COMMENTARY

Black Catholics ‘cross through the threshold’

By Dawn Crutchfield
Special to The Catholic Virginian

Participants at the recent Annual Spiritual Retreat sponsored by the Office and Commission for Black Catholics entered full of expectations and anticipation of the message Deacon William Johnson, director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministry of the Diocese of Camden, N.J., had in store for them.

As opening prayers ended, each participant was handed a folder and told to complete the True/False “test”. The anxious looks on their faces seemed to ask “Oh, boy. Am I going to pass the test or am I going to hell?”

There was some chuckling among everyone, but peace of mind soon came as Deacon Bill explained “there are no right or wrong answers, just an opportunity to get better and stronger with your faith.”

“If you score the maximum then you are a Saint and don’t need to be here,” he continued. “If you score a little lower then you’re doing all right.

“If you score real low, then you need some help and that’s why we’re here.”

The statement was meant to give a feeling a relief, but many came with heavy souls hoping to get renewed in their faith and spirit and waited for the healing to begin.

After some singing and prayer the retreat continued on Saturday with small group discussions about the “Different faces of God,” the “Beatitudes” and “the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Saturday evening met with a lot of tears, release of guilt, laying of hands and lightening of the heavy souls that started there, as individuals literally “crossed through the threshold.” This was done as a statement of everyone’s recommitment to growing closer to God on a daily basis.

The retreat ended with a homily given by Deacon Bill at St. Gerard Catholic Church, the host parish of the retreat, and enhanced by St. Gerard’s own Gospel Choir led by music director Dick Hamlen.

As Mass came to a close, John Wade shared a powerful, testimony of his journey back to church and a renewed sense of faith because of his experience at the retreat.

“I came with so much spiritual baggage; but my soul has been lightened and refreshed,”said Harriet Brown, of the Basilica of St. Mary’s parish, Norfolk. “My husband and I have truly enjoyed traveling through this retreat with so many uplifting and loving soldiers of Christ.”

Allen Brown, also a St. Mary’s Basilica parishioner, said: “I have been inspired, renewed, and had my prayers answered by God — to be able to return to Him. The retreat has saved me from self-destruction and hatred and guilt.”

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