Bishop Soto, members of Black Catholic Council, will attend National Black Catholic Congress July 19-21 in Indianapolis

Bishop Jaime Soto and two members of the diocese’s Black Catholic Council, Julia Hassel and Mabel McKenzie, will be attending the National Black Catholic Congress XI in Indianapolis on July 19-21. Several thousand African-American Catholic leaders at the congress will join together during the gathering, where NBCC will celebrate 25 years of “what we have seen and heard.”

The theme of the congress is “Faith Engaged: Empower. Equip. Evangelize.” The congress is held every five years to discuss the accomplishments and challenges that black Catholics encounter in society and in the church.

The National Black Catholic Congress is an umbrella of support for organizations that share the same purpose of providing guidance to African American Roman Catholics. They represent black Catholics for the purpose of evangelization and are committed to the freedom and growth of African Americans as full participants in church and society.

At this year’s gathering, the NBCC will approve a pastoral action plan to be used as action steps for outreach to black Catholics by dioceses, parishes and groups, including youth, around the United States. In addition, the unprecedented national survey that was conducted by the University of Notre Dame on African American Catholics in July 2011 will be presented. The substance of the study will be used to shape the pastoral plan from the Congress.

More information on the National Black Catholic Congress is available at http://www.nbccongress.org