BLACK CATHOLICS OF 19TH- 20TH CENTURIES

Even though black Catholics constitute a small portion of the larger worldwide Catholic heritage, still there have been some very prominent people of color who have stood out by reason of their extraordinary lives.
On this page, we will honor some of these exceptional black men and women of the past two (2) centuries who are role models and paradigms for all Christians, but especially those of African or African-American descent. As one traditional black hymn says eloquently, "May the work they've done speak for them. May the life they live speak for them. May the service they give speak for them ..."

                                                                                                                                            

PIERRE TOUSSAINT - Servant of God and Humankind
 (Born 1766 in Haiti - Died 1853 in New York City)

This humble Haitian man, born in slavery on a family plantation, may well become the first Black United States saint. He, his family and grandparents were domestic slaves on the French island colony of Saint-Dominique (now Haiti). The Berard family treated their slaves more kindly than most French colonists, encouraging young Pierre to read and develop his natural musical and mimicking talents. Realizing in the 1780's that a revolt was imminent, Jean Berard chose to emigrate with his wife and sister, and Pierre, Pierre's aunt and sister Rosalie, to New York City.  Settling into a 3-story rented home there, 21-year old Pierre learned English, did most of the family shopping, and eventually took up the profession of hairdressing. Pierre gained a reputation for entertaining guests by his singing and violin playing, and became successful and popular in his profession. His gracious and charming ways endeared him to everyone, and enabled him to make and save money.

In 1789, however, tragedy struck the Berard household. Jean Berard died suddenly on a trip back to Haiti, and almost immediately his grieving wife discovered all their New York investments had failed. From that moment on, Pierre supported the entire household with his own earnings, despite the urgings of Black friends to abandon his impoverished mistress and break away. Pierre's Catholic faith had always been an anchor for him. Every morning he attended 6:00am Mass, becoming a friend and helper to the pastor. He chose to stay with Marie Berard because he felt God was calling him to help a suffering sister in Christ. One friend said of him "Pierre is full in the faith of his Church, liberal, enlightened, and always acting from the principle that God is our common Father. " Ten years later, a dying Marie drew up papers granting Pierre his freedom, saying, "You have done much more than your duty. You have been everything to me. There is no earthly remuneration for such services."

Pierre rejoiced in his freedom, though his life did not change dramatically. He bought his sister Rosalie's freedom, then married Juliette Noel, who had worked in their house. When his sister gave birth to a daughter, Euphemia, then she died of tuberculosis several months later,  Pierre and Juliette became her adopted parents. While family life was a blessing to him at this time, Pierre continued to be a tireless consoler of needy people. Always an active Catholic, he raised funds to build a new church, open an orphanage and start a Catholic school for black children. Stories of his charity were legendary He risked sickness caring for victims of the yellow fever epidemic; anonymously cooked and sent fine French meals to a poor elderly Frenchmen; and began inviting homeless Black boys over to his house for a hot meal and good night's sleep. Some would do chores for him, and two even received violin lessons, while he searched the city for jobs for them. Toussaint always turned away recognition or credit for doing anything.

 Pierre once suffered the humiliation of being barred from entering St. Peter's Cathedral, the very church he had raised funds to build, because "there were no pews for Black people". Though burning with anger, he crossed himself, turned and walked away. Despite the deep apologies of the ignorant trustees when they found this out, it remained an incident not easily forgotten to Pierre. The last years of his life, despite his profound faith and charity, were marked with tragic events. First his adopted teenaged daughter Euphemia died of tuberculosis, then his much beloved and younger wife died of cancer in 1851, when he was 85. Pierre continued to go to Mass daily until he himself was bedridden. Shortly before he died, a friend visited him and told this story. "I entered, he had revived a little and, looking up said ‘God is with me!' When I asked him if he wanted anything, he smiled and replied ‘Nothing on this earth!'“ Pierre Toussaint died on June 30, 1853 at age 87. The cause for his canonization as a saint was begun in December 1989.