From the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, giving the Church in this country a new diplomatic representative at an important moment in its life.
The appointment was announced March 7. Archbishop Caccia, 68, succeeds Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who has served in the role since 2016.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Rev. William Norvel, SSJ. Father Norvel went to be with the Lord on Sunday March 8, 2026.
Father Norvel was a faithful Josephite priest, pastor, teacher, author, and liturgical leader whose ministry spanned more than five decades. Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1965 and dedicated his life to serving Black Catholic communities across the United States.
In 2011, Father Norvel made history when he was elected the 13th Superior General of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, becoming the first African American to lead the Josephites and the first Black man to head a Catholic religious community of priests in the United States.
Throughout his priesthood, Father Norvel was widely known for his leadership during the Black Catholic Movement, helping to foster the incorporation of Black spiritual traditions within Catholic worship. He traveled the country helping establish gospel choirs in African American Catholic parishes and contributed to the landmark hymnal Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal.
His ministry also extended internationally, where he helped establish a Josephite house of formation in Nigeria, strengthening vocations that continue to support the Josephite mission today.
We give thanks to Almighty God for Father Norvel’s life of priestly service, his courageous witness in the struggle for dignity and inclusion within the Church, and his steadfast commitment to the Josephite mission.
“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”
Washington, DC
March 18, 2026
Viewing: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
1600 Morris Rd SE
Washington, DC 20020
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Burial will follow at Gabriel Cemetery, located next to the parish
Donations may be made in Father Norvel’s honor to support the continuing mission of the Josephites and the apostolate he faithfully shepherded and loved. Give Here.
Written by Simone Orendain | OSV News
(OSV News) — Some small farmers in the country’s impoverished Black Belt are poised to see significant returns after getting help from a fledgling Catholic farming aid and grant program in central Alabama.
The money the 19 farmers received March 1 that was distributed from a $78,000 gift has gone toward farming supplies including seeds, piping for irrigation and cold storage, according to Olandous Curry, senior agriculture director at the Edmundite Missions.
Throughout his life, he received 22 honorary degrees, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Longtime Xavier University President and civil rights pioneer Dr. Norman C. Francis is lying in state Monday at the university ahead of his funeral.
Francis died at age 94.
As we come to the close of Black History Month, we give thanks to God for the enduring faith, witness, and prophetic leadership of Black Catholics and of Black and Brown communities across our nation. As Josephites, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is not rooted in trends or politics, it is rooted in the Gospel. It is rooted in the Incarnation. It is rooted in the truth that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.
Our apostolate has always stood at the intersection of faith and justice. To celebrate diversity is to celebrate the creativity of God. To stand up for justice is to participate in God’s ongoing work of liberation. Black History Month reminds us that the story of the Church in the United States cannot be told without the prophetic lives, sacrificial love, and resilient faith of Black Americans.
Read more by clicking here: https://mailchi.mp/6497dfb30ead/partner-with-us-in-mission-help-us-build-the-future-of-black-catholic-ministry-17454218?e=167f1d00e4