By JULIA DeJAK | Catholic Herald

Thelma Lucas, 82, was raised by a Catholic father and a Baptist mother. She loved the liturgy of the Mass, but also enjoyed the music and welcoming environment of the Baptist church.

On the cusp of Vatican II, Lucas converted to the Catholic faith and became a longtime voice for Black Catholics across the Arlington diocese and beyond. “I consider it a blessing from God to have lived this long and still be able to contribute something to the community,” she said.