Ordination, Tour, Detroit
Known Itinerary of Father’s Dukette Ordination Tour in 1926.
Timeline Maker Link:
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February 7th, Sunday, 1926: At the age of 34, Father Norman Dukkete became only the second black diocesan priest in the United States to be ordained. Upon his ordination, Dukkete was not immediately assigned to a parish, instead he traveled the U.S. for about a year, stopping at different churches around the country. The purposes of these travels where to survey the progress of Catholicism within the black community, but it can also be presumed that it could have also bought time so that the bishop could decide where to assign Dukette.
Washington D.C., Sunday, February 21st, 1926: Father Dukkete celebrates his first solemn high mass at St. Augustine’s Church in Washington D.C., the ceremony also counted with the presence of his brother, Charles A. Dukette, who acted as a master of ceremonies, and the service was broadcasted from the church radio station.
Chicago, Sunday, February 28th, 1926: Dukette officiates a solemn high mass at St. Elizabeths Church.
Detroit, March ~ June 1926: Articles from the time period stated that Father Dukette would go back to Detroit after his stop in Chicago, although it is hard to know for sure if he went back, it might actually have been true since the next time we heard of his tour would be in June.
Baltimore, Sunday, June 6th, 1926: Dukette celebrated a solemn high Mass at St. Monicas Catholic Church. He also visited Father John H. Dorsey, who was sick at the time.
Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 13th,1926: Father Dukette celebrated mass and preached a sermon at St. Benedict Church in Pittsburgh. He made the trip at the request of the pastor of the church at the time, referred to as Father White. The period Dukette was visiting coincided with the 11th anniversary of the church.
Chicago, June 20th ~ June 24th 1926: Dukette is said to have been enroute to Chicago in order to participate in the 28th International Catholic Eucharistic Convention, which happened from June 20th to June 24th. It is unclear if Father Dukkete attended all of the four days of the event. A papal delegation consisting of 6 cardinals and 60 bishops also attended the event.
Baltimore, Saturday, July 3rd, 1926: Returning to St. Monica Church, Father Dukette and two other priests officiated a solemn Mass of Requiem for the now deceased Reverend John H. Dorsey, who he had visited previously in June. Dorsey was the second colored priest to be ordained in the country. It was also the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States that a Mass of Requiem was officiated by three black priests. Dukette served as a sub-deacon at the mass.
Cincinnati, Sunday, August 15th, 1926: Father Dukette goes to Holy Trinity Church, where he is welcomed by Rev. Leo M. Walsh and participates in the unveiling ceremony of a statue of St. Peter Claver. The demonstration featured both white and black speakers, and veterans of the Spanish-American war were honored.
Columbus, Sunday, August 22nd, 1926: Dukette celebrated high Mass at St. Cyprian Church and remained as a guest during the annual home-coming fete of the parishioners on the following Tuesday.
Washington D.C., Sunday, December 5th, 1926: This is the last we hear of Father Dukette’s tour, as he’s back in Washington where he preached sermon at the “Convention of Colored Catholics”.
Bibliography
“Father Duckett At St. Monica’s Church.” The Baltimore Afro-American, June 12, 1926.
“Rev. Father Duckette Celebrated High Solemn Mass at St. Elizabeth Church Last Sunday Morning.” Chicago Broad Axe, March 6, 1926.
“Colored Priest to Visit Holy Trinity Church for Big Celebration, August 15.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 29. July 22, 1926.
“Convention of Colored Catholics.” The Western Outlook. December 18, 1926.
“EXERCISES PLANNED FOR SCHOOL YEAR OPENING AT LANE SEMINARY.” The Cincinnati Post, August 7, 1926.
“Father Duckette Visits Columbus.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 34. August 26, 1926.
“Father Duckette Well Received at Columbus.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 35. September 2, 1926.
“Federated Colored Catholics to Meet.” The N.C.W.C News Sheet. November 22, 1926.
“Holy Trinity Church.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 31. August 5, 1926.
“Holy Trinity Church.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 31. August 5, 1926.
N.C.W.C. News Services. “Negro Catholics Give Thanks For Colored Clergy.” The N.C.W.C News Sheet. December 13, 1926.
“NEGRO MISSION PRODUCES FRUIT. Visit of Colored Priest Shows HolyTrinityParish Prospering. ARCHBISHOP IS GRATIFIED Equal Opportunities In Catholic Church For Race.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 33. August 19, 1926.
“"RADIO BROADCASTS PRIEST’S FIRST MASS: Father Duckette Officiates At St. Augustine’s In Washington.” The Baltimore Afro American, January 27, 1926.
“Three Negro Priests Officiate at Funeral Mass of Father John H. Dorsey, S. S. J.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 28. July 15, 1926.
“Twenty-One Priests Added to the Diocesan Clergy of Detroit Last Sunday.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 6. February 11, 1926.
“Young Colored Priest to Be Pittsburgh Guest.” The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXXV, Number 21. May 27, 1926.