SoulTic Magazine’s Comprehensive List of African American First / Black First That Helped Break the Color Barrier – pt.5 Internet Vol – 5

There are a countless number of people that have helped break the color barrier. Many have been entertainers , athletes , activist and some just ordinary people . This is an article / blog about the first person of color / African American to become a Catholic Bishop .

James  Augustine Healy was the Son of a Georgia planter and his then servant . He was the first Catholic Bishop of African descent in the United States . Bishop Healy was a native of Macon Georgia and educated at Franklin Park Quaker School in New York .

He continued his education at Holy Cross College in Worcester Massacusetts . History records that for over a decade he was the assistant of Bishop John Fritpatrick’s . Footnotes show that Frizpatrick appointed him to handle the basic routine of the diocese . Some of them were to correspond with other Bishops and Priests of the diocese and to keep the books of Bishop Frizpatrick .

History records that for twenty – five years , Bishop Healy presided over the dioces of Maine and New Hampshire . History notes that under him , eighteen parochial schools , sixty – eight mission stations and fifty church buildings were erected . Research data collected indicate that during his tenure the number of Catholic communicants more than doubled .

After such an upward trend it is noted that the Church recognized Bishop Healy’s work by making him Assistant to the Palpal Throne , a rank just below that of cardinal . SoulTic Magazine respectfully recognize Bishop Healy a pioneer and a African American First in the area of religion by way of becoming the First African American Catholic Bishop in the United States .