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Black Catholic Voices

The Catholic Standard's Black Catholic Voices series features videotaped interviews with local Black Catholics, beginning with Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who reflect on their journeys of faith, share their insights on combating racism, and say what gives them hope for the future.

In this series

Black Catholic Voices interview with Ogechi Akalegbere, 2021 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award recipient

(Ogechi Akalegbere, the Christian service coordinator at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland, received the 2021 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award on Nov....

Black Catholic Voices series: St. Margaret’s Gail Carter says for ‘any real change, we must be sitting at the table’

(Gail Carter, a longtime member of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Capitol Heights, Maryland, was interviewed for the Black Catholic Voices series on Feb. 10, 2021 at the...

Black Catholic Voices series: Stefanie Miles says her family and parish ‘have always set an example of walking in grace’

(Stefanie Miles, a young adult and a lifelong member of Incarnation Parish in Washington, D.C., was interviewed for the Black Catholic Voices series on Feb. 10, 2021 by Mark...

Black Catholic Voices: Reflecting on legacy of her historic parish, St. Augustine, Dena Grant says ‘they kept the faith’

(Dena Grant, a lifelong member of St. Augustine Parish in Washington, D.C., was interviewed for the Black Catholic Voices series on Jan. 12, 2021 by Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic...

Black Catholic Voices: The legacy inspiring St. Augustine pastor’s support of Catholic education and racial justice

(Father Patrick Smith, the pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Washington, D.C., was interviewed for the Black Catholic Voices series on Jan. 12, 2021 by Mark Zimmermann, the...

Black Catholic Voices interview: Gloria Purvis, longtime radio host, on why racial justice is a life issue

(Gloria Purvis, formerly the longtime host of the EWTN radio show “Morning Glory,” was interviewed for the Catholic Standard’s Black Catholic Voices series on Dec. 11, 202o at the...

Black Catholic Voices: Priest chaplain at Howard University says drawing on faith, learning history can foster racial understanding, healing

Father Robert Boxie III, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington who serves as the Catholic chaplain at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and is in residence at Immaculate...

Black Catholic Voices series: Sister Patricia Chappell on seeking solidarity and racial justice in society and Church

Sister Patricia Chappell, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, was interviewed as part of the Catholic Standard’s Black Catholic Voices series on Nov. 16, 2020 at the St. Ursula...

Black Catholic Voices series: Msgr. East on his roots of faith, combating racism, and what gives him hope

(On Nov. 2, 2020, Msgr. Raymond East, the pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Washington, D.C., and a nationally known evangelist, was interviewed for the Catholic Standard’s...

Black Catholic Voices: At 100, St. Luke’s ‘heartbeat’ reflects on a life of faith

Reflecting on Hilda Mae McDougald, a 100-year-old parishioner who has continued attending Mass faithfully at St. Luke Parish in Washington, D.C., since public Masses resumed with...

Black Catholic Voices series: African priest who led racial justice march reflects on impact of racism and COVID-19

(The Catholic Standard’s Black Catholic Voices series continues with an interview with Josephite Father Cornelius Kelechi Ejiogu, who has served as the pastor of St. Luke Parish...

Black Catholic Voices series: Bishop Roy Campbell Jr. reflects on his journey of faith and experiences with racism

(Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell Jr. was interviewed on Oct. 30, 2020 for the Black Catholic Voices series by Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard’s editor. He also...

Black Catholic Voices series: Cardinal Wilton Gregory reflects on racism in society and the Church and the drive for racial justice

(On Oct. 13, 2020, Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory was interviewed by Mark Zimmermann, the editor of the Catholic Standard newspaper and website of the Archdiocese of...