In honor of National Black Catholic History Month, St. Peter Church hosted a Holy Hour for Racial Healing. The service gave participants the opportunity to reflect on questions about where they see racism in their daily lives and how they respond to God’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — Politicians and activists call out racial issues in the United States all the time, but one important factor often gets lost in the noise – the importance of prayer by faithful people in the fight to overcome racism.
A Holy Hour for Racial Healing held Nov. 16 at St. Peter Church invited about 50 people in attendance to spend time in silent and communal prayer as they considered the impact of racism in our society.
It’s become an annual tradition at the parish in uptown during National Black Catholic History Month, fueled by an idea three years ago from a member of the parish’s Racial and Criminal Justice Priority Group, which organizes the event.
“As Catholics, we need to be talking about the tough stuff like racism, and we don’t do it often enough,” said Joanna Patcha, the group’s co-leader. “This is a chance for people to pray and think about what Jesus is calling us to do to address racism.”
The Holy Hour was led by Deacon Clarke Cochran, who spoke to the congregation before placing a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament inside it on the altar.
“We’re here because of the divisions in our country, our society and in our Church,” Deacon Clarke said. “I remember when I was a toddler 70 years ago, a scholar called slavery and racism the original sin of the United States, and we’re here for a time together to pray for healing those types of divisions. It’s a time of great need for prayer and for healing in our society.”
He urged attendees to use the silent prayer time to reflect on two questions: Where is my part in racial healing? Where is our part in the Church for racial healing?
Students from the parish’s confirmation class offered readings from Scripture, including 1 John 4:11-12: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us.”
The Gospel reading from Luke focused on Christ’s teaching that to have eternal life, people must love God and “love your neighbor as yourself,” as well as the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Another student read a reflection relating racism in today’s society to that parable. “Consider the scenario we are witnessing today as racism persists in our communities and in our churches.
Too many walk by the victims of racism without looking deeply at their wounds or the pain inflicted on them. … Jesus’ parable calls us to our obligations as Christians to be a good neighbor: the one who stops and helps the injured, the one who does not hesitate to accept the responsibility of healing.”
Rosheene Adams, director of the African American Affairs ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte, led the congregation through an examination of conscience focused on individual acts and attitudes toward race, with questions such as “Have I fully loved God and fully loved my neighbor as myself?”, “Is there a root of racism within me?” and “Have I caused pain to others by my actions or my words that offended my brother or my sister?”
Patcha said the Holy Hour offered a prayerful way for people to think about their response to an important question.
“We’re not pointing fingers at people,” she said. “Instead, this is a chance to pray and think about yourself. What are you doing and not doing when it comes to racial healing? It’s a chance for both prayer and accountability.”
— Christina Lee Knauss