Mission and Me: About BLACKCATHOLIC

Mission and Me: About BLACKCATHOLIC

What BLACKCATHOLIC Is:

The purpose of BLACKCATHOLIC is to provide one man’s experience and expression of being an African American Catholic of the Latin Rite (through a “colored lens”). I seek to provide a unique expression of Catholicism, and spread both the Faith and the word about the Catholic Church to help make more people Catholic and strengthen those already Catholic. I seek to do this here mainly through my blog featured on the home page where I will discuss various topics surrounding Catholicism, Christianity in general, liturgy, religion, philosophy, Black Catholicism, and other issues I connect to these topics. I want there to be dialogue, so I greatly encourage your constructive comments.

One of the biggest goals I have is to draw more African Americans into the Church and strengthen the ones already here by simple being a vibrant, intelligent, and good example of a Black Catholic for them to see. Also, I want my apostolate to be a signal to all Catholics in the Church that, hey, even though we are small in number, we are here. So, I want to occasionally speak on some of the ideas and issues in the Black community in a way that can help lead them to the Church. But, of course, I don’t presume to speak for all Black Catholics, though. This is just me. Plus, this site and blog is at the same time targeted to a wide audience of Catholics, Christians, non-Christians, and anyone else interested in some of things I will discuss.

And, just like I’ve said on my Facebook and Twitter extensions: I’m down with the Pope and the Magisterium so I try to keep all things orthodox. But if I ever get it wrong, check me up on it! Fraternal correction is part of the Gospel.

The BLACKCATHOLIC Apostolate is dedicated to four things:

Jesus Christ the Resurrected

The BLACKCATHOLIC Apostolate was officially launched first on Easter Day 2018 through the social media extensions.

St. Joseph

My personal patron when I was confirmed into the Catholic Church in 2013. He goes where I go.

Ven. Father Augustus Tolton

The first recognized African American Catholic priest in U.S. history.

The Universal Kingship of Jesus Christ

The BLACKCATHOLIC website portion of the apostolate was officially launched later in 2018 on the Solemnity of Christ the King.


Who the BLACKCATHOLIC is

My name is Justin Farr, and I’m Black, Catholic, and proud about both.

I am a convert since 2013 from Protestantism. Three major things drew me: history/the Early Church, theological and moral orthodoxy, and the liturgy. Afterwards, the Catholic understanding of the role of St. Peter in the life of the One visible Church Jesus Christ established worked to strength my conviction as a Catholic.

I am interested in topics such as Catholicism, Christianity, liturgy, religion, philosophy (especially moral philosophy), history, literature, and some politics.

I am a seminarian for the Diocese of Nashville. I completed my first two years of philosophical education in 2020. These were the first two of a total of six years of seminary formation. I began the theological portion of seminary formation in the fall of 2020, and have completed two theological years of a total of four. I am currently in my fourth theology year/”4th Year Configuration” and set to graduate in December of 2024.

I have also written articles for Laudare Outreach and uCatholic

I like writing, reading, doing history research, drawing, sports, and, most of all, living an active Catholic life.

I live in Nashville, TN with family and some kitty cats.


Views and opinions expressed through my BLACKCATHOLIC apostolate and any of its extensions or outlets are my own and are not intended to necessarily serve as an official reflection of the views and opinions of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville.