BLACK HISTORY MONTH- THE CHURCH

 

November was Black History month, and we published information on the six Americans up for canonization.*  One is Venerable Pierre Toussaint  (Blog  Oct. 26, 2012), whose holy wife is now being considered. For Black History month (Feb) we need to ponder  the lives of the people who continued the faith, as well as politicians and other public figures we see in the daily news. 

Interestingly enough, PBS is  doing a series "The Black Church":

“In this intimate four-hour series from executive producer, host, and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., we trace how this came to be in the 400 year-old story of the black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and endurance, grace and resilience, thriving and testifying, freedom and independence, solidarity and speaking truth to power.”

 

JULIETTE NOEL TOUSSAINT, born around 1786 in Haiti, was a freed slave who became an American philanthropist, collaborating closely with her husband Pierre  in helping the poor as well as doing charitable works in New York city. Pierre and Juliette deeply esteemed and loved each other, and became models of married people.

Little is known about the early life of Juliette, except that she was born into slavery in the former French colony of Haiti. The Noel family came to Baltimore with their slave owners at some point during the Haitian Revolution. There she labored as a housemaid, assistant cook and nanny.

In the wake of the Haitian Revolution, Pierre Toussaint's master also went into exile in New York City.  Thus Pierre and Juliette met in circumstances unknown. . Juliette was twenty years younger than Pierre.

While Juliette still worked for her master, Pierre saved enough money to purchase her freedom. In August 5, 1811, they were married privately. For four years they boarded at the house of Pierre's master before settling themselves finally on Franklin Street. Pierre worked as a hairdresser while Juliette focused on the household needs and availed herself in volunteering for the local church activities.

They adopted Euphemia, the daughter of Pierre's late sister Rosalie who had died of tuberculosis, raising the girl as their own. They provided for her education and music classes. Euphemia would die before her adoptive parents, of tuberculosis, like her mother.

The couple attended daily Mass and began a career of charity among the poor of New York City regardless of color and creed. They often brought baked goods to the children of the Orphan Asylum and donated money to its operation. In their own house, they sheltered and fostered numerous street children, travelers and homeless people.

Together the Toussaints organized a credit bureau, an employment agency, and a refuge for priests. They helped  many Haitian refugees in finding jobs for them. They often arranged sales of goods so they could raise money to live on. With the Oblate Sisters of Providence, they established a school for black children.

They also helped raise money in building a new Roman Catholic church in New York, which became Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street. Pierre was a benefactor also of the first New York City Catholic school for Black children at St. Vincent de Paul on Canal Street.

In May 14, 1851, Juliette died of natural causes. Two years later, Pierre Toussaint died on June 30, 1853. They are buried alongside with Euphemia, in the cemetery of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral.

(Photo of Euphemia)

 * Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Ven. Henrietta Delille, Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman,  S of God Mother Mary Lange, and S of God Julia Greely