Detroit — For the black Catholic community, the Church plays a role in many aspects of life.

It offers education, community action, social justice and a sound footing to bring people together. But most of all, the Church provides something that unites everybody — the Eucharist.

For the Archdiocese of Detroit’s newly appointed coordinator of black Catholic ministries, Leon Dixon Jr., the mission can be challenging, but necessary.

“My job is to provide a voice for a community that has a voice, but needs to be heard,” Dixon said. “All talents are given by God; what better way to use those talents than give a voice to people who need a voice?”

Dixon was hired Jan. 19 after serving as executive director of Kingdom Vision Human Services in Detroit. Growing up in Detroit, Dixon was baptized at Precious Blood Parish, and went to school at Gesu.

“Most people are caught off guard about black Catholic ministry,” said Dixon, a parishioner of St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit. “You never hear about black Catholic ministry; you don’t think of the African-American community as a traditionally Catholic community.”

Dixon said many Catholic institutions in Detroit have had a big impact on the lives of African-Americans.

The closing of several inner-city churches and schools has caused the remaining, predominantly black parishes to become more creative in their outreach, Dixon said.

“The Church is still standing in the city; we still have the sacraments and faith life is strong,” Dixon said. “So the challenge now is to find new parishioners. For years, we’ve had the tradition of the schools instructing people in the faith. Now, it’s going door to door. Some churches have adopted ministries throughout the city.”

Dixon cited the Knights of Peter Clever as an example of the different ways black Catholics reach out to the wider community. But the extent of black Catholic ministry goes beyond Detroit, he said.

“We also have the challenge of connecting with brothers and sisters across the archdiocese,” Dixon said. “Some think Detroit is the only place where there are black Catholics, forgetting places like Southfield, Pontiac, Mount Clemens and Port Huron.”

Dixon has spent most of his first month visiting black Catholic communities to get a feel for things, but he’d like to see more work done connecting groups in Detroit’s suburbs with those in the city.

“We are more powerful when we unite as one,” Dixon said. “You see all the mega-churches around town, but how much more ‘mega’ can you get than the Catholic Church? It’s the universal Church. We have so much to offer the black community in terms of social justice, outreach and uniting people of all backgrounds together.”