35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass

2 of 13 Imani drummers Zion And Zaire Horton play during the entrance procession for the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Zoie Horton carries incense during the entrance procession for the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Students from archdiocesan elementary and high schools carried banners representing their schools in the African-American Heritage Month Mass procession at Holy Name Cathedral Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Tarris Ray Jr., David Simpson, Martrell McGee, Terry Macon and Antonio Blevins, students at St John De La Salle Catholic Academy, sing during the Mass. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Lyana, a sixth-grader at St John De La Salle Catholic Academy, listens to the homily by Father Tony Ricard, a priest of the Diocese of New Orleans, during the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass Feb. 7 at Holy Name Cathedral. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Arlene Redmond, director of Specialized Services at Queen of Peace School, interprets the homily given by Father Tony Ricard in American Sign Language for children who are hearing. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Madison Hinton, a student at St John De La Salle Catholic Academy, sings during the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Bishop Joseph Perry raises the chalice during the consecration at the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

High school students hold hands during the Our Father at the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

(Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Jeremiah Pickett, a senior from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights , joins classmates in the song after Communion. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, speaks to students at the end of the 35th Annual African-American Heritage Month Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Feb. 7. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)