Diocese of Savannah: Office of Black Catholic Ministry

Diocese of Savannah: Office of Black Catholic Ministry Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Diocese of Savannah: Office of Black Catholic Ministry, Religious organisation, 2170 East Victory Drive, Savannah, GA.

The purpose of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry is to assist the Bishop in facilitating the participation of Black Catholics in South Georgia in the mission of the Church.

05/21/2026

Fr Darrell Kelly, a Divine Word priest who served at Black Catholic parishes in the South after a career in the military and in corrections, has died at 64 after a lengthy illness.

The Baptist convert served in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. https://www.blackcatholicmessenger.org/fr-darrell-kelly-svd-obit/

05/21/2026

A moment of grace in the Washington Archdiocese has produced two soon-to-be bishops who reflect the Church's desire for true diversity in leadership.

Dcn Tim Tilghman connects this to the Sunday readings and the long freedom struggle of Black Catholics. https://www.blackcatholicmessenger.org/ascension-2026-reflection/

05/05/2026

In a nation built on bo***ge, Black women built a sanctuary. In 1829, in Baltimore, Maryland—a slaveholding city bound by racial law and custom—four women of African descent committed an act of spiritual rebellion. Led by the brilliant Haitian-born educator Mother Mary Lange (born Elizabeth Lange), they founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence—the first successful Roman Catholic religious order created by and for Black women in the United States, and the world. Their vow was not just to God. It was to dignity, intellect, and freedom. Faith in the Face of Exclusion The early 19th-century Catholic Church in America was deeply segregated, reflecting the racial hierarchy of the nation itself. Black Catholics were pushed to the margins of parishes and almost entirely excluded from religious life. For Black women, the idea of becoming nuns—educated, vowed, autonomous—was considered unthinkable. There was no precedent. No institutional support. And plenty of resistance—from both church leaders and civil authorities who doubted the humanity, intellect, and spiritual capacity of Black women. The Oblate Sisters were founded anyway. Education as Sacred Resistance The sisters’ mission was born of urgent necessity: to educate Black children—free and enslaved—who were systematically denied schooling. Teaching Black children in a slave society was itself a dangerous act, one that challenged laws designed to keep Black people unlettered and controllable. They began teaching in their own convent, founding St. Frances Academy, which still stands today as the oldest continuously operating Black Catholic school in the United States. Their classrooms declared a radical truth: Black minds were worthy of cultivation. Black children deserved futures. And faith demanded justice. Survival Through Sacrifice The early years were marked by poverty and scrutiny. The sisters endured suspicion from white clergy, hostility from the broader society, and the ever-present danger of slave codes that criminalized Black advancement. To survive, they took in sewing and laundry. To endure, they prayed. To resist, they taught. Their very existence contradicted the lie that holiness, leadership, or intellect belonged to whiteness. A Legacy That Still Breathes For nearly two centuries, the Oblate Sisters of Providence have adapted to the needs of the times—serving as educators, nurses, and social servants. They cared for the sick during cholera epidemics, founded orphanages, and educated generations of Black leaders who carried their values into the world. They did not merely serve the Church. They reshaped it from within. Why Their Story Matters The Oblate Sisters of Providence stand at the crossroads of Black history, Black womanhood, and Black faith. They created sacred space where none was offered—building autonomy, dignity, and community in a society determined to deny them all three. Their story reminds us that liberation does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes it kneels. Sometimes it teaches. Sometimes it wears a habit—and refuses to disappear. The Oblate Sisters didn’t wait to be welcomed. They founded themselves at the heart of history.

05/04/2026

The Catholic Church is truly universal—a beautiful reflection of God's diverse family from every nation, tribe, and people. Today, let's honor some inspiring Black saints whose lives of faith, courage, and love continue to show us the richness of holiness across all cultures and backgrounds. 🙏🏾

🔸 St. Benedict the Moor (1526–1589)

Born to African parents in Sicily, this humble Franciscan friar lived a life of deep prayer, charity, and service. Despite facing prejudice, he rose to become a respected spiritual leader and superior in his community, known for his holiness, miracles, and care for the poor.

His great impact: He became a major patron of African missions and racial justice. His life inspired generations of missionaries and served as a powerful symbol of Black holiness and equality in the Church, helping break racial barriers in religious life long before the modern civil rights movement.

🔸 St. Martin de Porres (1579–1639)

The first Black saint of the Americas, born in Peru to a Spanish father and Black mother. As a Dominican brother, he devoted himself to the sick, poor, and outcast, becoming a champion of compassion and racial harmony. He is often shown with a broom, symbolizing humble service.

His great impact: He founded orphanages, hospitals, and shelters, revolutionizing charity in colonial Peru. Today he is the global patron of social justice, in*******al harmony, racial healing, and care for the marginalized.

🔸 St. Josephine Bakhita (c. 1869–1947)

Kidnapped and enslaved in Sudan, she endured great suffering before finding freedom in Christ. As a Canossian Sister in Italy, her joyful faith and forgiveness deeply touched all who knew her.

Her great impact: She is a powerful symbol of hope for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. Her story raised awareness of the slave trade and continues to inspire anti-slavery efforts, resilience, and forgiveness worldwide. She is patron of Sudan and trafficking victims.

🔸 St. Moses the Black (c. 330–405)

A former robber and warrior from Nubia who converted dramatically and became one of the great Desert Fathers in Egypt. His wisdom, repentance, and spiritual depth influenced many monks.

His great impact: He helped shape early Christian monasticism, which preserved learning, spirituality, and charity through the Middle Ages. His teachings on humility, mercy, and spiritual warfare remain central to Christian life today, proving no past is beyond God’s redeeming grace.

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These holy men and women remind us that sainthood isn't limited by race, origin, or circumstances — the Church is stronger and more vibrant because of its beautiful diversity!

Every culture brings unique gifts to our shared faith in Christ.

How does their witness speak to you? Let's celebrate the unity we find in our diversity. 💛 Share your favorite saint or story below!

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2170 East Victory Drive
Savannah, GA
31404

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+19122014077

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