African American Catholic Podcast

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes brother Priest, Fr. Everett Pearson. Fr. Everett obtained his S.T.B. degree in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University graduating Magna Cum Laude. In 1994-1995, Fr. Everett retured to Rome, residing at the Casa Santa Maria, the American Bishops Graduate House of Studies in Rome, to complete his S.T.L. degree in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Twenty years before the Civil War of the United States, and before it was legal for such a Congregation to exist, the Sisters of the Holy Family were founded in New Orleans, Louisiana by Henriette Delille, a free woman of color.  Co-foundresses of this religious community of African-American women were Juliette Gaudin and Josephine Charles. The Sisters have spent over 170 years of loving, caring, and sharing with and for the people of God, for their own sanctification, for spreading the word of God, and for improving the life of the people they serve. 

Vivian Shaku is the CEO of the Non-profit organization "House of Globalization". Ms. Shaku is no stranger to human services. She currently works in a field where she assist At-Risk individuals that are fighting poverty, domestic violence, human and sex trafficking. According to her organization's website the House of Globalization incorporates the visual arts into their process to bring awareness to these issues.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Deacon Leonard Chambliss of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and serves as in several capacities in ministry at the parish level as well as with Pregnancy Aid Clinic and National Association of Black Catholic Deacons

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Catholic musician Rawn Harbor. Harbor is one of the preeminent African American Catholic liturgists and musicians in the U.S. today. A gifted pianist and composer, he is also a much sought-after workshop facilitator, speaker and liturgist.

Deacon Chester is usually seen participating and leading Saturday and Sunday Masses. During the week, he handles several ministries. His area of focus is pastoral care and marriage prep. He is a member of the Simon's Call AIDS Ministry and the Haiti Ministry. Chester is active in interfaith and Archdiocesan organizations and is a member of the Archdiocesan Task Force to End the Death Penalty and the National Black Clergy Caucus. He is a native of Lubbock, Texas and has been at Lourdes since 1977. He was ordained a deacon in February of 2003 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. He is married to Janis Griffin and they have one daughter, Kenya Griffin who directs the Amazing Grace dancers, and a son. He is a professional musician and has performed with the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra.

Father Jeffery Ott, O.P., is a friar of the Order of Preachers serving as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the first African American Catholic Church in Atlanta. He is the President of the Board for Interfaith Community Initiatives and serves on the leadership council for the Southern Dominican Province. Father Jeffery received a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Before becoming pastor of Lourdes, Jeffery served his alma mater, Xavier University of Louisiana, as University Chaplain. He enjoys travel, singing, and communing with friends and family.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Dr. Ansel Augustine. to the show. Dr. Ansel Augustine is the Executive Director of Cultural Diversity and Outreach for the Archdiocese of Washington. He has presented workshops and keynotes around the country and has written various pieces related to ministry. Ansel has worked in prison ministry for over 25 years in various capacities. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Peter Claver, and the Wild Tchoupitoulas (Black Masking) Mardi Gras Indians. He is also an Associate Member of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Deacon Leroy Gill of the Archdiocese of Chicago where he serves as a representative of the Black Catholic Deacons of Chicago. The Chicago Black Catholic Deacons and their wives are a resource for peace and justice, making Christ visible in the Archdiocese of Chicago with a focus on the Black communities in Chicago. The Black Catholic Deacons serve as leaders and foster the representation and voice of Black Catholics by serving on many critical committees and in leadership roles within the archdiocese.Further, the Black Catholic Deacons serve as a resource for Black men discerning the call to the diaconate, as well as men currently pursuing the ordination path. Welcome, Deacon Leroy!

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes 23 year old Anthony Mensah, young adult, African American Catholic to talk about his experience in the Church. Join Fr. Roy Lee as we get a glimpse into our churches young adult experiences.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Cary Dabney, Professor of Systematic Theology with specialty in Christology, Catholic Moral Theology, and Black Catholic Studies. Cary has several years of experience in church administrator and pastoral ministry. Skilled in Volunteer Management and Public Speaking. Strong education professional with a Masters of Divinity, currently a PhD Candidate, with a focus in Theological Ethics, Black Catholic Studies, and African American Spirituality.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Atlanta based real estate agent Nicole Clark who talks about home ownership and the experience of home ownership through a very particular lens. Join Fr. Roy Lee for another enlightening conversation on the African American Catholic Podcast.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes husband and wife, Deacon Allen and Edith Stevens to the podcast. In this conversation Deacon and his wife talk about the experience of being in formal ministry in the church. Join Fr. Roy Lee as he embarks on another fruitful conversation on the African American Catholic Podcast

