Hundreds of students from across the archdiocese gather for the 48th Annual African American Heritage Prayer Service for Black History Month at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 20, 2026. The prayer service brings together students, educators and clergy from Catholic elementary and high schools to share in honoring the rich history of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Over 100 student leaders served as singers, praise dancers, altar servers, lectors and banner bearers. The theme of the prayer service this year was “One Family in Christ: Called to Welcome and Serve.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of a combined choir from several schools sing during the opening of the prayer service. Hundreds of students from across the archdiocese gather for the 48th Annual African American Heritage Prayer Service for Black History Month at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 20, 2026. The prayer service brings together students, educators and clergy from Catholic elementary and high schools to share in honoring the rich history of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Over 100 student leaders served as singers, praise dancers, altar servers, lectors and banner bearers. The theme of the prayer service this year was “One Family in Christ: Called to Welcome and Serve.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Liturgical dancers from the Academy of St. Benedict the African lead a procession of banners from area schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from St. Francis de Sales High School lead students in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Followed by students from St. Philip Neri, students from St. Ignatius College Prep carry their banner in the opening procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from St. Ethelreda School carry their banner in the opening procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from the Academy of St. Benedict the African clap during the opening procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Deacon LeRoy Gill Jr. proclaims the Gospel during the prayer service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Paulist Father Steven Bell gives the homily during the service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
High School students from Regina Dominican react to the homily. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Dushawn Dew and Ralph Haralson, students at DePaul College Prep, read an excerpt from the 1853 will of Venerable Pierre Toussaint. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Surrounded by images of African Americans on the road to sainthood, praise dancers from St. Philip Neri School perform. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Greg Richmond, superintendent of Catholic schools, addresses students and others about to receive awards. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Rainey Reese, a first-year student at Princeton University and a 2025 graduate of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, offers words of encouragement to students. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students pray over this year’s award winners for excellence, leadership and service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from Children of Peace School sign the Lord’s Prayer. Children of Peace School is the only Catholic school in Chicago that integrates deaf/hard-of-hearing students with hearing peers. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Surrounded by students, Bell gives the final blessing during the service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Music Director Tyrone Pittman gestures to the congregation to join in singing “Oh, Happy Day.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from St. Ignatius College Prep clap during the final song. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
