On behalf of the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union (CTU), I invite you to sponsor our biennial Harambee! event to be held on Saturday afternoon, March 7, 2020. Named for the first recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States, the Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union is an academic, scholarship, formation and mentoring program that seeks to integrate the spirit and culture of Black Catholics with rigorous academic study. Thank you for supporting this event!!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A Little Background about me...…..                               My name is Stephanie Garrison and I am currently studying to receive a Master of Divinity degree at CTU located in Hyde Park on 54^th and Cornell Avenue. Until I was introduced to the Tolton Program, I never dreamed that it would be possible to be certified as a Catholic lay minister.  The program which was conceived and developed by Sr. Dr. Jamie Phelps (professor of Systematic Theology and an Adrian Dominican Woman Religious), is the only scholarship program of its kind in the United States. With the support and collaboration of CTU, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Black Community, this program, has been providing tuition for Black Catholics preparing for ministerial leadership in the church for the past 29 years (this year is their 30^th anniversary!!!).  Those who have completed the program have gone on to minister in the areas of youth and young adults, social justice, pastoral care, religious education, health care and prison ministry.             Augustus Tolton, who was a former slave, faced a lot of difficulties as he struggled to “answer the call” as a Black Catholic priest in the United States. His life's story has helped me to understand my own struggles to become a lay minister in the church as an African American Catholic who is also a black woman.  During his life time, Tolton's ministerial duties included his tireless work with raising funds for the building of what became the first Black Catholic church in Chicago, St. Monica. These inspirational actions have made me realize that a minister does not shy away from asking for help in times of challenges.  Primarily, the  Tolton program is funded through the generous donations from the public, so in addition to the HARAMBEE event, any monetary support is welcomed and needed to help this project continue to be an opportunity for Black Catholic lay men and women to attain graduate degrees in theology and be thoroughly prepared for ministry leadership in the Catholic church. If you would like to further this cause, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration and PEACE TO YOU...…                                                                                                                                                   Stephanie Garrison, a Tolton Scholar