Noteworthy Black Catholics
Beacons of our faith
Discover the stories of Black Catholic saints, heroic examples of holiness to the world around them.
Click on each image to learn more about these men and women whose legacy lives on today.
CURRENTLY ACTIVE BISHOPS
Most Reverend Roy Edward Campbell, Jr.
Most Reverend Shelton Fabre
Most Reverend Jerome Feudjio
His Eminence, Wilton Cardinal Gregory
Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS
Haitian Bishop
RETIRED BISHOPS
Most Reverend Gordon D. Bennett, SJ
Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Most Reverend Curtis Guillory, SVD
Most Reverend Martin D. Holley
Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry
Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ
Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, SVD
DECEASED BISHOPS
Most Reverend Moses B. Anderson, SSE
Most Reverend Dominic Carmon, SVD
Most Reverend Fernand Cheri III, OFM
Most Reverend Carl Fisher, SSJ
Most Reverend Joseph Francis, SVD
Most Reverend Joseph Howze
Most Reverend James P. Lyke, OFM
Most Reverend Eugene A. Marino, SSJ
Most Reverend Emerson Moore
Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ
Most Reverend Leonard Olivier , SVD
Most Reverend Harold Perry, SVD
Most Reverend Guy Sansaricq,
Haitian Bishop
Most Reverend Elliott G. Thomas
BLACK CATHOLICS ON THE CANONIZATION JOURNEY
Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman
Click the image to read about Sister Thea Bowman.
Venerable Henriette Delille
Click the image to read about Mother Henriette Delille.
Venerable Pierre Toussaint
Click the image to read about Pierre Toussaint.
Venerable Mother Mary Lange
Click the image to read about Mother Mary Lange.
Venerable Father Augustus Tolton
Click the image to read about Fr. Augustus Tolton.
Servant of God Julia Greeley
Click the image to read about Julia Greeley.
BECOMING A SAINT
We are all called to be saints, but what is the process used by the Catholic Church to canonize Holy men and women as saints?
Read about it here.
BLACK AND AFRICAN SAINTS AND MARTYRS
St. Anthony the Great
January 17
Fr Antonio Vieira
Not canonized
St. Augustine
August 28
St Benedict the Moor
April 4
St Bessarion
June 17
Sts Felicity & Perpetua
March 7
St Josephine Bakhita
February 8
St Katherine Drexel
March 3
St Martin de Porres
November 3
St Monica
August 27
St Moses the Black
August 28
St Peter Claver
September 9
Sts Valentine & Dubatatius
November 17
St Victoria
February 12
BLACK AND AFRICAN popes
Pope Victor I
July 28
Pope Militades
December 10
Pope Gelasius
November 21
The Canonization Process In Four Steps
Servant of God
A cause is presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and it is accepted.
Venerable
After the cause is approved, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declares that the person has lived the Christian virtues heroically.
Blessed
The Congregation recognizes that the person is in Heaven. This requires that a miracle has taken place through the intercession of that person. In most cases, the miracle is a healing.
Saint
After beatification, a second miracle is needed to declare someone a saint. After this, the Pope summons all the Cardinals of the Church and the date for the Canonization Ceremony of the saint is determined.
Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary
Our Timeline
Black Catholic History
Learn more about the history of Black Catholics and influential figures by following our timeline from colonial settlements to the present day.
Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary