Archdiocese of Chicago Hosts 46th Annual African American Heritage Prayer Service
Chicago, (Feb. 22, 2024) – The Archdiocese of Chicago will host its 46th annual African American Heritage Prayer Service on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St. (between State and Superior) in Chicago. Rev. Carl Gales, SVD, Administrator at Our Lady of Africa Parish, Greg Richmond, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and archdiocesan priests and deacons will join hundreds of students from across the archdiocese for this Black History Month celebration. In addition, the Archdiocese will welcome Yvette Mensah as a special guest speaker. Mensah is a graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette and the recipient of the 2023 student leadership award.
The prayer service brings together students, educators and clergy from Catholic elementary and high schools to share in honoring the rich history of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago. More than 100 student leaders will participate in the service as singers, praise dancers, altar servers, lectors and banner bearers.
The theme of the prayer service this year is: Rooted in Greatness and Growing Towards God. The event will celebrate the lives and service of six U.S. Black Catholics who are on the road to sainthood; Father Augustus Tolton, Sister Thea Bowman, Mother Mary Lange, Julia Greeley, Henriette Delille, and Pierre Toussaint. They were trailblazers for peace, justice, equality and freedom in the United States. Additionally, they were committed to the work of Catholic education.
Melissa Link, director of Catholic Mission and Culture for the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools shared, “Our schools have a long and distinguished history of celebrating the contributions of the diverse populations that make up our Church family. We are excited to join in prayer this month to uplift and affirm the gifts all of us bring to our Catholic community.”
At the prayer service, African American Heritage Awards will be presented to Rev. Michael Trail of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and School (Chicago) and Josh Hale, President and CEO of Big Shoulders Fund. Educator awards will be presented to Kendall Mallette of DePaul College Prep (Chicago), Damani McClellan of St. John de la Salle Catholic Academy (Chicago), and Staccy Kabat of St. Benedict the African (Chicago). Student awards will be presented to Seniyah Jordan of St. Sabina Academy (Chicago) and Esther Debrah of Loyola Academy (Wilmette).
