“Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Ghandi.

As we look toward 2024, we are called to reflect on ourselves, our faith, and our community. Natural tithing occurs when we see a need and we meet that need. We are all blessed in various ways. Participating in the Project C.U.R.E. ministry allows us to prepare for the seasonal transition.

In March 2022, the Pew Research Center released its report titled “Black Catholics in America.” The statistics are salient for serving Black Catholics. The numbers in this report are mirrored in the Diocese of Colorado Springs in that Black Catholics are a “minority,” and by extension, there are fewer Black Catholics over the age of 65. Older Black Catholics have never been the sole focus of a study. Are we providing them with the best information about end-of-life decisions?

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland. The National Black Catholic Congress convention (NBCC) occurred this year from July 20-23 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland. The Congress XIII theme was “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive.” The spiritual basis for the theme comes from Habakkuk 2:2-4: “Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘Write down the vision; Make it plain upon tablets, so that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is a witness for the appointed time, a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. See, the rash have no integrity; but the just one who is righteous because of faith shall live.’”

SEDALIA. The annual Black Catholic Retreat took place this year on April 21-23 at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House, in Sedalia.

Father Chuck Wood was the retreat leader for our annual Black Catholic Retreat this year. Parishioners from both the Diocese of Colorado Springs and the Archdiocese of Denver were invited to attend. The diversity in age and ethnicity made this year’s retreat especially exciting.

Although the name of Thomy Lafon is not widely known outside of Louisiana, at one time he was the wealthiest Black man in the United States and one of the country’s great philanthropists.