had an African American graduate from St. Charles Borromeo
and became the first black to be ordained in the Philadelphia archdiocese. It's
been a struggle, so that's why we are honoring our African American priests."
The program opened with a welcome from J. Keith
White, executive director of the Peter Claver Center and coordinator of the
program. White was assisted by the committee that included Joan Chisholm, Pat
Lorde, Carolyn C. Jenkins, Sherry Reid, Ethel Upchurch, and James Watson. The
center staff who also assisted in the program were Diane Nabried and Andre
Waddell, Sr.
The evening's invocation was delivered by Bro. Paul
Kupps, pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. One of the highlights of the
program was the "This is Your Life" segment. Friends and relatives of the
honorees gave oral snapshots of the award winners as they spoke from microphones
placed outside the view of the banquet room. While most awardees readily
discerned who the voice from afar was, Benz was dumbfounded. He later was
greeted by "Miss Lois," the child of his mother's co-worker who he had not seen
since his ordination in 1975.
After dinner there was a video presentation by James
Wartson of featuring each honoree. There were even baby and/or childhood
photographs of the award winners as Jenkins shared the highlights of their
ministry. Each priest was given and clear engraved geometrical award for their
years of service.
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