The Bowman-Francis Ministry, a Black Catholic initiative from the Society of the Divine Word, is back with its latest virtual series, a free six-week men’s Bible study running from June 2nd to July 7th.
The theme is “Humbleness: The Power and Peace”, and the series will feature a BFM Afro-centric Men’s Bible Study Guide.
Participants will study selected passages at their leisure with the aid of companion videos from Fr Charles Smith, SVD, and join one another for a Zoom session each Wednesday at 6pm CST.
An introductory trailer was released earlier this month, and this week’s companion video is available here.
BFM is led by Smith and Fr Ken Hamilton, SVD, both ordained in an era of booming Black vocations and Black Catholic pride. The name of the organization comes from two prominent figures during that period: Servant of God Thea Bowman and the late Bishop Joseph Francis, SVD.
They were joined in the founding of the ministry by Frs Anthony Clark, SVD, and Chester Smith, SVD (Charles’ twin brother), both of whom have since passed.
The new Bible study is BFM’s latest in the virtual sphere, as they were one of the first Catholic organizations to make a concerted effort to keep programming active during the pandemic. A similar BFM Bible study was hosted during Lent.
Chief among their virtual events has been the annual Black Catholic Men’s Conference, which went online last year and was last held in person in Los Angeles in 2019. This year’s conference will also be virtual and is scheduled for October 14-17th.
The upcoming Bible study series is free for all participants, and interested parties can register here. (Donations can be made here as well.)
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger, in priesthood formation with the Josephites, and a ThM student with the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA).
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