Sara Chinakwe

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Articles

A one-size-fits-all Mass doesn't serve Black Catholics.

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Efran Menny |Tamika Royes |Nathaniel Tinner |Sara Chinakwe

Last summer, I was invited by the director of the Texas Southern University’s Catholic Newman Center to experience a concert of the Psalms with a gospel influence. They sang plenty of songs I had heard at Mass over the years, but their renditions were soul-stirring. Inspired by their uplifting melodies and lustrous voices offering praises to God, I longed for my former days experiencing Black gospel music as a Protestant.
Black Catholic history means remembering our roots

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Tamika Royes |Nathaniel Tinner |Efran Menny |Sara Chinakwe

Participating, organizing, or attending Black History Month celebrations in February provided great opportunities to connect with the community. The opportunity to see our culture reflected in all its glory obviously should not only be relegated to one month of the year. However, the reality is that Black history continues to face erasure in various spaces, including schools and even within our Catholic Church.
Review: 'Piece by Piece' is a LEGO musical documentary worth a spin

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Nathaniel Tinner |Efran Menny |Sara Chinakwe |Daryl Grigsby

With the 2025 Academy Awards come and gone, one obvious snub from the nominations was for Best Animated Feature. Behold, “Piece by Piece”: a LEGO-animated documentary on music producer extraordinaire Pharrell Williams. The film, which includes voiceovers from the real-life figures depicted therein, follows Williams’ from his inner-city upbringing in Virginia to his ascent to music megastardom in the early 2000s.
2025 Institute for Black Catholic Studies to convene June 29-July 18

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Nathaniel Tinner |Efran Menny |Sara Chinakwe

Applications are open for the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, setting the stage for the 45th session of the historic academic and ministry program. Students, staff, and faculty will gather at the Catholic HBCU in New Orleans for three weeks under the theme “I will never leave you or forsake you,” drawn from Hebrews 13:5.
XULA women's basketball conquers William Carey for first-ever trip to third round of NAIA Tournament

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Nathaniel Tinner |Efran Menny |Sara Chinakwe

Xavier University of Louisiana women’s basketball is going to the round of 16 of the NAIA Tournament for the first ever, extending a historic season that has seen them win 29 games—tying a team record. The sixth-seeded Gold Nuggets upset the #3 William Carey Lady Crusaders handily at the XULA Convocation Center on Saturday, 72-47. The win featured a balanced effort from starters Joy Campbell, Kam Shelley, Janiya Reed, and Patricia Sosa Lora, all of whom scored in double digits.
Transcript: Cardinal Gregory's homily at dedication of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center chapel at Howard University

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Efran Menny |Sara Chinakwe |Nathaniel Tinner

Transcripts — Homilies — Washington DC — Wilton Cardinal Gregory — Bishops — Young people — History — #BlackHistoryMonth The nation's African-American cardinal blessed the new HBCU edifice in Washington during the final week of Black History Month. On Feb.
Home again: On Catholic burnout and the journey of challenged faith

1 month ago | blackcatholicmessenger.org | Sara Chinakwe |Daryl Grigsby |Tim Tilghman |Alessandra Harris

There's a certain irony in my story that I've come to appreciate. In short, I had to leave the Catholic Church to truly find my way back. Perhaps not physically, but spiritually I had to lose my way to find it again. About 17 years ago, I began pursuing the Catholic faith through RCIA. I was welcomed into a wonderful church family who guided me through the Bible and helped deepen my relationship with Christ. Life moved forward in beautiful ways.
Amid national exodus, Black Catholic young adults gather to plan renewal

Nov 20, 2023 | blackcatholicmessenger.com | Sara Chinakwe |Nathaniel Tinner

African-American Catholics have been as the most likely ethnic group in the country to leave the Church upon reaching adulthood, but few avenues of renewal have been forthcoming to stop the bleeding. This week, Black Catholic young adults from varying walks of life around the country gathered at Xavier University of Louisiana with an aim to change that.
Young adult Catholics sought for 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

Nov 18, 2023 | blackcatholicmessenger.com | Sara Chinakwe |Nathaniel Tinner

Applications are now open for perpetual pilgrims on the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, comprised of four routes leading to Indianapolis next summer for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. The full pilgrimage schedules have not been announced, but multiple routes will include stops related to Black Catholics.
Racist music starts when you're young—so these three nursery rhymes must go.

Aug 21, 2023 | blackcatholicmessenger.com | Sara Chinakwe |Ronald Smith |Nathaniel Tinner

The Latin word for Mass is “missa”, which means “to send out.” So every time you leave Mass, you are being sent out on a mission to share God’s light with the world. One of the ways we share our light is by following the Ninth Commandment, which instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Unfortunately, our enslaved ancestors were not given the privilege of receiving neighborly love from those who owned them.