Black History Month, to me, should be every day, not just February says Ernest Alls. Alls is a beloved elder of the St. Katharine Drexel Parish family and comes from a long line of devout Catholics, where strong religious calling runs on his mother s side. My family has been blessed, says Alls. His great aunt, Sister Mary Mercedes Ernest, and second cousin, Sister Alexis Fisher, belonged to the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first order founded by women of African descent in 1829, a tim
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In a city that is famous for its colorful murals, a new mosaic, “That All May Be One” was blessed at the West Philadelphia parish and Penn-Drexel Newman Center. It faithfully captures the spirit of multicultural community.
Portrait of pioneering Black priest installed in Cathedral
A portrait of Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first recognized African-American Roman Catholic priest, is now on display at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul near the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel, who provided support for his pastoral mission in Chicago. (Gina Christian)
By Gina Christian • Posted July 23, 2021
A portrait of a pioneering Black priest and saint in the making has recently been installed in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, next to the saint who assisted him in his earthly mission.
Last month, Cathedral rector Father Dennis Gill announced that an image of Venerable Augustus Tolton would be placed near the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel, which is adjacent to the Drexel family altar. The news came during a June 26 Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Pérez in honor of Father Tolton, the first widely recognized Black Roman Catholic priest in the United States.