1. Volume 3, Issue 3
August 2011
Black Catholic Ministries’ 1st Hour
of Power Revival series was an
overwhelming success! We have
already received a number of calls
wanting to know the dates for the
revival series for next year.
If you missed this years revival, I hope that you will
join us for another four weeks of great preaching,
teaching, singing and fellowship!
Special thanks to all of the host parishes and
pastors, choirs, liturgical dancers, lectors, ushers
and hospitality coordinators who made our four
weeks of revival enjoyable and memorable!
Hour of Power revival series an overwhelming success
Black Catholic Ministries
Archdiocese of Detroit
305 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
John J.F. Thorne, Coordinator
E-mail: blackcatholics@aod.org
Phone: (313) 596-7103
Fax: (313) 237-5752
Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it
readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will
not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.
~ Habakkuk 2:2-3
Mark your calendars! The 2012 revival series will be
Wednesdays May 2, 9, 16 and 23rd. Once again we
will be pressing our way towards a new Pentecost,
that will inspire, enliven, enrich and fill us with the
power to go change the world.
Black Catholic Ministries is pleased
to congratulate, Mr. Leon Dixon of
St. Cecilia Parish who has received
the Presidential Gold Volunteer
Service Award.
The criteria for the Gold Award for
an adult is 500 hours of service.
During the past year Leon gave from his heart an
overwhelming 3,000 hours.
Leon, said: “Service is at the core of my being. I did
not do any of this to gain any press, but rather to
answer the call to better my community and follow
the command of Christ to serve one another.”
Leon Dixon receives Presidential Volunteer Service Award
Leon accumulated hours through his work with the
Knights of Peter Claver, community projects, work
with the YFACT city youth leadership team and
many organizations.
Before the end of 2011, Leon hopes to have
completed 4,000 hours of
community service in the past
two years. The Highest level of
the Presidential Volunteer
Service Award is President’s Call
To Service Award, which calls for
4,000 hours of service in a lifetime.
Leon is obviously an exemplary man of service!
Congratulations Leon for all that you do for our
community!

2. Page 2
Nativity of our Lord Parish is
celebrating its centennial this
year.
In 1911, Fr. Francis
Heidenrich was asked by Bishop John S. Foley to start
a new parish in Leesville, now the Gratiot-Harper
area. The cornerstone of the school was laid in 1912
and the school basement was used for the Church of
Nativity until 1926. The present Renaissance revival
church was designed with a facade similar to the
basilica church of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.
The first mass was celebrated in the church in 1926,
but the church was not completed until 1929.
Today Nativity serves as the anchor of the recent
redevelopment of the Gratiot-Woods neighborhood.
As a parish they continue to grow in faith and love
and continue to work to build the kingdom of God!
August 2011
St. Charles Borromeo Parish
is marking its 125th
anniversary this year. The
parish was founded in 1886
to meet the growing Belgian
population. Ironically St.
Charles never became
exclusively a Belgian parish, the congregation was
comprised of Belgians, French, Germans, Polish and
English speaking members reflecting the city’s
cosmopolitan nature.
St. Charles has been actively involved in the
revitalization of its neighborhood. Today St. Charles
is still a diverse vibrant community which continues
to live its faith in action. Since the early 90’s, St.
Charles has been the home of Dearing Detroit Dance,
a dance ministry dedicated to mentoring and leading
young people to praising God through dance.
Black Catholic Parishes Mark Milestones
St. Cecilia Parish was founded in
1921. The parish was formed out of
necessity because of the rapid
growth on the city’s northwest side.
In the mid 1920’s, the parish not
only operated a elementary school
but also a high school.
By the 60’s the parish community had changed. The
parish had an increasingly active African American
population. In November of 1968 the parish
unveiled Devon Cunningham’s “Black Christ” in the
dome of the church.
St. Cecilia’s Gym has left an indelible mark on the
City’s history. From that gym notable athletes were
formed and have gone on to do greater things
throughout the U.S.
Today St. Cecilia continues to be a beacon of light in
the Livernois/Grand River area. Through their
various ministries they continue their outreach to
the community while meeting the spiritual needs of
its parishioners. St. Cecilia is also involved in the
social change and betterment of all in the
community.
Saturday, September 24, 2011, the Diocese of
Toledo: Black Catholic Ministries, will host a
workshop on “Evangelization and Adult Formation
with Diverse Communities” in Toledo, Ohio from
9:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The speaker will be Sr. Eva Marie Lumas,
S.S.S., from the Franciscan School of
Theology in Berkeley, CA. Sr. Eva has
presented many workshops, keynotes and
lectures throughout the country in the
areas of multiculturalism, inclusion,
catechesis, liturgy and pastoral ministry.
The cost of the day will be $15.00 per person
including a box lunch and workshop materials.
For more information or to register call Michael
Youngblood at 419-244-6711 ext. 511/515
www.toledodiocese.org
Diocese of Toledo BCM to Host
Evangelization Workshop

