CHARLOTTE — Young people from Our Lady of Consolation Church raised their voices in praise to God and spoke aloud their pride in their heritage on Feb. 16 at the monthly youth Mass, which this month also was a celebration of Black History Month.
Between 50 and 60 youth were involved in the planning for the 11 a.m. Mass, including members of the parish Youth in Action program and the 20 members of the parish youth choir, who range in age from five to 17.
The liturgy was a chance for the congregation - the only historically Black Catholic church in Charlotte - to honor history and family, to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
Slips of paper that sat on the seats contained the words “Just like a tree planted by the water, we shall not be moved,” a nod to lines from the first reading (Jeremiah 17:5-8) and the responsorial psalm, which included the lines from Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted near running water.”
The words were read aloud by the congregation as a reflection not only on the importance of relying on God for all things, but also on the perseverance African Americans have shown through slavery, the Jim Crow era, dealing with racism and adversity in the current era and the role faith has played in their lives and culture.
In his homily, Father James Kang, pastor and a native of Cameroon, urged the congregation to find their true hope in Jesus.
“Human beings can break your trust in a way that destroys your heart,” he said. “You have only one heart – entrust it to God.”
After Communion, the congregation settled in for the youth celebration. Young people processed up the aisle holding posters representing important eras and personalities in Black history, as well as values like hope and character.
One by one, they described the significance of the images on their posters. They ranged from the sorrowful – an image of the first enslaved African brought to America in Virginia in 1619 – to the joyful, with descriptions of artistic achievements like the Harlem Renaissance and the landmark achievements of Madame C.J. Walker, the groundbreaking entrepreneur and philanthropist.
They reflected on Juneteenth, the national holiday that commemorates the day on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, and the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen - the first Black military pilots - who served with distinction in World War II.
The congregation also heard the story of the late Julius Chambers, a native of North Carolina who practiced law in Charlotte and worked on several groundbreaking civil rights cases while battling violence from the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists.
The young people in the choir sang inspiring songs with roots in African American history, including the refrain to “Ella’s Song,” a song dedicated to civil rights activist Ella Baker with the moving words “We who believe in freedom cannot rest.”
Parishioner Toni Tupponce, who leads the parish’s Black Culture Commission and the music ministry, said preparation for the Mass took about a month. She said it was important to offer young people a chance to reflect on both the proud and difficult elements of their heritage.
“I don’t believe in washing down the truth, so we shared the truth today,” she said.
The choir is a labor of love for both Tupponce and assistant music director Lori McElrath, who sees it as a way for youth to show their faith and expand their horizons.
“In the post-COVID world, so much of what kids do is tied to a screen and they live via posts on social media,” McElrath said. “This choir gives the youth a chance to step outside of their comfort zone and do something different. They get excited about performing.”
— Christina Lee Knauss and Troy C. Hull
