Bishop Zubik calls for day of fasting and prayer for racial reconciliation

Bishop David Zubik is calling for people to pray and fast Wednesday for racial reconciliation in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will join other dioceses across the United States as part of the effort.

“In solidarity with all people who suffer from discrimination and violence due to their race, I join my brother bishops nationwide in asking everyone to pray for racial justice and reconciliation,” Zubik said in a statement.

The Sept. 9 date coincides with the memorial day of St. Peter Claver, the patron saint of interracial justice.

Bishop David Zubik is asking all people of faith in Southwestern Pennsylvania to pray and fast for racial reconciliation on Wednesday, September 9, the memorial day of St. Peter Claver, patron of interracial justice.https://t.co/VmyTQIgyBV

— Diocese of Pgh (@DioPitt) September 3, 2020

St. Peter Claver was a 17th-century Jesuit priest who hailed from Catalonia, Spain, providing ministry and spiritual care for more than 30 years to enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.

It’s estimated Claver baptized about 300,000 slaves.

Zubik noted the recent deaths of George Floyd and other African Americans have garnered national media attention.

“Night after night, the news stories seem to have a racial overtone, and we should take a look within ourselves,” Zubik said. “I see it as a very important time for all of us to look at what is the elephant in the room — racism.”

Zubik referenced Scriptures that teach we are all created by God and his image and likeness.

“This is an opportunity to raise consciousness in each of us that we have not taken the time to do,” Zubik said.

Zubik on July 13 established St. Benedict the Moor Church in the Hill District as a special parish for the Black Catholic community of Pittsburgh.

“Everyone was elated,” said the Rev. Thomas Burke on the news of his parish receiving the special designation. “They were losing their Black identity.”

St. Benedict the Moor has about 245 families registered in the parish, with 85% of them African American, Burke said.

Burke is assisted by the Revs. David Taylor and Matthew Hawkins, the Pittsburgh diocese’s second ordained African American priest.

Burke said he hopes the day of racial reconciliation Wednesday will usher in a new beginning on what he calls the three C’s: Catholics, Community and Christians, coming together to celebrate African American heritage.

“There’s so much going on in society with the social justice issues, the Black Lives Matter movement and with the political front that they (my parishioners) just want hope, love and unity,” Burke said.

Praying in socially distancing gatherings is encouraged. Prayer resources are available on the diocesan website’s Catholic Voices on Racism page.