“Who Am I?,” the theme of the 2020 Annual African American Lenten Revival, is designed to help Catholics across the Diocese of Cleveland recognize the powerful light of salvation within each of us as we serve as ambassadors of Christ.
This year’s revival will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 26-28 at St. Agnes + Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 6800 Lexington Ave., Cleveland.
Lent is a season of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice. While Catholics anticipate Easter through the reflective season of Lent, the 40-day holy season is not intended to be somber. The evenings of worship include praise dancing, musical arrangements, song and time for renewal of baptismal promises.
The revival, which is marking its 16th year, is organized by a collaborative of African American parishes across the diocese. All Catholics are welcome to attend.
The three-night revival begins with Mass on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26 at St. Agnes + Our Lady of Fatima Parish. The celebration will feature more than 50 members of the diocesan Gospel Choir and revivalist Father Oscar Pratt from the Archdiocese of Boston.
“This collaborative welcomes any Catholic to join as the Lenten journey begins,” said Cary Dabney, director of the diocesan Office of Ministry to African American Catholics. Together with the supporting parishes, he and affiliated diocesan organizations have spent months organizing the revival.
“As Catholics, we often toss the question out of what are we giving up for Lent. But what does that really mean?” Dabney asked.
“Lent is a time of reorienting. Each day of the revival provides new life, the power to overcome temptation and the ability to hear of the transformative power of God,” he added.
The collaborative African American Lenten revival is one of the longest sustained gatherings in the diocese. What began as a community-building event to bring together parishes and strengthen ecumenical relations has now grown to national recognition.
“The revival reflects the diversity of what it means to be a Catholic Church that embraces the gifts of faith and culture in a community,” said Dabney.