The Black Catholic Ministry Commission (BCMC, the Commission) of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a representative body composed of laity, religious and clergy dedicated to fostering the spiritual, educational, economic and cultural lives of persons of African descent in the archdiocese, reaching out to Catholics and non-Catholics, those who are active in the church as well as the un-churched. The Commission works in collaboration with the Director for Intercultural Ministries for the archdiocese to articulate the mission, clarify the vision, develop and implement plans to address the needs and hopes of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and advance the implementation of the National Black Catholic Pastoral Plan.
Click here to view the membership of the Black Catholic Ministry Commission.
The BCMC cooperates with parish and archdiocesan leadership bodies, with archdiocesan offices and agencies, to carry out its work. The Commission contributes to the formation of archdiocesan goals and policies on behalf of the Black community, monitoring and implementing strategies to address these principles in accordance with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, its goals and objectives. In furtherance of these goals, the Commission has developed or is developing a number of committees:
Catholic Education and Formation Committee
Stimulates discussion at the parish and archdiocesan level on the development and pursuit of new and creative ways to provide financial assistance for Catholic Education, particularly for African Americans and in the Central City.
Collects and disseminates information related to health issues (HIV/AIDS, Sickle Cell Anemia, diabetes, hypertension, various cancers, etc.) that disproportionately affect African Americans.
Identifies individuals for leadership formation and identify opportunities locally, regionally and nationally for that formation.
Africa Committee
Develops materials and resources on African history, culture, politics, African saints, martyrs and popes, and African contributions to the Catholic Church for the benefit of all Catholics in the Archdiocese. Resource material should include a series of homilies based on “A Call to Solidarity with Africa” and suggestions for planning culturally relevant and expressive liturgies and celebrations.
Works toward the eventual development of a partnership with an African diocese, parish church organizations and/or villages and towns, and the archdiocese of Milwaukee. Promotes the infusion of African American culture into the liturgy, particularly in parishes with African American Catholics.
Sacred Liturgy Committee
Plans, promotes, and provides ministers for the annual Black Catholic Sacred Liturgy.
Strives to ensure that the Mass is not only a good expression of Roman Catholic liturgy in the African American tradition but also an effective tool of evangelization for guests, festival participants, etc.
Youth and Young Adults Committee
Identifies ways to involve youth and young adults in parish life and leadership roles that will increase their involvement in the liturgical life and ministries of their parishes.
Creates a network of parishes and other resources for parish collaboration, cultural experiences and youth leadership development, e.g. the Kujenga retreat.
Seeks to include youth and young adults in all aspects of African American Catholic ministries, advisory boards and planning teams for archdiocesan youth and young adult gatherings.
Evangelization Committee
Creates and implements a strategy for ongoing recruitment and evangelization of the inactive Catholics, those who are un-churched, and other people of African descent into the Catholic Church.
Will establish a parish-to-parish network to canvas the geographic area of the archdiocese in search of African Americans to invite and welcome to the churches.
Creates “gathering opportunities” to attract African Americans from the community at large to events that the Catholic Church from an African American perspective.
Plans and assists with the implementation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Annual Prayer Service and similar events.
Leadership and Community Relations Committee
Develops strategies to increase African American participation and service on diocesan boards and other church institutions utilizing media such as diocesan newsletters, the web and other networking techniques, etc.
Works for the formation of formal leadership development programs for various roles at the parish and diocesan level.
Collects and disseminate information on African American Catholic interests and issues (spirituality, canonization, social and cultural demographics, poverty, etc.) Identifies resources and maintain a current national and regional database of resources, speakers, facilitators, teachers and other experts) that can be called upon to assist parishes.
National Black Catholic Conference - NBCC
Who is The NBCC?
The National Black Catholic Congress, comprised of member organizations, represent African American Roman Catholics, working in collaboration with National Roman Catholic organizations. We commit ourselves to establishing an agenda for the evangelization of African Americans; and to improve the spiritual, mental, and physical conditions of African Americans, thereby committing ourselves to the freedom and growth of African Americans as full participants in church and society.
Aware of the challenges, we are committed to evangelize ourselves, our church and unchurched African Americans, thereby enriching the Church. We hold ourselves accountable to our baptismal commitment to witness and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ."
Click here to visit the NBCC website