The fruits of Black Catholic spirituality
Contemplative, holistic, communal, joyful. Photo by Haley Rivera on Unsplash Before Black History Month closes, I want to reflect on an element of Black history that has played a significant role in my faith formation these past seven years: the fruits of Black Catholic spirituality. As a white person who lives in a Mid-Atlantic state and attends a historically African-American parish, I navigate the histories and complexities of those relationships through my church's Minkisi Ministry , an interracial, contemplative prayer, action, and African heritage ministry spreading the Good News. Named after a Kiswahili word that means 'healing objects,' our group sees ourselves as instruments of God's love and peace, bearing witness to and praising the movement of the Spirit. Under the vision and leadership of church elder Cecilia Braveboy (a tremendous source of inspiration and friendship in my life), the ministry not only calls out the institutional Church’s history ...
