The Black Catholic Messenger show

A podcast where Black Catholics discuss the issues of the day and bring an authentically Black perspective to the table.

Ethiopian Orthodox Deacon Henok Elias on his journey of faith 08/03/2025

Ethiopian Orthodox Deacon Henok Elias on his journey of faith Deacon Henok Elias shares his journey from being a nominal Christian to becoming a deacon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He discusses the significance of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, the role of the diaconate, and the unique aspects of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy and worship practices. The conversation also touches on the importance of education and community engagement, as well as the cultural heritage and spirituality within the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. Music: Gunnar Gundersen Dcn Henok's YT channel: ~~ Make a tax-deductible donation to BCM @ /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/37651395

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, on his ministry and legacy 06/13/2025

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, on his ministry and legacy Josephite seminarian Eric T. Styles has as his guest the world's first and, as of this date, only African-American cardinal, Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop Emeritus of Washington. His Eminence recently returned from Rome after participating in the funeral rites for Pope Francis and voting in the 2025 papal conclave. Show notes: “The lector--minister of the word: an historical and liturgical study of the office of the lector in the Western church” (dissertation by Wilton Daniel Gregory, Rome: The Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Anthenaeum of Saint Anselm, 1980) Music: Gunnar Gundersen ~~ donate @ /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/36996090

Chris Ellis on answering the call to the permanent diaconate 05/23/2025

Chris Ellis on answering the call to the permanent diaconate Chris Ellis Jr., a Black Catholic D.C. native, sits down with Nate Tinner-Williams discuss culture, calling, and the need for greater commitment to evangelization. Music: Gunnar Gundersen ~~ https://blackcatholicmessenger.org https://twitter.com/BlkCathStories https://facebook.com/blackcatholicmessenger https://instagram.com/blackcatholicmessenger.com donate @ https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/7faed8f8-4ba2-4687-b83c-4dc18ccb6061 create a FB fundraiser @ https://facebook.com/BlackCatholicMessenger/fundraisers /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/36691610

Fr John McKenzie on modern urban Catholic evangelization (Black Catholic Messenger show #14) 01/08/2025

Fr John McKenzie on modern urban Catholic evangelization (Black Catholic Messenger show #14) Fr John McKenzie chats with Nate Tinner-Williams on the challenges of reaching African Americans in the 21st century and the need for more solidarity at the local level in the U.S. Catholic Church. Music: Gunnar Gundersen Christ the King Catholic School Detroit: https://www.christthekingschooldetroit.org/ ~~ https://blackcatholicmessenger.org https://twitter.com/BlkCathStories https://facebook.com/blackcatholicmessenger https://instagram.com/blackcatholicmessenger.com donate @ https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/7faed8f8-4ba2-4687-b83c-4dc18ccb6061 create a FB fundraiser @ https://facebook.com/BlackCatholicMessenger/fundraisers /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/34771145

Dr. Mario Dance on the fight for Catholic campus missionaries of color (Black Catholic Messenger show #13) 07/26/2024

Dr. Mario Dance on the fight for Catholic campus missionaries of color (Black Catholic Messenger show #13) Dr. Mario Dance, a retired veterinarian and cofounder of the Catholic Evangelical Missionary People of Color (CEMPOC) grant, tells Nate Tinner-Williams about his story, the organization, and what it takes to diversify campus evangelization in the U.S. Church. Intro music: Gunnar Gundersen ~~ donate @ create a FB fundraiser @ /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/32304607

North American slavery: From Spanish Florida to DC to US prisons 09/16/2021

North American slavery: From Spanish Florida to DC to US prisons We back! The crew discusses news of note from the past several weeks, including Gunnar's opinion piece on a recent trip to a slave plantation in disguise, Alessandra's TV appearance and America Magazine op-ed on mass incarceration, and Nate's recent piece on Black Catholic history in Florida. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/20498264

Gloria Purvis, Fr. James Altman, & LGBT Catholics 06/02/2021

Gloria Purvis, Fr. James Altman, & LGBT Catholics Members of the BCM team (Alessandra Harris, Gunnar Gundersen, and Stephen Staten) offer reflections on the month's news, including Gloria Purvis' new podcast, Fr James Altman's removal and resistance, and the treatment of LGBT Catholics in the Church. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/19331237

Are Black families valued? 05/27/2021

Are Black families valued? Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg joins Alessandra Harris for a discussion about motherhood, family, and faith. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/19257527

Abortion, Whole Life, and an African-American rite, oh my! 03/30/2021

Abortion, Whole Life, and an African-American rite, oh my! Irorobeje Crystal Owhoso-Maddox, of Indianapolis' young adult Black Catholic ministry, joins Nate on this episode to discuss all things controversial. (Amanda Gorman, David L. Gray, liturgy, racism, etc. Ya know, the light stuff.) /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/18529787

Anti-Asian violence, US history and the Catholic call for justice 03/24/2021

Anti-Asian violence, US history and the Catholic call for justice On this episode, Nate, Alessandra, and Stephen Staten are joined by Jessica Yap and Rosalie Chan to discuss the ongoing crisis of Anti-Asian hate crimes, and how Black Catholics can stand in solidarity. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/18439298

Is There a Space for Black Catholic Children's Literature? 03/16/2021

Is There a Space for Black Catholic Children's Literature? Jalissa Pollard joins the show to talk about her trailblazing book, "My Grandma is a Lady", her journey into Black Catholic parish life, her passion for faith and Black culture, and her plans for future ministry. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/18341633

Bishop Barron, Beige Catholicism, and Black Catholics 03/09/2021

Bishop Barron, Beige Catholicism, and Black Catholics Dede Miller joins Alessandra Harris and Nate Tinner-Williams to discuss Bishop Barron's recent article on "wokeism", and also to explain the organization she helps to run, Catholics United for Black Lives. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/18244118

Black saints, book reviews, and subsidiarity 03/05/2021

Black saints, book reviews, and subsidiarity Cory Frontin joins Nate Tinner-Williams to discuss Michael Heinlein's new Black saints book with Our Sunday visitor, racism, subsidiarity, and so much more. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/18198392

Why is racism still allowed in Catholic spaces? 02/17/2021

Why is racism still allowed in Catholic spaces? Co-hosts Alessandra Harris and Gunnar Gundersen discuss the recent event at Catholic University of America involving Abby Johnson, and the resulting fallout involving the school's administration. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/17977478

Interview with Olga Segura 02/07/2021

Interview with Olga Segura In this episode, Alessandra Harris, and Mary Bast chat with Olga Segura about Black Catholic witness in the modern age, and about her new book "Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church". /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/17857391

EWTN vs Amanda Gorman, and Trads vs. Pope Francis 02/03/2021

EWTN vs Amanda Gorman, and Trads vs. Pope Francis Nate and Alessandra are joined by Rana Irby to discuss an EWTN hit piece on Amanda Gorman, liturgical mayhem in Charlotte, and Pope Francis' unintentional response. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/17812154

What is BCM? Also, AMANDA FREAKING GORMAN. 02/02/2021

What is BCM? Also, AMANDA FREAKING GORMAN. Welcome to the Black Catholic Messenger Show, a podcast where we keep it Black and we keep it Catholic. /episode/index/show/blackcatholicmessenger/id/17783807

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