Books for Black History Month

Between Law and Hope

Compiled by Fr. Matthew J. O’Rourke, S.S.J

The heart-warming story of St. Augustine High School

$25 post-paid, 628 pages, softbound

How in the world did ththey do it? How did the Josephites successfully launch and grow such an extremely highly-regarded, all-male, black high school in the South, 50 years ago, when we were all still segregated?

“It’s been a struggle, sometimes, but we were called to do it, and it has certainly been worth all of the bumps and bruises,” according to Fr. O’Rourke, who was there, right from the start. Read about the struggles and the rewards of the Josephites and the 40,000 young black men who have passed through the doors of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Since its inception, 50 years ago, St. Augustine has been run and administered by the Josephite Priests and Brothers, and has been dedicated to excellence in the complete spiritual and academic education of young African American men.

“St. Aug,” as it is affectionately known by its alumni, was unique 50 years ago, and it still is today. The past 50 years have been a history of glowing accomplishment and living proof of what young African American men can achieve, if given opportunities, academic preparation, discipline and moral and religious formation.

The Josephites and Leadership Development in the African American Catholic Community

Edited by Fr. Matthew J. O’Rourke, S.S.J.

$25 post-paid, 344 pages, softbound

Have you ever seen one (a Josephite)? What is it that they do? If you haven’t seen one ever, or even recently, and do not know much about what the Josephites do, then this is a must-read book for you and your family.

The Josephites have been an enormous and critically-important presence in our world, since 1897. For more than 100 years, the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephites) has been dedicated to the evangelization of the African American community and Leadership and Development to its citizenry. Churches, schools, communities, development programs, training and career guidance are part of our everyday function in the communities of our African American brothers and sisters and children.

This book presents details of 50 years of Leadership Development in African American communities by the Josephites. Read, first-hand, how it all came to be, between 1954 and 2004, when the driving force of the movement was the regional Chapter sessions that were held during those very difficult times. These were the sessions at which plans for a path of progress would be struck and mapped. It was a special time of determination and dedication and, every two years, the arduous process was repeated, for 50 years.