Black History Month Mass: Feb. 27

The African American Catholic Center for Evangelization (AACCFE) presents the Annual Black History Month Mass: "A Cry for Racial Justice." The St. Monica community is honored to facilitate the Mass, which will be broadcast via Zoom. Rev. Oscar Pratt, Jr, will be the celebrant, and the Mass will also include the presentation of the Daniel Rudd Award Honoring the Keepers of the Flame.

The AACCFE is committed to evangelization and building a faith community that is truly Black, authentically Catholic, and an integral part of the Universal Church. In collaboration with local parishes, the Los Angeles Black Lay Catholic Ministry, the National Black Catholic Administrators, the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the Black and Indian Mission Office, and the Knights of Peter Claver, the AACCFE seek to raise everyone's consciousness to the rich contributions made by African American Catholics to the Catholic Church.

We welcome all to join us as we celebrate Black History Month as a universal church gathered together.

Click the Flyer Below to Register to Attend!

We welcome all to join us as we celebrate Black History Month as a universal church gathered together.

Click the Flyer Below to Register to Attend!

About the Daniel Rudd Award

daniel rudd

The AACCFE’s Keeper of the Flame Award is presented in remembrance of the founder of the National Black Catholic Congress Daniel Rudd. Daniel Rudd, one of twelve children, was born August 7, 1854 to Robert and Elizabeth Rudd, who were both although born into slavery, enthusiastic believers in Catholicism.

Rudd’s passion for evangelization was profoundly demonstrated in 1889; when he called together the very first National Black Catholic Congress. This gathering of distinguished Black Catholics from across the country was the beginning of a national Black Catholic evangelization movement, which continues today. In recognition of those who have kept the flame of evangelization burning in the Los Angeles African American Catholic community we will present a Keeper of the Flame Award to those individuals selected by participating Parishes.

About the AACCFE

African American Center for Catholic Evangelization

Under the leadership of Director Anderson F. Shaw, the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization (AACCFE) serves approximately 25,000 African American Catholics in Los Angeles and is committed to evangelization and building a faith community--a community that is truly Black, authentically Catholic, and an integral part of the Universal Church. In collaboration with local parishes, the Los Angeles Black Lay Catholic Ministry, the National Black Catholic Administors, the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the Black and Indian Mission Office, and the Knights of Peter Claver, they seek to raise everyone's consciousness to the rich contributions made by African American Catholics to the Catholic Church.

Overview of AACCFE Activites in 2019:

Manage and direct events and activities for the Archdiocesan African American Catholic Community. Directed a team of African American Catholics from 30 parishes who have significate African American Catholic presences; by conducting Liturgies, Leadership Training and special programs (e.g. MLK Prayer Breakfast, MLK Mass, Black History Month Liturgy and Program, Ancestral Mass, Evangelization Booth. Sr. Thea Bowman Youth Program, Speaker Sessions, etc.).
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast with the objective of evangelization and the bringing together of African Americans in remembrance of the ongoing plight for social justice and peace and the call of Catholic social ministry. Event held at the Double Tree Hotel with keynote speaker Very Reverend Michael Thompson, SSJ, Superior General Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and awarding the annual MLK Drum Major Award to George McKenna, Member of Los Angeles Board of Education who represented the values described in Dr. Kings Drum Major Instinct sermon.
Manage and direct events and activities for the Archdiocesan African American Catholic Community. Directed a team of African American Catholics from 30 parishes who have significate African American
Catholic presences; by conducting Liturgies, Leadership Training and special programs (e.g. MLK Prayer Breakfast, MLK Mass, Black History Month Liturgy and Program, Ancestral Mass, Evangelization Booth. Sr. Thea Bowman Youth Program, Speaker Sessions, etc.).
Set up Evangelization Booth located in the main exhibit hall at the annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress for the approximate 40,000 people in attendance. Distribute African American Catholic articles, publications and historical information to African American and others attending the Congress. To answer questions from attendees to the RE Congress and to help identify sources of Black Catholic Liturgies and activities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Lead a team of youth and young adults in the annual Holy Week presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross at three local parishes as an evangelization effort directed at keeping youth in the Church.
The AACCFE Summer Speaker Series: In collaboration with local community organizations and Loyola Marymount University Center for Spirituality presented sessions and workshops on African American cultural relevance in the Church.
The AACCFE annual Ancestral Liturgy at St. Odilia Catholic Church: Planned and organized the annual liturgical service in remembrance of African American Ancestors who built and worshipped at the first and only Negro National Catholic Church, St. Odilia, in the history of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
The AACCFE Liturgy Committee: Monthly meetings held at St. Bernadette Catholic Church or through conference calls. Members of the committee planned and organized Liturgies for the AACCFE and other Catholic Churches and Organizing. Identified and invited the Celebrate and other Clergy for the Liturgy. Identified and invited African American Deacons, Lectures, Eucharistic Ministers, and Altar Servers from local parishes. 1) Created the Script and Worship Aid for the Knights of Peter Claver the annual Martin Luther King Liturgy in January held at the Cathedral Our Lady of the Angels 2) Created the Script and Worship Aid for the annual Black Catholic History Month Liturgy held in February at the Cathedral Our Lady of the Angels. 3) Assisted the Los Angeles Religious Congress Committee Black Culture Mass Chairpersons with the Liturgy held at the Anaheim Convention Center in March.