The National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life (NBCAL) is a ministry committed to witness the gift of life in the Black Community. The "soul" of this Apostolate lies in the words of Jesus Christ in John's gospel: "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

The NBCAL is committed unconditionally to defending human life from the moment of conception to natural death.

The NBCAL was established as a resource for National Black Catholic Organizations and other groups interested in developing and promoting the Catholic Bishops' Pro Life Plan in the Black Catholic community. Its specific focus is to address the critical life issues that rob or deny many Black people the right to a quality of life that protects the dignity of all Black people.

The NBCAL is a proactive response to the Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Evangelization - Go and Make Disciples - to advance the work of evangelization in light of the cultural experiences of the people.

The NBCAL is a proactive response to the Catholic Bishops' Pro Life Plan to promote and encourage the laity to pray for a greater respect and appreciation for life and become more actively involved in pro life efforts in their respective communities.

The NBCAL is a proactive response to the issues that threaten the quality of life in the Black community: racism, violence, poverty, unemployment, police brutality, substance abuse, inadequate health care and teenage pregnancy.

The NBCAL underscores the need for the United States Catholic Church to include the gifts, talents and resources of Black Catholics in all areas of Church life and ministry. This is not about segregation but inclusion.

All parishes and dioceses are free to incorporate the materials and information provided by the NBCAL into their ministries and programs. The Pro Life Agenda belongs to the whole Church and it is up to the local, regional or diocesan leadership to make sure that the Pro Life Agenda is translated into a language that can be understood in various situations and cultures.

The NBCAL was inaugurated in the fall of 1997 with the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and the Franciscan SOLID GROUND MINISTRY as sponsors, and with the support of John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York and the Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York. Since then Chapters have been established throughout the United States and beyond.

Calendar of Events



February 2000
National African American History Month		February 6 - National Day of Prayer for the African American Family

February 26-27 - Black History Month Mass in Celebration of Life
March 2000The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS
"Let us as Black Catholics receive them and then heal them." - Pernessa C. Seele

 
April 2000
 
May 2000May 14 - Mothers' Day - A Call to Life
Mother of Perpetual Help, Mother of Life,
Intercede for our Black Women
June 2000June 3 - Youth for Life Celebration -
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions

June 18 - Fathers' Day - A Call to Life
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Watch over our Black Men
July 2000Joint Conference - Black Catholic
Religious Men and Women
September 2000September 30 - Black Catholic Vigil for Life

October 2000October 1 - Black Catholic Respect Life Sunday

November 2000
Black Catholic History Month
December 2000December 25 - Birth of Jesus Christ
"I came that you might have life..." (John 10:10)

December 26-January 1 - Kwanzaa for Life
January 2001
January 15 -
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

January 22 - March for Life
Vigil Mass for Life - National Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception


A top priority of the Apostolate for Life is the strengthening of the African American family. In 1989 Fr. James E. Goode, OFM addressed a gathering of Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta on the power of prayer and called the nation to go down in prayer on the first Sunday of Black History Month. Fr. Goode then named it the National Day of Prayer for the African American Family.

With the celebration of the National Day of Prayer for the African American Family we pause to give praise and thanksgiving for our African American Families. Reach out to the people in the Black Community and invite them to come together to celebrate The Gift of Family.


The National Day of Prayer
for the
African American Family
is Sunday, February 4, 2001


For additional information about the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, please contact:

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text ©1997-2000, National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, NY, NY
and ©1999-2000 by Rev. Warren J. Savage
logos designed by Rev. Rey V. Culaba, CSsR, Rome, Italy