Sr Gail Trippett has been elected to the congregational leadership of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, a 148-year-old order based in Missouri. The African-American religious sister formerly led two Black Catholic parishes in Indianapolis. buff.ly/fHwTXpJ

A graduate of Spelman College, Trippett has served as an educator and administrator in public and Catholic schools, with her most recent work concerning vocational formation.

Assata Shakur, whose 1977 conviction on trumped-up murder charges and later escape from prison brought international attention, has died in Cuba at 78. The African-American Catholic convert was a member of the revolutionary Black Liberation Army. buff.ly/22QtAFl

The second reign of President Donald Trump has come with a litany of scandals, missteps, and outright inhumanity as Americans are left asking: How much longer can this last? Dorothy Dempsey writes that Democrats may need to look into a Project 2029. buff.ly/kuL7KKN

Zohran Mamdani looks primed to become the New York City's next mayor, with many voters energized by his socialist views on justice for the poor and just desserts for the rich. Félix Cepeda wonders aloud: Can Catholics support him in good conscience? buff.ly/3C1fzAR

"When discussing his democratic socialist views, Mamdani has referenced a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: 'Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism, but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children.'"

I have a sinking feeling, deep down in my shondo, that Bishop Barron is somehow going to become the next Archbishop of New York... Is there a novena I can pray against it? 😞

“A lot of this has just been a big circle,” said Tom Booth, who is leading the new Echo Harbor label at OCP. “Only God could do this, bring this—bring us—together… my love of gospel, just to bring all that beautiful gifting and incredible tradition into what we're doing.”

Truly scandalous.

"As a Black man, I could not in good conscience vote for a resolution that aimed to rewrite history and erase the hateful things Mr. Kirk espoused." Rep. Gabe Amo, one of the nation's Black Catholic congressmen, on House Speaker Mike Johnson's resolution honoring Charlie Kirk.

Stellar performance by Kenny Bednarek, a Black Catholic from Wisconsin who wins his latest world championship medal. #BlackCatholicExcellence

Pope Leo has publicly acknowledged his African roots for the first time, in a wide-ranging interview with Elise Ann Allen for her new biography out now in Spanish. The Holy Father said his genealogy is covered in a French book being read by his brother. buff.ly/dB4CdFV

In a July sit-down with Crux, Pope Leo XIV said his Black ancestry is part of an ethnic and experiential tapestry giving him "a real appreciation for the wonderful wealth of traditions and cultures and languages that make up the world and, of course, the Church."

After conservative backlash, an essay on DEI from Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell Jr. of Washington has been deleted from the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB says the document was a "draft" mistakenly published without review. buff.ly/7rj1u0X

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie Jr. have pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging their affair involved fraud and a cover-up. The Black Catholic executive, departing office next year, has not commented publicly. buff.ly/zeRAUJk

Cantrell, whose husband Jason died in 2023, has been ordered by a judge not to contact Vappie, who faced divorce proceedings from his wife beginning in 2022.

Bishop Robert Barron has again aligned himself with partisan politics by painting the late far-right commentator Charlie Kirk as a Christlike figure. Tulio Huggins writes that a horrific tragedy doesn't justify irresponsible Catholic leadership. buff.ly/U1nGxUa

"Does Barron care about racism and anti-immigrant sentiment? I truly hope so, especially since he’s a bishop in a Church that proclaims that immigrants and people of color are image-bearers of God... In moments of political turmoil, he has to be an advocate of peace."

The way I was looking around the room today during an awards ceremony where publications like this—including this one specifically—were getting praise... Like, in the Year of our Lord 2025? 🧐

Kirk was scheduled to appear on "Bishop Barron Presents" later this month, with Barron extending an invitation after seeing Kirk's appearance on @jubileemedia.bsky.social—in which he called Kamala Harris a “DEI candidate” and argued Affirmative Action was unconstitutional.

Bishop Robert Barron has joined Republicans in praising far-right activist Charlie Kirk following his shooting death in Utah. The Minnesota Catholic prelate spoke of Kirk's "considerable charm" and "goodness of heart" despite his racist and violent views. buff.ly/9WkfnIH

The Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism will become permanent within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, per a Wednesday statement. The change will go into effect this fall, creating a Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation. buff.ly/Ty2qJK3

I'm horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis joined 8 New Orleans mayoral candidates this week for a debate at Xavier University of Louisiana, ahead of a hotly contested October open primary. The 42-year-old Black Catholic emphasized his plan to end the city's dysfunction. buff.ly/cPV8CLM

“This is a city of promise,” said Duplessis, a Democrat and the youngest Black candidate in the field. “This is a city of beauty. This is a city that's better than what it is right now.”

