African Catholics from across the country gathered in Columbus this summer for the National Association of African Catholics in the United States (NAACUS) conference held July 18-20.
The biannual conference was hosted by the organization’s Region 6, which includes Ohio and Michigan. Presentations, workshops and prayer were offered at Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School and St. Matthias Chapel, part of Columbus St. Josephine Bakhita parish.
Bishop Earl Fernandes was present to speak with attendees, answer questions and celebrate Mass.
“Talking to the bishop and getting in touch with the community here in Columbus, that fit what we are trying to accomplish – to be able to reach out to our respective communities – and that’s what drove us to have the conference here in Columbus,” said Sally Stovall, NAACUS president.
“It has been amazing. The bishop has been welcoming. Everybody in the community, they have come together to make sure that, NAACUS members, they are welcome.”
Bishop Jerome Feudjio of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands gave a keynote address. Bishop Feudjio, a native of Cameroon, became the first African-born bishop in the United States when appointed by Pope Francis in 2021 to shepherd the Saint Thomas diocese.
He also serves on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church as a liaison of African Catholics.
His keynote address, United in Christ for Evangelization, explored evangelizing through African culture and witness. He also noted challenges and opportunities for African Catholics in the United States.
The conference theme was drawn from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. St. Paul wrote, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
“He was speaking to a Church that, like ours, was diverse, dynamic, and sometimes, divided,” Bishop Feudjio said.
Unity is the basis for evangelization, which, he said, is about communion not sameness. He also noted the importance of evangelizing through a lived witness rather than preaching.
“Our African cultures are rich with ways of witnessing to the Gospel: through music that lifts the soul, through community that embraces the stranger, through reverence for elders and through joy even in suffering. These are not just cultural traits; they are evangelical tools,” he said.
Bishop Feudjio recognized ongoing challenges: preserving African identity while integrating into parish life, feelings of invisibility, misunderstandings, overlooked customs and underused gifts. African youth often feel “caught between two worlds,” he said.
“These obstacles are avenues that need our presence and witness and challenge us to be firmer and stronger in the faith.”
Challenges can also be opportunities to build bridges between generations, cultures and communities. He encouraged African Catholics to mentor youth, celebrate cultures and serve their parishes.
“We are called to grow in spiritual maturity, to deepen our prayer lives, to support vocations, to form leaders and to serve the Church with humility and courage,” the bishop said.
Bishop Feudjio told young people to recognize their energy, creativity and cultural pride as gifts. He asked youth to use and share their gifts with the Church.
He also addressed elderly and first-generation African immigrants. He asked them to be intentional about memory, continuity and cultural pride rooted in Christ.
“Your African identity is not a burden to be shed but a gift to be shared,” he said.
“The Church in the United States needs your voice. It needs your joy. It needs your witness, and it needs your culture, not as something foreign but as something deeply Catholic.”
A youth and young adult workshop was held during the weekend conference. Young children of preschool age through teenage years were present.
Father Thomas Kamau, a native of Kenya, helped lead the workshop. He is serving in the Diocese of Columbus and as a professor at Ohio University.
The priest, who helps with the diocese’s Swahili Mass for Catholics from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at St. Josephine Bakhita parish, said the workshop was intended to engage and inspire youth.
Youth were instructed on living their Christian values at an early age by intensifying their prayer life, reading Scripture and participating at Mass by lecturing, singing or serving.
Father Kamau said many young Catholics know something about God, but they lack a personal relationship with Him. African Catholic youth were encouraged to cultivate a relationship with Christ and share their testimony.
“We are showing them that you really don’t have to wait until when you’re an adult, to be an elderly person to do the evangelization,” Father Kamau explained. “You can actually begin where you are in your own family.
“If you live love, if you have goodness, you have patience, let’s say self-control at school where sometimes there’s bullying … you treat that person who is actually being isolated with love, with understanding, expanding your network … not just being friend to those who are friends to you … then now you are living the Gospel, so we encourage them to live that kind of life.”
African youth were also encouraged to think about their vocation. The discussion included the priesthood and consecrated religious life, but regardless of a child’s vocational path, they were encouraged to demonstrate Christian values.
“We are showing them where they are now, what they can do, and as they start aspiring and thinking of what they want to become in the future, then they can still see how they can practice or live their Christianity at that point,” Father Kamau said.
A question-and-answer session was also offered during the conference. Bishops Feudjio and Fernandes answered several questions from conference attendees.
Bishop Fernandes encouraged those gathered to personally invite others to Mass or parish events. He said priests and parishioners need to be made aware of events and their importance.
“African culture has something to offer to the life of a parish, and it’s an opportunity for those who do not yet know you or your culture to learn about you and your culture,” Bishop Fernandes said.
“Don’t be afraid to encounter another person, even if they’re not African, because you have something to offer, and they have something to offer to you.”
Having a united mindset, Bishop Fernandes encouraged African Catholics to evangelize to Anglos by inviting them to Mass, showing them the beauty and blessing of children and family life, and ministering to the sick and poor by visiting them and being a witness to reconciliation.
“This is your faith and your heritage, and you have a beautiful opportunity to really evangelize,” he said.
