The oldest ethnic ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is the African-American community. St. Joseph’s Church in Alexandria was founded in 1915 to serve the Black Catholics in Northern Virginia. Saint Katherine Drexel, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II, was a contributor to the parish, which has always been staffed by the Josephite Community of priests. In 1945, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington was founded in response to the growing African-American Catholic population. There are many supportive Black Catholic organizations, such as Sisters in the Spirit, a Black Catholic women’s spiritual group, and the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.
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Events
Deacon Ricky Malebranche will be ordained as the first African American priest in the Diocese of Arlington!
Below are the Masses Fr. Malebranche will be celebrating after his ordination:
Sunday, June 8, 2025
St. Katharine Drexel
15000 Waterfall Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169
12:30 PM
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Holy Family
14160 Ferndale Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22193
10:00 AM
Thursday, June 19, 2025 (Juneteenth)
St. Joseph
711 N Columbus St, Alexandria, VA 22314
7:00 PM
Sunday, June 22, 2025
St. Louis
2907 Popkins Ln, Alexandria, VA 22306
8:45 AM and 10:30 AM
Meet Our Ministries
The Black Catholic Community has formed several ministries within their community that work to evangelize and spread the good news of the Catholic faith
Learn more about the six African-Americans on the path to sainthood
Featured: The Gospel Choir at St. Joseph Catholic Church
Advisory Council on Racism
Bishop Burbidge announced the decision to form an Advisory Council on Racism at the Requiem for the Black Children of God, a prayer service held in 2020, to be comprised of Black Catholic leaders, including clergy, lay men and lay women. Candidates were considered after receiving recommendations from pastors, The Office of Multicultural Ministries, and other ministry leaders.
Mother Mary Lange's Cause for Sainthood Moves Forward, Archbishop Lori Says
Vatican officials are moving ahead with the cause for sainthood for Mother Mary Lange, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said Thursday in Rome. If canonized, Mother Lange, the founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, would be become the first black American saint.
Fr. Tolton Advances Toward Sainthood
Fr. Augustus Tolton, former African American slave, advances toward sainthood. Pope Francis recognized thee heroic virtue of Fr. Tolton on June 12, 2019, making him “venerable” within the Church, only two steps away from canonization. With the decree, Catholics are authorized to pray directly to Tolton as an intercessor before God.
Prayer for Peace in Our Communities
Written by Therese Wilson-Favors
Let us pray… O Lord our God, in your mercy and kindness, no thought of ours is left unnoticed, no desire or concern ignored. You have proven that blessings abound when we fall on our knees in prayer, and so we turn to you in our hour of need. Surrounded by violence and cries for justice, we hear your voice telling us what is required… “Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humble with your God” (Mi 6:8). Fill us with your mercy so that we, in turn, may be merciful to others. Strip away pride, suspicion, and racism so that we may seek peace and justice in our communities. Strengthen our hearts so that they beat only to the rhythm of your holy will. Flood our path with your light as we walk humbly toward a future filled with encounter and unity. Be with us, O Lord, in our efforts, for only by the prompting of your grave can we progress toward virtue. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
