National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus Convenes in Houston Under New Mission Focus
The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus held its annual convocation in Houston from July 21 to 24. NBCCC president Fr. Kareem Smith called on members to shift from administration to active discipleship. The gathering also celebrated the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Robert Boxie III, the first new African American bishop in nearly a decade.
The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC) gathered in Houston, Texas, from July 21 to 24, 2026, for its annual convocation under the theme "Dwelling Together as One."
Nearly 50 Black Catholic ministers, deacons, seminarians, and religious brothers attended the four-day event.
NBCCC president Fr. Kareem Smith opened the convocation with a call for the organization to move from what he described as "maintenance to mission." He urged members to prioritize active discipleship over document-based administration.
The gathering celebrated the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Robert Boxie III of Washington, D.C., who celebrated the jubilee Mass. Boxie is the first new African American bishop appointed in nearly a decade.
The convocation featured the "Black Catholic Flourishing Project," a partnership with FADICA aimed at strengthening Black Catholic institutions through investment and donor-advised funds.
Fr. Anthony Bozeman received the Father Joseph M. Davis Lifetime Achievement Award. Seminarian James Johnson IV was honored with the Father Clarence E. Williams Award.
The NBCCC was founded in 1968 and serves as a national organization for Black Catholic clergy in the United States.
