The Diocese of Phoenix celebrated Black Catholic History Month with remembrances and prayers to prominent saints of color posted to social media.

"In 1990, the National Back Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as Black Catholic History Month to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics," the diocese wrote in a Nov. 19 Facebook post. 

"Who is your favorite Black Catholic saint or soon-to-be saint? Some of our faves: St. Martin de Porres, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Augustine, St. Monica, Fr. Augustus Tolton, and Sr. Thea Bowman," the diocese added.

According to Franciscan Media, Saint Martin de Porres was the mixed-race son of unmarried parents. His father refused to acknowledge his son until Martin was 8, and later, after the birth of a daughter, his father abandoned the family. Martin was raised in poverty but even as a child, chose to serve others in need, according to his biography. At 12, he was apprenticed to a barber-surgeon; after several years in the medical apostolate, he joined the Dominicans as a "lay helper" and dedicated his life to caring for the poor and sick, including establishing an orphanage. When his priory was in debt, he said, “I am only a poor mulatto. Sell me. I am the property of the order. Sell me.” St. Martin de Porress is the patron saint of African Americans, barbers, hairdressers, race relations, and social justice. His feast day is Nov. 3.

St. Monica, the patron saint of wives and mothers, is best known as the mother of St, Augustine, who is considered one of the greatest teachers of the Catholic faith. According to St. Monica's biography on Franciscan Media. Monica was born in North Africa in the fourth century. Although she was a Christian, she was given in marriage to Patricius, a pagan. Patricius was tolerant of Monica's piety and charity, eventually converting to Christianity himself. Their son Augustine dismayed his mother by "living an immoral life," but a vision that Augustine would return to a life of faith inspired her to pray for him until he did, according to his biography. St. Monica is the patron saint of wives, mothers, alcoholics, and conversion. Her feast day is Aug. 27.

According to her biography on Catholic Online, St. Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born in Sudan around 1869 to a tribal chief in the Darfur region. In 1977, she was kidnapped by slave traders and despite being a young child, was forced to walk over 600 miles to a slave market. Josephine was bought and sold many times over the next 12 years, eventually landing in Italy where she was given away as a nanny. The family left her with the Canossian Sisters while they traveled abroad; upon their return, Josephine refused to leave the order. She was eventually freed by the court, which ruled she was free because slavery was illegal in her native Sudan. Josephine stayed with the Canossian Sisters and served them for over forty years. In speaking with other sisters about her life, she would thank her kidnappers, saying without them she might never have learned about God. St. Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan. Her feast day is Feb. 8.