“Write My Name on the Roll”: A Gathering of Stories of Remembrance is the first phase of The Power of Story, a comprehensive project to preserve and share the stories of Black Catholics in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Virginia). This first phase focuses on the stories of those who were members of the Black Catholic parishes and schools that were closed, most due to integration. These are the stories most at risk of being lost if not collected soon.
From one of VCRJ storytellers: “We had a church and then it was gone. Now we have a place (The Power of Story project) to look for it.“
Who is collecting the stories?
Virginia Catholics for Racial Justice (VCRJ), a grass roots group of Catholics from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, is sponsoring this project in collaboration with the diocesan Office for Black Catholics.
What will be done with the stories?
Our most urgent priority is to record these stories before they are lost. We will work to both find a reliable location to archive the stories and to produce a shareable version of the stories based on the StoryCorps model.
What if I have another story to tell?
The Power of Story will expand the scope of storytelling to honor the stories of all Black Catholics in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond (or with ties to our diocese) in 2024. If you would like to share a story as we move forward, please contact VCRJ at the email or phone number below. If you are aware of a similar storytelling project in another diocese, please help us by sharing that information.
If you would like share your story with a member of The Power of Story working group, please complete the form below. Someone will reach out to you within two business days.
Thank you for contacting us about sharing your story. A member from The Power of Story will contact you within two business days. In the meantime, please contact email leaders@vcrj.net with any questions.
Virginia Catholics for Racial Justice 