African Catholic clergy and religious celebrate 25th Silver Jubilee Conference

The African Conference of Catholic Clergy and Religious in the United States (ACCCRUS) held their annual 2026 Conference in Dallas, Texas from July 21through July 25.  Father Canice Nwizu, Administrator of St. Louis Parish, Cathedral City, is the group’s national president. Several priests, deacons and religious from our Diocese also attended the Conference, which celebrated its 25th anniversary with the theme, “Rooted in Faith and Service as African Missionaries in the United States.” The conference included welcome activities, foundational member meetings, and a closing Mass on July 24 that was celebrated by Bishop Edward J. Burns of the Diocese of Dallas, and concelebrated by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The national gatherings of African priests and religious women grew out of the initiatives from the Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees (PCMR). PCMR is one of the three divisions in the Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).