Again during African World Festival, which is held August 3-5, 2001 at Meier Festival Park, the Marcus Amphitheatre will be filled with music, dance and worship in the Black Catholic tradition.

We have a rich history as Black Catholic in the Milwaukee Archdiocese and share a common experience with the approximately 210,500 million Catholics of African decent worldwide and the 2 million who reside in the Unites States.

As we celebrate our Sacred Liturgy with Archbishop Weakland, OSB and our Concelebrant Fr. Jesse de Porres Cox, OP of Detroit, MI we will observe "Sankofa."

Our theme "We Came This Far By Faith: Our Sankofa Experience" reflects our efforts as community to challenge ourselves, all people of goodwill, the Roman Catholic Church and all people these with Christian conscience to examine the issue of racism in our lives, society and globalized civilization."

"Sankofa" a term from West Africa, calls us to look back at our past for wisdom to discern our future. 2001 marks the 500th anniversary of the first African slave transported for labor to the Western Hemisphere. In 1501 this African came to the island of Hispaniola, now Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus has prepared an extensive document on this subject, which can be accessed at www.bcimall.org/nbcc/sankofa 500/index.htm. Come join us to celebrate the Good News of the Gospel, rejoice with our music and reflect on our past.