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Fr. Gerard Jordan, Pastor of St. Edward's historically Black Catholic church in the Diocese of LaFayette, LA. Fr. Jordan, who serves as special assistant to Chicago's diocesan postulator for Venerable Fr. Tolton's sainthood cause shares his story with us and joins the conversation.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Greg Nash to the podcast. Greg is a expert in Sacred Music and breaks open his story and experiences as being a African American Musician in the Catholic Church.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Atlanta-area attorney Jack Tilson to talk about the racial divides in the business world, experiencing the receiving end of racism and how that motivated him to start helping others by becoming an Attorney. Join the conversation.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Andrew and Terri Lyke, are pioneers in Catholic marriage ministry. In 1994 they established Arusi Network to govern their ministerial work. The mission of their ministry is to strengthen the institution of marriage in the African-American community. The focus of that work is in marriage education, spiritual formation and ongoing social support through outreach from faith-based communities. They facilitate retreats, workshops, relationship coaching, and parish consultations to raise our sights on how we, the body of Christ, live in the Light of God's grace through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes inspirational speaker, therapist, and spiritual guide, Gregory F. Bearstop who has helped hundreds of people transform their lives as they journey from alcohol and drug abuse, and dependency to recovery. Bearstop holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Washington Theological Union and is a certified master addiction counselor. He has been a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor for more than 10 years and a substance abuse counselor for more than 20 years.

Fr. Roy welcomes Tahira Thea Stevens to the podcast as the come around the table to discuss what it means to be an African American Catholic Young Adult in today's culture.

Dr. Pearlette Springer serves as coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Pearlette was on the Sisters of Providence's anti-racism team and is currently chair of the Pax Christi USA anti-racism team (PCART). She has an undergraduate degree in African and African American Studies and a master's degree in Theology. Presently, she is working towards a doctorate in Family Studies and Strategic Interventions. She is passionate about the intersection of social justice and racial diversity.

Join Fr. Roy Lee as he welcome former Roman Catholic Priest and now Bishop of the American Catholic Church (independent), as he shares his journey of faith and testimony.

Join Fr. Roy Lee as he welcomes Deacon Ajani Gibson (now Father) from the Archdiocese of New Orleans as he prepares for his Ordination. Deacon Ajani shares his experience of growing up in the church, seminary formation, his lived experience as a Black Catholic and what his hopes are for the future. Come join the conversation!

Fr. Royal Lee welcomes Brother Herman Johnson, OP, of the Southern Province of the Dominican Friars. Brother Herman Johnson, OP and Fr. Royal Lee discuss the importance of Black Catholics involvement in the religious life, beyond the Priesthood and the importance to the history and future of Black Roman Catholics.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Atlanta native Fr. Riccardo Bailey. Born in 1973 and raised in Decatur. His home Church is Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Old 4th Ward, Atlanta. He joined the Episcopal church in 2011 and was later received as a Priest in 2013. In addition to his role as Vicar of the Emmaus House Chapel, Father Bailey is also the Head Chaplain of Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Fr. David Jones, pastor of St. Benedict the African in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago as well as Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, founder of the Imani Temple under The African-American Catholic Congregation. This episode fosters a conversation around identity and worship.

In this episode, Fr. Lee welcomes Fr. Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R. of New Orleans to speak about the life of Sister Thea Bowman, Servant of God. Fr. Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R, a Roman Catholic Priest for over 30 years, was recently appointed as an adjunct professor of preaching and evangelization serving as a doctoral thesis adviser in the Doctor of Ministry of preaching program at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO. in 2019 Fr. Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R., authored, "Faithful and Free" a book about the life Sister Thea Bowman, Servant of God.

Join Fr. Roy Lee as he welcomes Dr. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow from Xavier University Louisiana's Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS). Join Fr. Roy Lee and Dr. Kathleen as they talk about this wonderful gift that IBCS is to The Church.

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Micaela Le Blanc, Supreme Lady, Ladies Auxiliary of The Knights of St. Peter Claver. Fr. Roy Lee and Micaela talk about the history and importance of St Peter Claver, The Knights, the Ladies Auxiliary and the this wonderful fraternal order offering great support and outreach to our brothers and sisters. Come join the conversation!

Join Fr. Royal Lee as he welcomes Fr. Ken Hamilton, SVD and Fr. Charles Smith, SVD, leaders of the Black Men's Catholic Conference and Roman Catholic Priests from the Society of the Divine Word. Take a seat at the table as we enter into a discussion on the importance of building a supportive community and provide the spiritual foundation for Black Men in the Roman Catholic Church!

Fr. Roy Lee welcomes Deacon Mel Tardy, President of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. Ordained Permanent Deacon in 2011, Deacon calls the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and St. Augustine Parish, home, where he serves as Youth Minister. Join Fr. Lee and Deacon Tardy for a conversation around the topic of Black Catholic Clergy.

Join Fr. Roy Lee as he welcome Fr. Michael Trail, a young priest from the Archdiocese of Chicago who was recently named Pastor a parish. Fr. Michael talks about his experience as a young Black Roman Catholic Priest and what he hopes for when looking to the future!

Fr. Roy Lee, in his first podcast, welcomes Dr. Cecilia Moore, Author and Professor at University of Dayton in the Department of Religious Studies and at Xavier University of Louisiana in the Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Dr. Moore specialized in U.S. Catholic History and researching the history of black conversion to Roman Catholicism.