“Ours Is An Altar and a Pulpit!”
Bishop Joseph Perry
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World AIDS Day
December 1, 2006
In 2005, there were approximately 38.6 million people living with HIV and AIDS in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst affected region, with 24.5 million cases in adults (age 15+) and children.
World AIDS Day Prayer >>
International HIV/AIDS Facts >>
Catholic and AIDS Resources >>

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
OFFICE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE PRESENTS
AN ADVENT AFRICA SUMMIT
Special guest speaker NICK CLOONEY
The Office for Peace and Justice presents AN ADVENT AFRICA SUMMIT
at St. Dorothy School on Saturday, December 9th from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.
flier / registration form >>

Global Poverty Resources for Advent
Those living in impoverished developing countries are more than just income poor—their lives, health, and well-being are all negatively impacted by poverty.
Opportunities for Action >>

A Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty: Trade* Aid* Debt
Overview >>
Global Poverty Fact Sheet >>

Kwanzaa
A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture
Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday, which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from December 26 thru January 1, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phase “matunda ya Kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.
more >> call to worship >>

International Day for Elimination of Violence
Against Women
November 25, 2006
" Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture, or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development, and peace." - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, 1999
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World Food Day
October 16, 2006
The world food question deals with problems around worldwide food security. Over 800 million people around the world do not get enough food and almost two billion people have a daily struggle for food.
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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
October 17, 2006
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty reflects the growing commitment to help the poor worldwide to meet their needs. This year’s theme is “Working Together Out of Poverty. Recognizing that, at present, almost half the world’s six billion people live on an income of $2 a day or less, and 2.8 billion people live on $1 a day or less, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 47/196 in 1992 recognizing that increased public awareness was necessary if poverty eradication in all countries was to be achieved. To meet that end, October 17 was declared the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The first worldwide observance of the day took place in 1993.
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Ninth Annual National Black Catholic Vigil for Life
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Help build a world where human life is always loved and defended, every form of violence banished.
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Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day
MAKE GOOD HEALTH A PRIORITY!
9/12/06
Extensive research has proven that the African American population has higher risk factors for many of the major chronic diseases such as AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and Breast Cancer. In an effort to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities, September 19, 2006 has been designated a day in which we will promote a greater understanding of the importance of regular health screening and target those populations that have minimum if any access to health care.
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Ninth Annual National Black Catholic Vigil for Life
Saturday, September 30, 2006
9/12/06
Help build a world where human life is always loved and defended, every form of violence banished.
more >>

A Collection for the Church In Africa
Bishop Joseph Perry
For several years now the bishops of the United States have batted around the idea of having a national collection for the Church in Africa similar to the support of American Catholics have given to the Black and Indian Missions Collection and the collection for the Church in Eastern Europe.
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"No Ways Tired" - Black Catholic Revival
The Black Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Chicago in collaboration with MISSION CHICAGO invites everyone to a three-night revival that includes Spirit-filled praise and worship at Old St. Mary's Church, 1500 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, September 26-28 at 7 p.m. The revival will include featured speakers each evening, the Nia Imani Youth Gospel Choir and the Holy Family Gospel Choir, St. Sabina Spirit of David Dance Ministry and the Holy Name of Mary Liturgical Dancers.
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Conflict in Katanga
Katanga, the southeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been affected by conflict between the government and local Mai Mai militias for more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands of Congolese have been left homeless by the fighting in this region, about the size of France, and more than 200,000 additional people have been displaced since November alone. Mostly farmers from rural communities, this group includes men, women and children who left to escape the fighting between government troops and local militias.
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Evangelization In the Black Community: Some Thoughts
Bishop Joseph Perry
Evangelization, that is, bringing others to knowledge and faith in Christ, is not just about numbers to help fill our churches. Evangelization is about the wonderful experience of discovering the few who hand their lives over to Christ. Given that Christian faith in these times is represented by any number of traditions this will mean reaching out to others and offering them the richness of faith in Christ in our Catholic tradition.
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National HIV Testing Day
June 27 th
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National African American Catholic HIV/AIDS Task Force
Did you know?
Half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. are believed to occur in people under the age of 25.
An estimated 180,000-280,000 people in the United States are HIV positive and don’t even know it. (Source: Center for Disease Control)
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Raise Your Voice for the People of Darfur
“The crisis in Darfur must be ended. We cannot stand idly by while human life is threatened. The United States and the international community can and must do more to end this moral and humanitarian crisis,” says Bishop Ricard in a call to action on behalf of the bishops in September 2005.
While the U.S. Catholic bishops are pleased with the House of Representatives approval of the “Darfur Peace and Accountability Act” (H.R. 3127) more work is needed.
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June is Abortion and All Acts of Violence Awareness Month in the African American Community
“Black Catholics choose life and help others choose life,” stated Father Jim Goode, OFM, President of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, as he announce the fourth annual “June is Abortion and All Acts of Violence Awareness Month 2006, in the African American community. The theme this year is: Jesus the Giver of Life- Make Us People for Life.
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Solidarity Visit to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Bishop Joseph Perry
Easter week, April 17-21, I was part of a group of thirty-two black Catholic leaders from around the country, clergy, religious and laity, including Pax Christi and officials of Catholic Charities USA, and heads of offices of black Catholic ministry in dioceses around the country, to visit the Hurricane ravaged areas of New Orleans and the Mississippi coastline and Xavier University.
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Lent - "I am the Potter… you are the clay!" - Jeremiah 18
Bishop Joseph Perry
The famous chapter 18 of the book of Jeremiah of the Old Testament recounts the allegory of the potter’s vessel. Jeremiah is instructed to rise and go down to the house of the potter and wait for the word of the Lord.
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St. Martin de Porres
November 3 rd

World Food Day
October 16, 2005 or
Any Sunday between October 16 and Thanksgiving

African American History Facts

Celebrate Black History Month

African American History Facts from the U.S. Census Bureau

Catholic Relief Services’
Kibera Slums Peace Building Project
By Adrienne Curry, CRS Archdiocesan Director