Church needs more minority vocations, new black Catholic ministries leader says (AUDIO)

Vickie Figueroa, the Archdiocese of Detroit's new manager of the Office of Cultural Ministries and Black Catholic Ministries, is pictured during “Unleash the Gospel Weekend” in November 2018. Figueroa sat down with Detroit Catholic to talk about her new role, including how the Church can encourage more minority vocations and lay leaders. (Photo by John-Henry Keenan | Special to Detroit Catholic)

Unleash the Gospel calls for greater outreach to minorities, cultural competency for Church leaders, Vickie Figueroa says

AUDIO: Listen to the interview

DETROIT — As the new manager of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Office of Cultural Ministries and coordinator of black Catholic ministries, Vickie Figueroa said improving the Church's outreach to minorities is critical if the Church's evangelization efforts are to bear fruit.

Figueroa, who succeeded Leon Dixon as coordinator of black Catholic ministries in November 2019, said forming leaders and fostering vocations in the black Catholic community is a significant part of her focus.

“There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding who can be a priest and what a priest is,” Figueroa told Detroit Catholic in an audio interview (below). “So a lot of people don't even pursue that with their loved ones.”

“We need to educate our families more on the benefits and the responsibilities and joys of vocations in the hopes that will catch on with others,” Figueroa said.

Before taking on her new role, Figueroa served as a member of Synod 16 and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, and served in young adult ministry at her parish, Corpus Christi in Detroit.

Listen to Detroit Catholic's interview with Figueroa below.