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Whereas, The 115th Church Anniversary of Saint Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is celebrated this Sunday, July, 25, 2004. By tradition, the anniversary falls on the last Sunday in July since the establishment of the church on July 28, 1889.
Whereas, The Hill District Roman Catholic legacy began as a black mission fostered by Holy Ghost Father Patrick McDermott of Holy Ghost College, now Duquesne University, with the permission of his superiors in response to the first meeting of the National Congress of Black Catholics held in 1889, Washington, DC, to address the need for greater recognition of black Catholic faithful and to eradicate racism.
Whereas, Saint Benedict the Moor Parish is the evolution of a four-parish merger including St. Brigid, Holy Trinity and St. Richard churches of the Hill District. Holy Trinity was suppressed in 1958. The initial merger became St. Brigid-St. Benedict the Moor Parish, pastored by Fr. Paul Bassompierre, followed by the 1970 appointment of Fr. Augustus Taylor, Jr., the first African-American pastor in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. St. Benedict the Moor Parish was established in 1977 when the St. Richard church joined the St. Brigid-St. Benedict consolidation. In 1981, Fr. Louis Vallone, Jr. was assigned pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Parish.
Whereas, The current pastor, Fr. Carmen A. D'Amico, serving a third term, appointed in 1991, has shown distinguished stewardship toward the interior and exterior renovation of the church edifice, and in shepherding the formation of the Wednesday Bible Study, the Evangelization Ministry and Acculturation for Justice, Access & Peace Outreach (AJOPO).
Whereas, On November 24, 1968, the famous, welcoming, landmark statue of St. Benedict the Moor, patron saint, was dedicated by Bishop John J. Wright and hoisted atop the church. Noted artist Frederick Shrady of New England designed the statue, made of sheet aluminum.
Whereas, St. Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Church, called by a mission, now touting traditional and gospel choirs, has maintained a dominant presence in the Hill District since its inception as an education center presently know as St. Benedict the Moor School and through its nine social service ministries at work in the community.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Pittsburgh City Council joins in the celebration of the 115th anniversary of St. Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Church to honor the church's continuous commitment to the spiritual salvation of residence of the Hill District and beyond.