Black History Month Celebrated in The Diocese of Western Newfoundland

a group of clergy standing behind a wooden altar, dresssed in white vestments with colourful stoles — From left to right: Rev’d Kennedy Phiri (Bonne Bay Parish); Canon Joshua Haggatrom (Grand Bay); Archbishop Percy Coffin, retired (Corner Brook); the Venerable Edward King (St. Michael and All Angels’); the Rev’d Mickton Phiri (St. Michael and All Angels’, and Diocesan Administrator, Western NL); Archdeacon Charlene Laing; the Rev’d Kudawashe Madzime (St. James the Apostle, Port aux Basques); the Rev’d Dr. Simon Muwowo (St. Paul’s United Church, Deer Lake); the Rev’d Denford Tiriabaya (White Bay )

By Elizabeth Saunders Buckle

Photography:

Melvin Gill

Topics: April 2026, Western Newfoundland

Published: April 1, 2026

St. Michael and All Angels’ Anglican parish in Corner Brook, NL, held a beautiful evening of Black history and culture on Wednesday night, February 25th, 2026. We came together in joyful praise and thanksgiving with singing, playing guitars, and drumming in a special service of Holy Eucharist. The service was officiated by the Rev’d Mickton Phiri, parish priest of St. Michael and All Angels’, and currently also the Administrator of the Diocese of Western Newfoundland, with assistance from the Venerable Edward King, Archbishop Percy Coffin, Archdeacon Charlene (who are all from Corner Brook), the Rev’d Kennedy Phiri (from the Parish of Bonne Bay South), the Rev’d Kudakwashe Madzime (from St. James the Apostle, Port aux Basques), the Rev’d Denford Tiriabaya (from the Parish of White Bay), the Rev’d Dr. Simon Muwowo (from St. Paul’s United Church in Deer Lake), Canon Joshua Haggstrom (from the Parish of Grand Bay), and laypersons.

a man preaches a sermon at the front of a church dressed in white vestments and a colourful stole — Rev’d Kuda Madzime

a woman in traditional African clothing singing into a microphone at the front of a church — Ivy Danquah singing “Sanctuary”

The Rev’d Kudawashe Madzime (Rev’d Kuda), gave the message for the evening. He gave an uplifting sermon of how

we portray the image of God not by outward appearances, but by our inward selves. He said, “It is the Spirit of God that is in you and me. In the image of God we are equal.”

We celebrated the evening in song with UnCommon Praise (our St. Michael and All Angels’ guitar group) who played the congregational hymns. The Zimbabwean community delighted us with two selections of drumming, and dancing from the young children.

At the closing of the service, Ivy Danquah (from Ghana) sang an inspirational rendition of “Sanctuary”.

The festivities continued after the blessing with a tea in the hall. Many stayed to enjoy the taste of some Zimbabwean and Nigerian foods, including boiled peanuts which seemed to be a favourite with the children. As we say in Newfoundland and Labrador, “A good time was had by all!” which can be compared to an African saying that Rev’d Kuda shared, which translated it means, “I Am because We Are.” As Rev’d Mickton expressed this feeling wholeheartedly on St. Michael and All Angels’ Facebook page “…prayers rose to God in different languages, reminding us that the Church truly speaks with many voices, yet shares one Spirit.”