Council for Black Catholics celebrates St. Martin de Porres feast day

By Aisha C. Young

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Colorado Springs Council for Black Catholics celebrated their annual St. Martin de Porres Mass and dinner on Nov. 5 at St. Joseph Parish in Colorado Springs. The event is held each year in November to correspond with National Black Catholic History Month and St. Martin’s feast day on Nov. 2.

St. Martin de Porres lived from 1579-1639 and is the patron saint of social justice. He was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

The Colorado Springs Council for Black Catholics was founded in 1990 under Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen. Over the past three decades, the council has provided catechetical and teaching materials to diocesan Catholic schools, awarded dozens of scholarships to Catholic school students, and developed presentations on diversity, equity and inclusion.

This year’s dinner was also the inaugural event attended by the new Junior Council CSCBC members. Students interested in joining CSCBC for the Spring semester are invited to apply if they meet the following requirements:

• 13-17 years old;

• Grade point average 3.0 or above (does not have to attend Catholic school);

• Junior Claverites are strong candidates;

• Supports mission of CSCBC;

• Community-conscious;

• Interested in building leadership skills;

• Knowledgeable in social media platforms;

• Live within the Diocese in Colorado Springs.

Interested applicants may send a letter of interest to cscbc.be.seen@gmail.com.

Remember, the annual St. Martin De Porres Dinner is a traveling event in the Colorado Springs Diocese. If you are interested in having the event at your parish, please send an email to cscbc.be.seen@gmail.com.

The next St. Martin De Porres Dinner will be at the St. John Henry Newman Center on Nov. 4, 2023. All are invited to attend the vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop James Golka and to join CSCBC and Mountain Lion Catholic students for dinner.

Also, on Feb. 12, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., there will be a special Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs to celebrate Servant of God Julia Greeley and Black History Month. A brief reception with CSCBC will follow.

(Aisha C. Young is President of the Colorado Springs Council for Black Catholics.)