Every year the diocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministry sponsors a retreat for young black Catholics. The retreat, called Kujenga, is inspired by its namesake, which is a Swahili word meaning “to build up.”

The annual retreat is held over the weekend at a local camp, allowing the youth to bond and grow in their faith. 

This year marked one youth’s third year of attendance. Daniel C. Robinson is a rising 10th, and he attended this year’s retreat, which was held from March 21-23 at Springville Camp in Odenville.

“Camp Kujenga is an awesome opportunity to build leadership skills and connect with others from different backgrounds, schools, families, and cultures,” remarked Robinson. 

“These experiences help us recognize the importance of God, the purpose of Church, and our purpose too. … When we participate, we learn new things about being a black Catholic, the role of the Catholic Church, and we build on skills that be used in school and any life situation.”