About the Initiative
Reframing the narrative. Reimagining the Future. Claiming Space in Church and Society.
“Awaken in us a prophetic spirit that refuses to be contained
by stained-glass limitations.
...
We reject the tepid waters of performative inclusion.
We demand a faith that wrestles with injustice,
That stands at the intersection of sacrament and struggle,
That sees our full humanity as a divine testament.”
—A Prayer for Black Catholic Flourishing
Across the United States, the Black Catholic community is a small but vibrant member of the Body of Christ—carrying a legacy of faith, resilience, and cultural beauty that has enriched the Church for centuries. Yet, the fullness of that gift has too often gone unrecognized, under-supported, and marginalized. We seek to change that reality.
The Black Catholic Flourishing Initiative is a bold, Spirit-led movement to reimagine, renew, and restore the fullness of Black Catholic life across the United States. It seeks to transform both the conditions of Black Catholic communities and the consciousness of the Church so that Black Catholics not only survive but thrive spiritually, culturally, and communally. By cultivating a shared North Star, strengthening collaboration and infrastructure among institutions, and serving as a connective hub for resources and leadership, the Initiative works to unleash the sacred gift of Black Catholic life for the renewal of the Church and the transformation of society.
The Black Catholic Flourishing Initiative advances a paradigm shift in how Black Catholic life is understood across theology, Church leadership, and philanthropic practice.
We move beyond narratives of deficit to recognize the spiritual vitality, cultural creativity, and institutional resilience that have long defined Black Catholic communities in the United States.
Flourishing is both a framework and a practice—one that expands what becomes visible and, in turn, what becomes possible.
Ally De Luca
This work is powered by FADICA Catholic Philanthropic Network through a grant to The Center for the Human Spirit and Radical Reimagining and guided by three (3) co-leads alongside twelve (12) conversation partners who are nationally recognized Black Catholic leaders, theologians, intellectuals, liturgists, and administrators. Over the course of eight months, they have gathered in prayer, dialogue, and discernment to envision a future where Black Catholic life is vibrant, well-resourced, and integral to the health of the whole Church.
Center Presence
We begin with what it present, not what is absent.
Cultivate Possibility
We imagine new pathways for Church and society.
Listen Attentively
We listen with our physical ears and the ears of our heart to where we are being called by community and led by the Holy Spirit.
Commit to Justice
We pursue a more just, inclusive, and live-giving future within the Church and society.
Honor Community Wisdom
We elevate lived experience and communal knowledge.
Celebrate Blackness
We honor and celebrate the gift of Blackness in all its hues, forms, and iterations understanding that we reflect beauty of the face of God.
OUR GUIDING COMMITTMENTS
ANCHORED IN
Advancing interdisciplinary approaches to imagination, community, and transformation.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
