{"id":9188,"date":"2025-10-24T15:47:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T19:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.staindy.org\/church\/?page_id=9188"},"modified":"2026-09-10T22:55:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T02:55:35","slug":"ministry-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.staindy.org\/church\/ministry-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"STA – Ministry Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ministry Spotlight <\/b><\/h2>\n

Race & Culture<\/b><\/h2>\n

September 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cTHAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE\u201d (Jn 17:21)<\/b><\/p>\n

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This has been the motto of the St. Thomas Aquinas Race & Culture Committee, since its inception in 2017.\u00a0 STA has always been a leader in racial equity concerns, and this committee strives to lead our parish community in learning about social justice issues, especially those affecting African Americans.\u00a0 We uphold the STA slogan of \u201cGod\u2019s People in Extraordinary Variety . . . A Caring Community\u201d<\/p>\n

Our 19 members are passionate about racial equity.\u00a0 We question \u201cHow can we carry forth the STA ideals into our individual communities?\u201d \u201cHow can we make all People of Color feel welcome at STA?\u201d \u201cHow can our school students be prepared to engage in a multicultural world?\u201d\u00a0 We try to answer these and other questions with our programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow Can We Attract More People of Color?\u201d became The Speaker Series<\/b><\/p>\n

In 2025, parishioners indicated that they wanted to hear about Race Relations and the Catholic Church.\u00a0 The Speaker Series was born. \u00a0<\/span>On September 18, 2026, we will host the Honorable Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, in Part 2 of our Series, entitled \u201cRace in the Catholic Church\u201d.\u00a0 Parishioners and friends are encouraged to RSVP here:<\/p>\n

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In April 2026, Part 1 of the Speaker Series featured Dr. Darren Davis, speaking on his research findings of \u201cRacial Diversity in the Catholic Church\u201d.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHow Can We Explore Black Catholic Identity?\u201d<\/strong> became a letter writing campaign to the Vatican to plead the case of\u00a0 the Six African Americans on the Path to Sainthood (currently there are Seven).\u00a0 After this effort, portraits of the Saintly Six were gifted from the Archdiocese and were placed in our Narthex hallway.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHow Can We Explore African American History?\u201d<\/b> became programs on Juneteenth\u00a0 featuring Attorney Fay Williams, and the \u201cthrough2eyes\u201d Walk & Talk history tour with Sampson Levingston.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow Can We Engage Our Parish Members in Conversation About Shared Cultures?\u201d<\/b> became Diversity Dinners, one featuring the Fr. Dan Horan Video \u201cA Catholic Response To Racism\u201d.\u00a0 Another Diversity Dinner \u201cExplored White Nationalism\u201d with Reverend Joseph A. Brown, SJ, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHow Can We Educate Our Parish Family on Race Relations?\u201d\u00a0 <\/b>\u201cHow can we promote a spirit of diversity and inclusion?\u201d became various book discussions.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHow Can We Atone for Racial Injustices?\u201d<\/b> led to Paula Brooks speaking on Environmental Racism.\u00a0 A Lenten Racial Equity Calendar was developed for the Parish & School.\u00a0 A parish Lenten favorite has become the Racial Equity Stations of the Cross, followed by a Lenten Supper & Discussion.<\/p>\n

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Would <\/b>YOU<\/b> like to continue the history of St. Thomas Aquinas by going against the grain?\u00a0<\/b> Please join us. We meet by Zoom on the fourth Tuesdays of the month from 7-8:30 pm (8 meetings per year). If you wish to learn more, contact: Patrice Payne, patricejpayne@gmail.com or Karla Hudecek, khudecek@staindy.org<\/p>\n

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support of our mission.\u00a0 And thank you for the opportunity to share highlights of the Race & Culture Committee.<\/p>\n

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Future Programming<\/b><\/p>\n