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Catholic schools celebrate Black history month

The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools hosted its 47th Annual African American Heritage Prayer Service on Feb. 21, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St. in Chicago. Father Thulani Magwaza, pastor at St. Sabina Parish, Greg Richmond, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and archdiocesan priests and deacons joined hundreds of students from across the archdiocese for this Black History Month celebration. The theme of the prayer service this year is: We Are Called To Hope, Love and Action. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from St. Sabina Academy pray during the prayer service. The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools hosted its 47th Annual African American Heritage Prayer Service on Feb. 21, 2025 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St. in Chicago. Father Thulani Magwaza, pastor at St. Sabina Parish, Greg Richmond, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and archdiocesan priests and deacons joined hundreds of students from across the archdiocese for this Black History Month celebration. The theme of the prayer service this year is: We Are Called To Hope, Love, and Action. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sixth graders Rewina Yigzaw, Zhalee Young and Bezawit Yidnekachew, from Sacred Heart Schools Chicago, sing near the opening of the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Thulani Magwaza, pastor at St. Sabina Parish, gives the homily. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from Children of Peace Catholic School, 1900 W. Taylor St, Chicago, sign a song during the prayer service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from Children of Peace Catholic School, 1900 W. Taylor St, Chicago, sign a song during the prayer service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Marcus Smith, an eighth-grade student at St. Ethelreda, sings a solo during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Asia Anderson, a student at St. Sabina Academy and Tyrone Pittman, Our Lady of Africa and St. Josephine Bakhita Parishes, share a laugh after receiving the Julia Greely Student Leadership Award and Pierre Toussaint Award for Community Leadership. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from the St. Sabina Academy perform a praise dance during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from the St. Sabina Academy perform a praise dance during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from the St. Francis de Sales High School perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from the St. Francis de Sales High School perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student from St. Sabina Academy sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the event. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student from Sacred Heart Schools proclaims the Prayers of the Faithful. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic
Rainy Reese from Marian Catholic High School and Esther Debrah from Loyola Academy pray the Our Father after giving powerful speeches. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students from St. Ignatius College Prep carry in signs related to the theme of the prayer service this year “We Are Called To Hope, Love, and Action.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the choir sing the closing hymn. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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