Xavier University, the only Catholic HBCU, has selected a director intent on seeing the Black Catholic experience be part of church history.
While Dr. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow is a lifelong Catholic and has been associated with Xavier for three decades, her new position as director of the university’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) is her first full-time position in academia. She’s excited to utilize the academic platform to both enhance knowledge and information about the Black Catholic experience and effectively serve Black communities.
Raised in Baltimore, Bellow grew up in the Catholic Church. When she moved to Louisiana as an adult, she found people in her parish were less literate in church doctrine and history than she was. The parish priest directed her toward the IBCS to strengthen her foundation so she could be an effective pastoral leader.
IBCS runs a summer program, offering a master of theology degree as well as continuing education and enrichment programs. Bellow earned her master’s at IBCS and described Xavier as a spiritual home. She subsequently earned a doctor of ministry in liturgical studies degree at Catholic Theological Union.
She’s spent many summers at IBCS since participating in the program as a student. She’s been a student volunteer, an instructor and – since 2005 – associate director involved with the certificate in enrichment program.
Bellow said one of her visions as director is to grow more pastoral theologians for the church and for Black communities.
“It’s very important now that we have scholars, theologians and other pastoral activists who can teach and research the Black Catholic experience, understanding that Blacks, Africans have been a part of the church from its beginnings,” said Bellow. “You don’t have a sense of the universal church without the Black Catholic experience.”
