"Pittsburgh Bishop: ‘Why I Established a New Black Catholic Parish’: Bishop David Zubik re-established St. Benedict the Moor as a personal parish in the Black Catholic tradition, giving all Pittsburgh Catholics an opportunity to be enriched by their spiritual patrimony."

St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church is the U.S.’s newest Catholic parish in the Black Catholic tradition and is a profound declaration from the Diocese of Pittsburgh that the spiritual patrimony of Black Catholics is a treasure to be honored and shared by all.

St. Benedict the Moor is a personal parish, meaning that the parish is not built around territory, but around a particular Catholic tradition — in this case the Black Catholic tradition. Some personal parishes are built around the tradition of the old Roman Rite; others such as the parishes of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter have Anglican traditions. Still other personal parishes reflect Catholic ways of liturgy, prayer, spirituality, and community that developed among a particular people, were handed down, and sustained generations in the faith, for example, the Catholic traditions unique to French, Polish or Black Americans. But in all these examples, any Catholic is welcome to join these parishes and embrace the traditions that help them illuminate a way of knowing, loving, and following Jesus Christ.

In this interview with the Register, Bishop Zubik explains why he re-established St. Benedict the Moor as a personal parish in the Black Catholic tradition, the vital role he sees for Black Catholics in Pittsburgh’s re-evangelization, the next steps to come, and why he would consider establishing more personal parishes..."

Click here to read more of this Aug. 9, 2020 "National Catholic Register" article by Peter Jesserer Smith.