I love my state DOWN but why is Toni Morrison on here? Lol

Sharon Lavigne, a Louisiana climate activist living in "Cancer Alley", has received honorary Italian citizenship during a visit for conferences and Vatican meetings. The Black Catholic retired educator is also expected to meet with Pope Leo XIV. buff.ly/2DzXzoK

Lavigne's trip to Italy comes just ahead of the Holy See's Jubilee for Justice Workers, which will bring thousands from around the world to Rome for various events on Sept. 20, including a public audience with the new pontiff.

Harlem's Rucker Park, known for attracting pro basketball stars and streetballers alike, has been designated a National Commemorative Site. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, one of the nation's Black Catholic congressmen, spearheaded the legislation in Washington. buff.ly/fDmQsmY

Rucker's historic Greg Marius Court has hosted hoops luminaries such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Julius "Dr. J." Erving, Allen Iverson, and various other stars during multiple iterations of a popular summer tournament founded in the mid-20th century.

George Raveling, who broke racial barriers in college basketball coaching and helped kickstart the Jordan-Nike phenomenon, has died at 88 after a battle with cancer. The Black Catholic convert was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2015. buff.ly/Ikzg5Wa

Maj. Gen. Joseph McNeil, a member of the Greensboro Four student group that sparked the sit-in movement during Jim Crow, has died at age 83 from Parkinson's disease. The Catholic-raised activist went on to serve nearly four decades in the Air Force. buff.ly/Wm7P4xF

McNeil, inspired in part by his childhood Josephite parish in Wilmington, joined the Civil Rights Movement after being refused service at a bus station in 1959—leading to the Woolworth's protest the next year with fellow students from @ncatsuaggies.bsky.social.

The state of Catholic education is in flux, and for decades students have not received the firm spiritual foundation once indispensable to Church-sponsored schooling. At the same time, Tamika Royes writes, recognition of Black Catholics remains stagnant. buff.ly/FVlg2ha

The pharmacies tried to play me in SF, so I just booked an appointment at a church, since apparently they don't give a damn. Lol Fastest vaccine appointment in my whole life.

French president Emmanuel Macron has spoken out on his family's lawsuit against Candace Owens, who pushes the conspiracy theory that his wife Brigitte was born male. Macron, who called the idea "nonsense", co-filed the defamation suit in Delaware in July. buff.ly/YWgC2Wg

Owens has described the lawsuit against her as an opportunity to get answers from the Macrons in court, though a similar trial against two women in France—the progenitors of the transgenderism claims—has featured no ruling on their truth or falsity.

Henrietta Lacks will be acknowledged by the Maryland State Anatomy Board for the first time this fall, nearly 75 years after they neglected to stop the violation of her body after her death—which added to researchers' haul of her "immortal" HeLa cells. buff.ly/ca8vIsF

Five years never felt so good. Celebrate with us this fall at Old St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco! Register now: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 8, in San Francisco for our inaugural Rudd Lecture + Dialogue, where Dr. Kim R. Harris will help us celebrate five years of Black Catholic Messenger. You won't want to miss this exciting event during Black Catholic History Month. buff.ly/bAvp2x2

The new Ron Howard film "Eden" follows settlers on a remote island trying to survive—separately—amid growing hostility fomented by starvation and contradictory ideas about human purpose. @natemup.com reviews, calling it a stark reminder of human frailty. buff.ly/B80badf

Jude Law and Ana de Armas shine as maladjusted pioneers in over their heads in the Galápagos, showing by way of tragic self-absorption the pitfalls of modern life.

A mass shooting in Minneapolis this week left two students dead and 18 injured after an alumnus opened fire during a Catholic school Mass. Louisville Archbishop Shelton Fabre, one of the nation's African-American prelates, called the attack "senseless". buff.ly/VF0UTAs

Charles Prejean Sr., an early leader in African-American group economics and land loss prevention in the South, has died at age 84. He and siblings Fred and Carol were among many Black Catholics who served in the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. buff.ly/KZpGbYc

Mercy...

Black Catholic activist Sharon Lavigne and RISE St. James will host "Cancer Alley United" this week in Louisiana, championing the ongoing regional fight against carcinogenic chemical pollution. Former vice president Al Gore is among the featured speakers. buff.ly/99tv291

Gore and @risestjames.bsky.social will be joined by religious leaders and fellow ecojustice advocates for an information fair and revival service in the heart of Cancer Alley—where corporations continue an ecological assault on Black communities along the Mississippi River in Acadiana.

The Archdiocese of Newark's Bishop Francis Scholarship fundraiser will take place next month, celebrating young Black Catholics and supporting graduating high school seniors. The annual event is now in its 14th year and is seeking financial sponsors. buff.ly/b3DiY45

The scholarship fund honors the late Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Francis, a Louisiana-born educator and Civil Rights activist who is to date the only Black Catholic prelate in the history of the Newark Archdiocese.