Council, Court celebrate anniversary, Black Catholic History Month

Submitted by Constance Taylor
PRICHARD — The Knights, Ladies and Juniors of  St. James Major Council and Court KPC #172, celebrated Mass at their home church, St. James Major Parish, in remembrance of the founding  of the Knights of Peter Claver 113 years ago at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Mobile under the guidance and leadership of seven Josephite Priests.
 November is also National Black Catholic History Month and the Knights of Peter Claver are also celebrating the legacies of Fr. Charles Uncles, SSJ, and Fr. John Dorsey. 
Fr. Uncles was the first African-American priest ordained in the U.S. on Dec. 19,  1891. Fr. Dorsey, a co-founder of the Knights of Peter Claver, was ordained in 1902 and was the second Black American priest educated and ordained in the U.S. 
Fr. Dorsey and Fr. Uncles attended St.  Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the first parish established for Blacks in Baltimore.
The three local  laymen who were a part of the establishment of the Knights of Peter Claver were Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier. The organization was incorporated July 12, 1911.