Dear Sisters, and Brothers in Christ,
Peace!
IF you are receiving this email it is because you are a vital leader in the life and future of Black Catholics.
I write to you today with both urgency and hope. Across our nation—and here in the Archdiocese of New York—we are witnessing a rapid exodus of Black Catholics from our parishes and communities. This painful reality calls for pastoral attention, courageous reflection, and faithful action.
At this crucial time, we have been given an opportunity to gather, listen, and renew our shared mission. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, The Black Catholics of, New York will host a historic Catholic Congress under the theme:
“Write the Vision, Make it Plain” (Habakkuk 2:2)
This day will bring together clergy, religious, and lay faithful from across the Archdiocese and beyond for a time of prayer, learning, and renewal focused on the flourishing of Black Catholic life and leadership.
I am writing to ask that you encourage your parishioners, ministry leaders, and youth to register and attend. This Congress comes at a providential moment in the life of our Church — an opportunity to reclaim our identity, celebrate our gifts, and chart a hopeful way forward together.
Congress Details
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Location: Church of the Blessed Sacrament Campus, New Rochelle, NY
Registration Fee: $35 per person
Registration Deadline: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Theme: “Write the Vision, Make it Plain” (Habakkuk 2:2)
Schedule for the Day
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Registration and Continental Breakfast/Praise and Worship
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Opening Liturgy (Church): Fr. Gregory C. Chisholm S.J.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Morning Workshop Series I
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch / Service Project Rotation
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM – Afternoon Workshop Series II
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM – Keynote Address: Fr. Bryan Massingale
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM – Closing Prayer and Presentation and Commissioning
Workshop Series
Each participant will attend two workshops — one in the morning and one in the afternoon:
Pastoral Leadership & Parish Life
“Vision Keepers: Leading with Faith and Clarity”
Evangelization & Missionary Discipleship
“Go Tell It: Proclaiming the Vision in Word and Deed”
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
“Write It on Their Hearts: Empowering the Next Generation”
Social Justice & Community Engagement
“Making Justice Plain: Faith in Action”
Worship & Music Ministry
“The Sound of the Vision: Liturgy that Speaks to the Soul”
Faith Formation & Spiritual Growth
“The Vision Within: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Lay Leaders”
Mental Health & Emotional Wellness
“Healing the Mind, Restoring the Spirit”
This Congress represents an important moment in the history of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of New York — a moment to gather our people, strengthen our witness, and proclaim once again that we belong fully and faithfully to the life of the Church.
Please announce and promote this event in your parishes, schools, and communities. Encourage your staff, parishioners, and young adults to attend. Their presence and participation will make this gathering a living sign of hope for our Church.
Together, let us “write the vision” that future generations will read and believe.
With prayerful best wishes and gratitude for your leadership,
Rev. Kareem R. Smith
Pastor, Church of the Blessed Sacrament – New Rochelle, NY
President, National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus
Chaplin, For Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of New York
"Adveniat Regnum Tuum"