The Rev. Silvester Mtasa is a priest of the Diocese of Dedza, Malawi, currently completing a license at the Gregorian University of Rome; the Rev. Chukwuma Odigwe is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., in the USA and also completing a license at the Gregorian University; the Very Rev. Claude Williams, O.Praem. Is a priest of the St. Michael’s Abbey in the Diocese of Orange, California in the USA and serves as rector of Collegio San Norberto in Rome.

By the NBCC Editorial Staff 

On April 24, 2026, the global Catholic community paused to honor a monumental milestone in the history of the Black Catholic Apostolate: the 140th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Venerable Augustus Tolton. From the heart of the Midwest to the ancient streets of the Eternal City, devotees gathered to celebrate the man who escaped slavery to become the first publicly recognized African American Roman Catholic priest. While his journey began in the face of deep-seated racial rejection in the United States, his legacy continues to heal divisions and inspire a new generation of clergy and laity alike. Read more…