A TIME TO CELEBRATE!

Black Catholic Apostolate marks 40th anniversary with Mass

Joelle Mukendi, center, sings during mass to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Black Catholic Apostolate on Sunday, Aug.11, 2024, at St. Joan of Arc in Menands, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist (Courtesy photo of CINDY SCHULTZ)

The Black Catholic Apostolate (BCA), a diocesan congregation which shares worship space with parishioners of St. Joan of Arc Church in Menands, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Mass on Aug. 11 with Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger as celebrant. A brunch at Wolfert’s Roost Country Club immediately followed the Mass.

The 40-year journey of evangelizing and building a strong church community began in 1984 with the encouragement and guidance of the late Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard, Father Kofi N. Amissah and a small group that established the Black Catholic Apostolate.

Joelle Mukendi hands a basket of gifts to Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger during the Mass to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Black Catholic Apostolate on Aug.11.

The goal of the Black Catholic Apostolate was to bring Black Catholics and those looking for a more dynamic and spirit-filled liturgy back to the Catholic Church in a setting that incorporated the teachings of the Church, the music and rhythm of the African-American and African cultures, and readings and prayer particularly meaningful to Mass participants.

To kick off this momentous anniversary year, a meeting of the anniversary committee, Father Amissah, pastor, and Bishop Scharfenberger was held. Father Amissah expressed the congregation’s thanks to Bishop Scharfenberger for being our “shepherd” and for his continuing support of the apostolate. The Bishop and Father Amissah both agreed that for an apostolate to reach 40 years of evangelizing in the Diocese is quite rare. With the Bishop’s support, blessing and pledge to do what he could to aid in the 40th anniversary, the BCA’s anniversary year began. 

Tejitu Molla (r.) a founding member of the church, prays during the celebratory Mass.

The BCA is a quiet jewel of the Albany Diocese.  The BCA has been and continues to be an evangelistic ministry, and is a vibrant and growing apostolate of those who are eager to share their passion and love for the Lord throughout the Diocese. What began with only a handful of members has grown to be a diverse church community, which includes members from all around the Capital Region and 29 different countries.

“It has not been an easy journey. But year after year, step by step, together we have built an energetic, thriving church community in the Albany Diocese,” Father Amissah said. “Because we put Jesus first, it strengthened our faith to continue, remembering that no challenge is bigger than our God.”

Bennita Givens is a member of the Black Catholic Apostolate.