Xavier University of Louisiana’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) welcomed the Most Reverend James Checchio, Archbishop of New Orleans, and the Most Reverend Brendan Cahill, Bishop of Victoria, Texas, to campus for a day of worship, learning, and fellowship with the IBCS community.

The visit marked a homecoming for Bishop Cahill, who earned his Master of Theology from the IBCS at Xavier in 1994. His continued connection to the Institute now extends to a new generation, as one of his seminarians joined the IBCS Degree Program this summer.

During his visit, Bishop Cahill participated in the Institute’s Morning Praise and visited two Master of Theology courses: Black Approaches to Scripture, taught by Dr. Mark Enemali, CSSp, and Christology, taught by Dr. Byron Wratee. He also met with IBCS administrators to discuss opportunities to promote the Institute’s theology and ministry programs through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Archbishop Checchio and Bishop Cahill later presided at Noon Mass before joining the IBCS community for lunch, where they greeted Xavier students and dining hall staff. Also joining the visit was the Rev. R. Tony Ricard, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry. Fr. Ricard and Bishop Cahill share a special connection to Xavier and the IBCS, as Fr. Ricard also received a Master of Theology degree from the Institute in 1994.

The visit highlighted the IBCS’s longstanding role in theological education, ministry formation, and the Black Catholic community, while strengthening relationships that support the Institute’s mission and future.