Kingston archbishop is main celebrant at Black History Month Mass

JAMAICA

Archbishop Kenneth Richards of Kingston was the main celebrant at the Black History Month Mass held at St Thérèse Lisieux Church, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, February 16.

According to an article published in Catholic Opinion Online, adapted from The Tablet, Archbishop Richards’ homily garnered vocal agreement from parishioners throughout the Mass.

He said the Mass was meant to honour black heritage and reflect on their achievements, not just a time to remember slavery and other ill parts of history. It is also a time to affirm that they are all a part of “one family,” he said.

“As Pope Francis says, in Fratelli tutti, we are all brothers and sisters, and therefore, we must not allow racism to prevent us from recognising that we need to support each other,” Archbishop Richards said after the homily.

“And sometimes it is a disaster that causes us to reach out and hold each other’s hand, but we don’t need to rely on such tragedies to happen for us to recognise that.”

Roberta St Bernard, a parishioner, said Masses like these are important to allow people to express their faith. “It was just a great celebration of different cultures coming together and celebrating as one body,” St Bernard said.

The initiative “is always bringing together people from disparate places into one Mass and celebrate everyone that’s there as one, and it’s just always very uplifting.”

Fr Liju Augustine of St Thérèse of Lisieux was “happy” to host the Mass and called it the “perfect reason” for parishioners to come together. “I am so blessed that my people are so energised for these kinds of things. It’s a great experience,” Fr Augustine said.

“There is no racism in the presence of God. It doesn’t matter how people look at me, whether you are black or white. We are the true children of God. That’s what I feel and like to celebrate.”

Bishop Robert Brennan also described the Mass as an “uplifting” opportunity to be together, noting the Church symbolises family, and, therefore, Catholics must stand together in solidarity when a member is discriminated against.

“When we talk about racism and prejudice in our community, that’s an offence against God because it’s a rejection of the image and likeness of God in another person,” Bishop Brennan said after Mass. “When members of our family are hurting, the whole family’s hurting.”

The Mass began with a procession of parishioners proudly waving their cultural flags, followed by priests from around the diocese.