Holy Cross Catholic Church at 2438 S Alston Ave, Durham, NC 27713 US

AAMEN

AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTRY & EVANGELIZATION

History of AAMEN

The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1979 established a commission of African American Ministry and Evangelization to address the needs of African American Catholics in the diocese. In 1982, the Office of African American Ministry and Evangelization was established. Since then the office has worked toward evangelization to share the good news of Jesus Christ by encouraging all to see the gospel message as one of unity, to be one in God and one in neighbor; to pass on the good news we have to include all of society. The Black Bishops, in their pastoral letter “What We Have Seen and Heard”, said that evangelization is both a call and a response. It is a call of Jesus reverberating down the centuries: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) The response is: "Conduct yourselves, then, in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Phil. 1:27) "Evangelization means not only preaching but witnessing; not only conversion but renewal; not only entry into the community but the building up of the community; not only hearing the Word but sharing it. "(What we have seen and heard). The Diocese of Raleigh continues to work towards helping others to be sensitive to all our sisters and brothers no matter what their differences. In November 2002 the Office of African American Ministry and Evangelization realized that we had a large community of Catholics from Africa and the Caribbean. The decision was then made to change the name of the Office to African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization.

Purpose of AAMEN

African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization was established by the Diocese of Raleigh to foster the mission of the Roman Catholic Church, spread the Gospel, celebrate the Sacraments, and form a faith community. To do this ministry, we must create an atmosphere in which individuals of African descent can maintain their identity, heighten their visibility, and enhance their lives as Catholics. The ministry will be concerned with nurturing those in the faith, reconciling those fallen away from the faith, and offering a church home to the unchurched through conversion to the Catholic faith.

Principles of AAMEN

To preserve and extend the presence of the Catholic Church in the African and African American community and their presence in the Catholic Church.
To share the gifts of African and African American Culture with the diocese and the parishes.
To promote the maintenance and support of the St. Alphonsus Center in Wilson, as the Outreach Center for African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization for the Diocese.
To develop a strong program for Catholic youth of African descent, and to promote their participation in diocesan youth programs and activities.
To network with the offices of the diocese so that they become more knowledgeable, sensitive and responsive to the need of the individuals of African descent whom they serve.
To work with the Director of Vocations and the Director of the Permanent Diaconate in fostering the training and formation of ordained ministers who will work with the African and African American communities.
To work with the Director of the Office of Lay Ministry in fostering training and formation of lay ministers who will work with the African and African American communities.
To inform the diocesan community of the ministry through an annual calendar of events, announcements to par-ishes, and articles in the Habari Gani (“What’s the News?”) AAMEN newsletter, and the NC Catholics, a diocesan magazine.
To promote the spiritual growth, faith development and knowledge of the Catholic Faith in the members of the AAMEN Chapters through retreats, days of reflection and other programs.
These principles will seek to accomplish these goals by the networking of the office, the commission and the chapters; with the diocese, the parishes, the appropriate persons and offices of the diocese.

To join AAMEN please write to Reginald Ross-Weaks or Marcia Edge at AAMEN@holycrossdurham.org

What is in the AAMEN news...see our August 2008 newsletter

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	HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH 2438 South Alston Ave. Durham NC., 27713 Office: (919) 957 - 2900 Fax: (919) 957 - 2901 Founded for GOD's glory on December 5, 1939 A church site of the Diocese of Raleigh

Holy Cross Catholic Church at 2438 S Alston Ave, Durham, NC 27713 US - AAMEN