African American Community

Five churches in the diocese describe themselves as historically African American parishes: St. Helen in Spencer Mountain, St. Benedict the Moor in Winston-Salem, St. Mary’s in Greensboro, Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte, and Christ the King in High Point.

St. Helen Catholic Mission, located on Dallas-Spencer Mountain Road in Gastonia, was built in 1914 by the monks of Belmont Abbey to serve Catholics in the area. Over time, it became a beloved and welcoming African American community that continues to convey a dedication to tradition – that of the Church and of African and African-American culture. As the oldest predominantly African American parish in the diocese, it is a featured Treasured Site during this anniversary year. Read more about the parish: “St. Helen Mission: A small church to welcome everyone”

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greensboro was established to serve black residents in what was then a segregated part of the city. The church was consecrated by Bishop William Hafey of Raleigh on Sept. 16, 1928. The present church building dates from 1936, and the parish has been staffed by Vincentian priests since 1939. The parish is now one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in our diocese, with nearly every continent represented among its membership. It has welcomed influxes of immigrants from Nigeria and other African countries, as well as Vietnamese, Montagnard and Hmong newcomers, followed by immigrants from Mexico and Central and South America. Even as it celebrates this amazing diversity, unity in our shared Catholic faith remains one of the parish’s greatest strengths. Read more about the parish: “St. Mary’s Parish in Greensboro rejoices with multicultural anniversary celebration”

St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church was established in 1940 to serve African-American Catholics living in Winston-Salem’s East Winston community. The church was named in honor of St. Benedict the Moor, a Franciscan friar who lived a holy life of prayer and charity. The saint is also the patron saint of African-Americans. Now one of four Winston-Salem parishes, St. Benedict’s has helped shape the Catholic landscape in the Winston-Salem Vicariate. Read more about the parish: “St. Benedict the Moor: United as a parish family”

Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, located on Statesville Avenue in Charlotte, celebrates the rich heritage of both Roman Catholicism and African-American traditions. Charlotte’s only historically African-American parish was founded in 1955, but the parish’s roots go back to the 1940s when the Redemptorist Fathers came to Charlotte. Of special note is the fact that three bishops have come from the parish. The founding pastor, Bishop Navagh, later became bishop of Ogdensburg, N.Y., and then bishop of Paterson, N.J. One of the parish’s assistant pastors, Father Moss Anderson, became auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Another assistant pastor, Father Joseph Howze, became auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Miss., and later the first bishop of Biloxi, Miss. when that diocese was established – making him the first African American bishop to lead a U.S. diocese in the 20th century. The parish was also home to Joseph Hunt, North Carolina’s first African American Knight of Columbus. The parish’s deacon, Deacon Curtiss Todd, now retired, also served as the diocese’s vice chancellor as part of his 30 years of ministry in the Church. Watch a performance of the parish’s award-winning Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir: http://youtu.be/pb862ZhyI-o?list=UUbcbRdleyzKbymDdlCavcUQ

Christ the King Catholic Church, located near historic downtown High Point, is a growing and active Catholic community with a long and culturally diverse history. From its humble beginnings as a mission church to serve the African-American Catholics in 1940, the parish has grown to be a vibrant witness to the Gospel of Life. Today, the parish family includes people from Vietnam, Rwanda, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan as well as Americans of Hispanic, African, Irish and Polish descent, among others. Read more about the parish: “High Point parishioners update historic church to mark 80th anniversary”