In 1875, Bishop James Augustine Healy—a former slave—became the first African American bishop in the United States and the second bishop of the Diocese of Portland (Maine). Barbara Miles, former archivist for the Diocese of Manchester, visits St Matthew Parish to provide a stirring account of these events, drawn from primary historical documents and photographs.

The lecture will begin following the 7a Mass.

To learn more about Bishop Healy, read the article, “James Augustine Healy: From slave to scholar to shepherd”.

Barbara D. Miles serves the church as archivist, author and lecturer, and consultant. She is the author of Catholic New Hampshire, published in 2020.