By Sister Gwynette Proctor, SNDdeN
I am a third-generation Black Catholic woman who grew up in Baltimore City Maryland while attending twelve years of Catholic School and experiencing the pain of racism at a very young age starting in elementary school. I, along with my sister and brother and my cousins walked to school through white neighborhoods where the residents would scream at us, throw food at us and spit on us. When our parents sought out assistance from the school administration, they were told there was nothing they could do because it happened in the neighborhood and not on school property. When our parents attempted to get assistance from the Pastor of the parish, he made it very clear that the Archdiocese required him to admit us to the school since the other two area Catholic schools had refused admission. He continued to say that if it were up to him, we would not be in the school. We grew up in a hostile educational environment. The religious congregation who taught at the school contributed to the difficulties at times by turning a blind eye to some cruel actions. The administration decided to take its annual school trip to a segregated amusement park each year. The twelve Black students were not allowed to go on the annual trip.
My parents placed a high value on quality education, and they knew that education was the way to a promising future full of possibilities. Our family members continued to confront the school administration with each difficult incident, and they would return home to comfort us and provide the guidance and strength needed to return to school the next day.
Growing up in a strong Catholic family tradition helped me cope in the midst of such turmoil and contradictions in my faith. When the Catholic institutions failed me, my personal “good and gracious God” did not. My reliance on and a belief in a God of comfort, kindness, forgiveness, courage, strength, perseverance, love, humility, faithfulness, empowerment, grace and much more sustained me through it all. It was witnessing mom and dad stepping out in faith on so many occasions to try to build bridges in the midst of conflict rather than give in to anger and frustration that inspired me to try to be a change agent as well. I responded to God’s call and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. My ministries as the Executive Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Executive Director of Notre Dame Education Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts afforded me opportunities to advocate for Black Catholics specifically and people of color today to claim their voices to speak out against “racism” and for “justice and integrity’ in our “mother” Church. There is much more work to do.
“God is good…all the time."
Sister Gwynette Proctor was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. She joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1980 and has served on the SNDdeN National Leadership Team and as Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.