Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Between July 26-31, a few hundred Black Catholics from across the nation, including lay women, religious and clergy, gathered in the Archdiocese of Louisville. The events brought them together for worship, fellowship and learning.

The fifth National Black Catholic Women’s Conference took place from July 26-28. It was sponsored by the National Black Sisters’ Conference, an organization that supports women religious in their ministries of social justice, advocacy and witness to the Gospel.

Members of the Sisters’ Conference also participated in a joint gathering with the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Association of Black Catholic Deacons and the National Black Catholic Seminarian Association from July 28-31. Both gatherings were held at the Louisville Marriott East Hotel.

The women’s gathering is held every five years with an aim to strengthen and empower Black Catholic women, said Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Patricia Chappell, co-chair of the event. To prepare for it, listening sessions are conducted to hear women's concerns, challenges and hopes.

Black women feel “marginalized and invisible” within the church, stated Sister Chappell during an interview. “They feel their gifts and skills we bring aren’t appreciated.” However, she emphasized that this gathering is about “hope.”

“We’re on fire when we leave here. We know that we are seen in the eyes of our God. Our experience of God is liberating,” she added.

Various workshops during the three-day gathering addressed issues such as injustice, trauma, mental health and social media's impact on the community. Participants also discussed ways to share their gifts in areas like religious education and youth ministry.

Annette Mandley-Turner, executive director of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Multicultural Ministry attended both conferences. She remarked on their long-term impact within the archdiocese.

“It’s planting the seed for vocations,” said Mandley-Turner. “Religious life is a vocation but so is laity. There is calling as a laity. Single people giving witness (during the conference) sends a message that there’s something in the church for everyone.”

The conferences also help connect Black Catholics nationwide. “To be a Black Catholic sometimes is to feel like you’re living in isolation... But when you see the larger church and you’re doing the same thing, you know you are connected,” she said.

Following this national women’s gathering was a joint meeting involving Black Catholic clergy, religious and seminarians. This event occurred while many participants were grieving Father Norman Fischer's sudden death on July 14 during his sabbatical at age 50; he was president of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus.

Participants paused on July 29 to attend Father Fischer’s Funeral Mass at Cathedral of Christ The King in Lexington celebrated by Bishop John E. Stowe.

Sister Chappell noted that Father Fischer played an instrumental role in organizing this joint conference held from July 28-31 despite being on sabbatical; his passing represents a significant loss for Black Catholics.

The theme for this joint conference was synodality. Sandra Coles-Bell served as facilitator for it; she explained how it provided an opportunity "to be synodal with each other" under Holy Spirit guidance: "We each have an opportunity to listen to others."

Presentations explored questions about synodality—its meaning along with its practice within personal lives & ministries—with hopes participants would gain understanding through such exploration toward responding collectively towards Jesus' commandment making disciples globally via unique charisms unitedly shared among different groups involved therein ultimately aiming towards cohesive mission fulfillment according Coles-Bell