History

The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1979 established a commission of African American Ministry and Evangelization to address the needs of African American Catholics in the diocese.

In 1982, the Office of African American Ministry and Evangelization was established. Since then, the Office has worked toward evangelization to share the good news of Jesus Christ by encouraging all to see the gospel message as one of unity, to be one in God and one in neighbor; to pas on the good news we have to include all of society. The Black Bishops, in their pastoral letter What We Have Seen and Heard, said that Evangelization is both a call and a response. It is a call of Jesus reverberating down the centuries: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) The response is: "Conduct yourselves, then, in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Phil. 1:27)

"Evangelization means not only preaching but witnessing; not only conversion but renewal; not only entry into the community but the building up of the community; not only hearing the Word but sharing it." (What we have seen and heard).

The Diocese of Raleigh continues to work towards helping others to be sensitive to all our sisters and brothers no matter what their differences.

In November 2002 the Office of African American Ministry and Evangelization realized that we had a large community of Catholics from Africa and the Caribbean. The decision was then made to change the name of the Office to African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization.

Bishop Joseph Gossman

Bishop Vincent Waters

Monsignor Thomas Hadden