Black Catholics ‘called to be’ Church

By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC

HOLLYWOOD | The nine recipients of this year’s St. Martin de Porres Award for Excellence, ranging in age from 18 to 90 years old, were “called to be” a part of their Church — and they responded.

“This year’s Black Catholic History Month theme, ‘We Are Called To Be,’ leads us to think of the different roles we all play in our faith communities,” said Katrenia Reeves-Jackman, director of the archdiocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministry, during a luncheon Nov. 21 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Hollywood.

Whether they are priests, lay ministers, lectors, altar servers, deacons, members of the altar guild, youth choir, or congregation, their service is vital, she said.

“There are three million black Catholics in the United States,” she said. “We must continue in the tradition that is uniquely ours. It doesn’t matter where you came from. We are all brothers and sisters when you look toward the motherland. We have a rich history which we must pass on to our young people.”

Donald Edwards, associate superintendent of archdiocesan schools and a member of the black Catholic ministry, said that more black children in the archdiocese should be attending Catholic schools.

“About 9.5 percent of the approximately 34,500 children enrolled in the archdiocesan schools are black,” said Edwards.

Richard Jean, 46, was one of the St. Martin de Porres award winners. Jean is the first Haitian principal of an archdiocesan high school, Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches. He praised his Catholic education in Miami in a speech he delivered at the luncheon.

“I arrived in Miami from Haiti with my mother and sister and two brothers when I was five years old,” Jean said. “My mother wanted us to have a Catholic education. We attended St. Mary’s Cathedral School and Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School. I received a basketball scholarship to Duquesne University and dreamt of playing in the NBA.”

However, God had different plans for Jean. Unable to make the NBA, he tried substitute teaching. He realized that education was his calling and attended Barry University where he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. He taught in Miami-Dade public schools for a few years.

“I realized I wanted to be in a Catholic environment,” he said.

After teaching at archdiocesan schools, he was appointed principal of McCarthy High in 2010.

“I felt that becoming principal was better than becoming president of the United States,” he said. “I was blessed that I went to schools that were culturally diverse. There were only a few black students, but I felt comfortable. The black student population is growing at our high school. A mixed multicultural environment is better for students.”

Reeves-Jackman received a St. Martin de Porres award and presented one to her mother, Esterlene Colebrook, 90, who has been active in the Church throughout her life. The mother of 11 children, she enrolled them in Holy Redeemer School in Liberty City in the 1950s and worked diligently to help build up the congregation. The school has since closed although the parish remains.

After moving to Bunche Park, her family became founding members of St. Philip Neri Church.

The other awardees included:

• Josephine Gilbert, past president of the Miami Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, who was recently elected to the Nominating Committee for the National Council of Catholic Women
• Rudolph Hudnell, who helped found the Office of Black Catholic Ministry in 1989. He is a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion at Holy Redeemer Church.  
• Sybil Andrew Wilson, who spearheaded the saving of St. Monica Church in Miami Gardens by means of a lot of fundraisers. She took part in the Contemporary Biblical Scholars curriculum at St. Thomas University and became the Bible study moderator at St. Monica. 
• N. Patrick Range, a prominent businessman. He runs Range Funeral Home, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the black community. His mother, Athalie Range, whom he calls his mentor and inspiration, was a well-known civil rights activist and community leader.
• Mathieu and Ginette Louis, dedicated volunteers in their parish, Holy Family in North Miami. They visit and pray with sick parishioners, counsel engaged couples, serve as commentators and lectors at Mass, and conduct Bible studies.
• Dave McFarlane, 18, the youngest awardee. He has always felt the need to be out of the pews and actively participating in his church, St. Helen in Fort Lauderdale. He has been an altar server and recruited and trained new altar servers. He joined the choir, became lead soloist, and is now choir director. He was so committed to both altar serving and the choir that there were times when he had to switch from robe to robe.

The Office of Black Catholics kicked off Black Catholic History Month with a Mass Nov. 7 at Holy Family. The Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor for canonical affairs and pastor of St. James in North Miami. He urged black Catholics to “give themselves away” in service to others.

The ministry ended the month with a Mass Nov. 29 at St. Anthony Church, Fort Lauderdale. That Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. You can read his homily here.