This ministry seeks to provide refuge, resources, and renewal for Catholics of African Ancestry.  Meetings are held monthly. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 516.334.0021 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CAA News

• If by any chance you are not a registered parishioner, you can find the census form here. One family registration is good for all members of that family. There is no cost.
• To download the MCAA Volunteer Certification form, please click here . 

Catholics of African Ancestry 2026 Scholarship Awards

On Sunday, July 12th, CAA continued its tradition of rewarding academic excellence and community volunteer service by awarding thirty-five academic financial scholarships to deserving students. These students have all achieved averages of B or better. They have also provided volunteer service to the St Brigid community in many different ways. Some have worked in the food pantry, or thrift shop. Some have helped with St. Brigid/OLH activities.  Others have helped with cleaning, planting and in various other capacities.  This is in addition to the volunteer work they do outside of the St. Brigid community.

These scholarship funds, made available through a generous sponsor, enable our students many of whom are St. Brigid graduates, to continue their education at private and/or Catholic high schools and colleges.  Even CUNY and SUNY colleges might be out of reach for some students without this financial boost.

At the celebration, the students gave brief presentations in which they told the assembly what community activities they were involved with during the year. They also shared their academic achievements and future plans.  It was heartwarming to see them all in one place. A special thanks goes out to our sponsor, Mr. Bill Janetschek. who has been funding this event for over ten years.  I also want to thank the members of the executive committee, Juanita Hall, Charmaine Auguste, Stephanie Chacon and Glenda Frooks.  We went through letters of recommendation, volunteer logs, transcripts and report cards, Ms. Auguste is securing T-shirts with logos to help our volunteers be more visible. Thanks to Nancy and Reginal Butler for providing a video of the event. Thanks to Fr. John and the staff at St. Anthony’s Hall that provide a place for our meetings and events.  Thanks to the fine teachers and staff At St. Brigid/OLH who wrote many letters of recommendation and gave us some of our finest students.

It takes many hands to make this work.  I could not have done it without you. I am grateful.

Thea Callender

Catholics of African Ancestry Scholarship Awardees 2026

Updates from the Ministry of Catholics of African Ancestry Scholarship Committee

We are on summer break now, but look for CAA Ministry announcements at the end of the summer.

There are some changes to the scholarship. All participants must be registered parishioners. One family registration is good for all the members of that family. There is a link to the parish census on the website.  You must have been registered for a minimum of 6 months before submitting an application

Students must maintain a B average and actively serve our Saint Brigid community. Your avocation as an altar server, choir member, or lector is admirable. However, we are looking for a minimum of 10 hours community service to St. Brigid’s.  These are some of the activities: pantry assistants, thrift shop help, Outreach assistants, event assistants, help on any of the projects that appear in the bulletin.  You may help at fundraisers and ministry events. If you cannot think of anything, please email the appropriate name at the bottom of the volunteer form with your availability.  That person will provide suggestions.

Your volunteer work may also extend beyond the local community. If you are in college, it often does. As the participation requirement is required of college students, each should strive to be a part of at least one Saint Brigid activity when they are home on break or during the summer.  It is possible to assist remotely. New college applicants must provide evidence that they are active in the Saint Brigid community or ministry. If we have to make a decision between deserving candidates, this extra effort comes into play. It would be best if you also were an active ministry member. Applicants who are a part of ministry events will receive preferred status. We always have more applicants than scholarships. 

New applicants must provide two verifiable letters of recommendation (character references) from a teacher, counselor or coach, St. Brigid clergy, or for college students, an employer.  The letters must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (A-L) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (M-Z). Alternatively, they may be mailed to Catholics of African Ancestry, St. Brigid’s Church, 85 Post Ave., Westbury, NY 11590

The generosity of our gracious donor makes it possible for these students to attend Catholic and private schools. We will recognize the awardees and the sponsor at the annual awards ceremony the Sunday after the July 4th weekend.  Barring documented illness, all candidates must attend.  Only college students who have advised the committee in advance of their participation in coursework at a distance from Westbury are excused. They must notify us in advance and provide required proxy information. This must be documented before July 1. 

If you know a student who is a member of the St Brigid community and a Catholic of African Ancestry, you may want to find out more about this yearly scholarship.

CAA Needs Volunteers

We have ideas for family events. If you are working with children or vulnerable adults, you will need VIRTUS training. 

This is from Fr. John: Please make sure that all adult volunteers who have not completed VIRTUS training (and completion of the Code of Conduct and Background Screening) are aware of these classes.

EACH VOLUNTEER MUST SIGN UP THROUGH THE VIRTUS WEBSITE if they need to attend the class and complete the Code of Conduct and Background Screening.  - https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/index.cfm. 

VIRTUS is available online. When you click on the link, it should bring you to the options.

I completed the online version.  It is informative and painless.

Ongoing Issues

Do you have a moment to check what ongoing issues are of special interest to Catholics of African Ancestry?  Please have a look at this website:  The National Black Catholic Congress https://www.nbccongress.org/