3. August 2011 Page 3
Black Catholic Ministries co-hosts a service of peace and healing
Fr. James (Jim) Hasse passed away
on June 19, 2011 at the age of 76.
For many the name Fr. Jim Hasse
may be a great unknown, but for
years his artwork has graced the
African American History and
Heritage Calendar published
annually by the Josephites.
In 1959, Fr. Hasse entered the Society of Jesus. He
continued his educational pursuits and received the
Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in
philosophy and anthropology from St. Louis
University in St. Louis, Missouri. He cultivated his
talent for art at Notre Dame University in South
Bend, Indiana, where he earned a Master of Fine
Arts degree in 1970. Upon returning to his native
Illinois, Fr. Hasse received his Masters in Divinity
from the Bellarmine School of Theology.
Fr. James Hasse’s ministry and art gave life to many communities
Fr. Hasse began his lifelong ministry in the African
American community right after his ordination in
1969 when he was assigned to Holy Family Church in
Chicago, IL. His ministry led him to Columbus, OH
and Cincinnati. His art was often inspired by those
with whom he worked closely. “As much as Jim
found beauty in nature, the place where he most
found beauty, most found God, was in people,”
explains friend and former community member Fr.
Joseph Folzenlogen, SJ. “Over the years, Jim painted
and sculpted in the African-American communities
where he ministered. His hope was that seeing
themselves mirrored in his images, they would
become aware of their own beauty and dignity.”
Fr. Hasse’s last installation is here in the Archdiocese
of Detroit. He personally oversaw the installation at
St. Aloysius’ Canticle Café located in downtown
Detroit.
On Monday, August 22, 2011, Black Catholic
Ministries along with St. Leo Parish and UCOA
(United Communities of America) will sponsor a
prayer service of peace and healing.
We all have seen the affect that violence has had on
our community. From the senseless slaying of our
young people, the abduction and murder of our
youth, to the outrageous abuse of our elders. This is
our city and we need to take it back! Our city needs
to be lifted up in prayer!
“Been Good To Me” cd sales get closer to target goal
parishes that participated in the CDs recording. This
is a wonderful way for the musicians and choir
members of many of our city parishes to give back
using their God given gifts.”
To support the effort by purchasing a CD, please call
(313) 596-7103. CDs are $15.00 each.
The Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choirs’ debut
CD release has been a great success with sales over
$15,000.00 pushing towards the $20,000.00 goal.
John Thorne, director of the choir said: “100% of the
proceeds will go towards the purchase of the new
Lead Me, Guide Me 2nd Edition hymnal for the 17
On November 16, 2010 the City Council presented
the UCOA with a testimonial resolution declaring the
22nd day of each month as a city-wide day of peace
and healing.
If you want to give peace a chance or if you or
someone you know has been affected by violence
we invite you to join us on Monday, August 22, 2011
at 6:30 p.m. at St. Leo Catholic Church

4. Page 4 August 2011
The topics and issues at the Congress are the starting
point for the five-year action plan that guides the
work of Black Catholic Ministries in our Archdiocese
and throughout the United States.
The National Black Catholic Congress provides a
unique opportunity where Black Catholics
come and experience their faith and share
their faith with others from around the
country. There will be Eucharistic
celebrations that are authentically Black and
Catholic!
Congress will feature workshops for youth, young
adults and adults, and we are looking for young
adults who are willing and able to attend, because
we need your continued leadership on our local
level.
If you are interested in Congress XI see the
informational below or call 313-596-7103.
You are invited to join the Archdiocese of Detroit’s
Black Catholic Ministries as we form a DETROIT
DELEGATION to attend the National Black Catholic
Congress XI - “Faith Engaged” in Indianapolis, IN July
19-22, 2012.
The Congress is one of the largest
gatherings of Black Catholics throughout the
country and only takes place every five
years.
So what is the National Black Catholic
Congress and what happens there?
Congress is a convocation of two to three thousand
Black Catholics (laity and priests and bishops) from
across the USA, Canada and Caribbean. For four
days we come together to celebrate our Catholic
faith in connection with our Afro-American ancestry,
identity and culture.
Join us for the 2012 National Black Catholic Congress
Archdiocese of Detroit
The Detroit Delegation will depart from Detroit, MI on Thursday, July 19, 2012 and return on Sunday evening, July
22nd. Below you will find detailed pricing as well as accommodations for the 2012 Congress trip. Other detail such
as the Detroit Delegation Dinner will be worked out after the first of the year (2012).
Conference Hotel: J.W. Marriott Indianapolis
10 S. West Street ▪ Indianapolis, IN 46204
Total Cost per person (includes registration,
hotel and deluxe bus transportation):
Single: $685.00
Double: $485.00
Triple: $415.00
Quad: $380.00
Cost breakdown:
Congress Registration: $200.00 per person
Hotel: $140.00 per night
(includes taxes and up to
a quad occupancy)
Transportation: $75.00 (includes
estimated 2012 price
increases)
▪

5. August 2011 Page 5
2011-2012 Black Catholic Ministries Calendar of Events
September 2011
17 “Sing A New Song Unto the Lord” 9:30 a.m.
Exploring the text and music of the New
Roman Missal
Sacred Heart Major Seminary Gym
October 2011
8 “Table for Two” 7:00 p.m.
Married Enrichment Event
www.aodonline.org/tablefortwo
Sacred Heart Major Seminary Gym
29 Sr. Thea Her Word and Her Song 7:00 p.m.
A one woman play on the life of Sr. Thea
Bowman feat. ValLimar Jansen
www.aodonline.org/srthea
Gesu Parish $10.00/$5.00 youth
November 2011
5 Mass of Heritage 12:00 noon
Mass Celebrating Black Catholic History
Month
St. Mary of Redford Parish
January 2012
14 MLK Youth/Family Day of Service
15 Dream Keepers Scholarship Dinner 5 p.m.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
16 MLK Holiday Mass 10:00 a.m.
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
February 2012
26 Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir
Concert 4 p.m.
April 2012
21 Black Catholic Women’s Day of Reflection
May 2012
2 Hour of Power Revival 7 p.m.
Preacher: TBD
9 Hour of Power Revival 7 p.m.
Preacher: TBD
16 Hour of Power Revival 7 p.m.
Preacher: TBD
23 Hour of Power Revival 7 p.m.
Preacher: TBD
July 2011
19-22 National Black Catholic Congress
Indianapolis, IN
September 2011
15 Black Catholic Men’s Day of Reflection
6-8 St. Cecilia’s Annual Revival 7 p.m.
Preacher: Fr. Maurice Nutt
St. Cecilia