In every age and place, the Church has proclaimed the Gospel not by erasing cultures, but by discerning, purifying, and elevating them to reflect the light of Christ. This is the heart of “inculturation”—the way our faith takes root in the language, music, art, and traditions that shape us, while drawing them toward their fullest expression in God’s truth. At St. Benedict the Moor, this is not just a theological concept—it’s our lived reality.
On February 23, 2020, Bishop David Zubik announced the establishment of a personal parish for the black Catholic Community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, under the title of Saint Benedict the Moor Parish, effective July 13, 2020. This is an evangelical approach through the process of inculturation to respond to the specific spiritual needs of the Black Catholic Community and provide them the opportunity to practice their Catholic faith in their own unique cultural heritage.