Artists At Work

MARLENE QUARONI | FC
CORAL GABLES | Natalie Fernandez, 8, a second grader at Immaculate Conception School in Hialeah, paints a self-portrait in the style of Mila Hajjar, one of a group of local Hispanic artists who visited the school throughout the month of October as part of the celebration of Hispanic heritage. For story and pictures, plus many more stories on archdiocesan parishes and schools, go to www.miamiarch.org.

Black Catholics counted

MIAMI | Nearly two years and countless volunteer hours later, black Catholics have been counted — and the Archdiocese of Miami has a clearer picture of who they are and what they need from the Church.

During a Mass Nov. 3 at St. Mary Cathedral, Archbishop John C. Favalora received an official copy of the Black Catholics Survey Report 2008-2009. Nov. 3 is the feast day of St. Martin de Porres, patron of black Catholics in the United States.

The report was presented by Maria Jerkins, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Black Catholic Affairs, and Prince Smith, a member of Visitation Parish in North Miami who chaired the census implementation team.

“We have always asked how many black Catholics are there and we could never give a number, only an estimate,” said Jerkins.

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