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The Acts of the Apostles describes the earliest known recording of an African from the Sub-Sahara being baptized into the Christian Faith. This African is known to us as the Ethiopian (Eunuch) and was converted to the newfound faith by Philip, the Deacon, a Disciple of Paul. This account is noteworthy because it provides the earliest evidence of an African presence in the New Testament and in the development of the Church. In fact, Africans have always been part of the Church and have greatly influenced her development in history.

Paul VI, in his homily on the occasion of the canonization of the Martyrs of Uganda in 1964, observed that Africa has provided the Church three Popes. They are Sts. Victor I, Melchiades, and Gelasius. His Holiness went on to say that the Continent has been the birthplace of St. Augustine, St. Cyril, and Origen, all recognized as great fathers of the early Church. Africa has also enriched the life of the Church with the blood of its Martyrs. Their number includes St. Moses the Black, Perpetua & Felicity, and St. Charles Lwanga and his companions martyred during the years 1885-87.

In Egypt we have St. Athanasius of Alexandria an Archbishop and doctor of the Church. During his missionary life he visited the Thebaid and Ethiopia where Christianity was just getting started. In the history of the church, Ethiopia occupies a special place. Here we have an African church that has its roots in the early church. Before the church was established in Ireland or Anglo-Saxon England or in any country of Northern Europe, a Catholic Church linked to St. Athanasius blossomed in an African culture. Despite any doctrinal differences that arose later, the Ethiopian church is a reminder that Africa forms part of the rich heritage of Catholicism.

The descendents of African heritage have also served the Church in other roles and are to be found in all areas of the earth. Two of these descendents particularly stand out: St. Benedict the Moor, born in Sicily in 1524, and St. Martin de Porres, born in Lima, Peru in 1579, and from Sudan most recently St. Josephine Bakhita. Bakhita was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The fright that she received from the moment she was kidnapped wiped out some parts of her memory. The terrible experiences she went through made her forget even her own name. Bakhita, which means ?fortunate?, is the name given her by her kidnappers. Sold and re-sold more than once in the markets of El Obeid and of Khartoum, she experienced the humiliations and sufferings of slavery, both physical and moral. In Schio (Vicenza, Italy), where she spent many years of her life as a nun, everyone still calls her "our Black Mother".

African Americans can also be proud of their long history and many contributions to the Church. As early as 1565, they were part of the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine in what is now the State of Florida.

African Americans have kept their faith and have persevered despite years of bondage and slavery and being the object of racial hatred and discriminatory practices. They have given the Church outstanding men and women, such as James and Patrick Healy, Henriette Delille, Augustus Tolton, Daniel Rudd, Charles Uncles, Harold Perry, James Lyke, Thea Bowman, and Carl Fisher. African Americans have also blessed the Church with the establishment of three Congregations for women. These are: The Oblate Sisters of Providence, founded in 1829, The Sisters of the Holy Family, founded in 1842, and The Franciscan Handmaids of Mary, founded in 1916.

Today, thirteen African American Bishops and hundreds of priests, deacons, brothers and women religious are working with the laity to "reap the great harvest of souls" in the African American community.

The Haitian society today needs models for the family, for the youth, for the adults as well for the children. At all times there were courageous men and women with virtuous nature that we admire because of the great values that motivated their existence and the spiritual elevation that they brought to humanity. The Christian life is inspired by the example of many of those witnesses of our faith.

Our Pope John Paul II expressed the desire to elevate many more modern men and women to the dignity of saints as models for the faithful. Because of that, everywhere the church is working harder in the process of canonization; many cases are being studied.

Haiti is in a good position. Five Haitians sons and daughters of our country are being proposed to be recognized as saints of the Catholic Church.

1. Blessed Father Jacques Jules Bonnaud is on top of the list, born 10/27/1740 in the city of Cap Haitian died for the faith (martyr) 9/2/1792 in France.

2. Venerable Pierre Touissant, born St. Marc, Haiti on June 27, 1780, died June 30, 1853 was an entrepreneur, a humanitarian and a goodhearted man.

The Vatican took another step recently toward declaring a Haitian-born slave. The Vatican body which studies candidates for sainthood issued a decree recognizing that Pierre Toussaint "lived in an outstanding way, better than we do," said the Rev. Paolo Molinari, who is promoting Toussaint's sainthood. Pope John Paul II attended a ceremony at the Vatican on Tuesday to present the decree declaring the "heroic virtues" of Toussaint. The decree means "Pierre Toussaint, more than any of us, lived ? in an outstanding Christian way," Molinari said. The process of declaring official sainthood is long and complex. Candidates must first be beatified, and beatification requires a certified miracle. Molinari said several possible miracles attributed to Toussaint's intercession are under study. Toussaint worked for a well-educated, religious Catholic family in Haiti that brought him to New York when they fled an anti-slavery uprising. Living with the family as a domestic servant, Toussaint learned to read and write. He also worked as a barber and was allowed to keep some earnings. After his owner died, the widow became impoverished and Toussaint supported her. The widow freed him before she died in 1807. Toussaint then married a woman from Haiti. Until his death in New York City in 1853, he worked with orphans, the poor and the sick, both black and white, Molinari said.

3. Marie Clarisse Elizabeth Lange born in North of Haiti in 1784, died in Baltimore February 3, 1882 a Haitian emigrant like us, she settled in Baltimore around 1813, this area was populated with a group of Haitian refugees.

4. Father Farnese Louis-Charles born November 17, 1905 at Croix des Bouquets a city near Port-au-Prince was among the first generation of Haitian priests that were formed in Haiti. He founded many religious congregations. He died on June 22, 1988 in Haiti. During the jubilee year 2000 Monsignor Miot in Haiti received permission from Rome to prepare the process of beatification and canonization of Father Louis-Charles.

5. Sister Camelia Lohier born on May 15, 1927 is another daughter of the Land of Haiti. Her life stirs lots of admirations and exhales deep sanctity and left her spiritual charisma on all that knew her. At her death in June 17, 1987 many saw her as a saint. The process of her beatification and canonization started at the same time as Fr. Louis-Charles last year.