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Washington, D.C.—Ansel Joseph Augustine, D.Min., has been appointed Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In this capacity, Dr. Augustine will staff the Bishops’ Subcommittee on African American Affairs, and assist the Secretariat’s efforts to promote intercultural competence in ministry and the pastoral care of many diverse Catholic communities. He will join the Bishop’s Conference starting April 2, 2024.
Up until now, Dr. Augustine has been the Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where previously he served also as the Associate Director/Coordinator of Black Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the CYO Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office. He also is the former Executive Director of Cultural Diversity and Outreach for the Archdiocese of Washington.
Dr. Augustine serves on the Board of Trustees of St. Michael's College (Burlington, Vermont). He is also on the Faculty of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, Graduate Theological Foundation, and Loyola University New Orleans’ Institute for Ministry. Dr. Augustine has also served as a campus minister at Xavier University of Louisiana, Loyola University New Orleans, and St. John’s University in Queens, NY. Dr. Augustine has served on the board of directors for the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA) and the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).
He began his career in ministry over 25 years ago when he became the youth minister at his home parish of St. Peter Claver in the Treme area of New Orleans, which he helped to rebuild following hurricane Katrina. He has presented workshops and keynotes around the country and has written various pieces related to ministry including The African American Catholic Youth Bible and, the award-winning book, Leveling the Praying Field: Can the Church we Love, Love us Back?
Dr. Augustine is also an Emmy-nominated producer for the documentary “Black Faith Matters.” He has also worked in prison ministry for over 25 years. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Peter Claver, and the Wild Tchoupitoulas (Black Masking) Mardi Gras Indians. He is also an Associate Member of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Augustine has worked with various USCCB offices and committees throughout the years on various projects relating to youth, young adults, and multicultural ministry.
“Dr. Augustine is no stranger to the work of the Conference or to the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church. Ansel brings tremendous talent and experience to the Bishops’ Conference. I cannot wait to have him on board on a full-time basis,” said Mar Muñoz-Visoso, the Secretariat’s Executive Director.
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