The Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras

This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras.

0:00 Mardi Gras!

4:00 New York City has a new bishop

10:17 Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified

11:44 Catholic leaders respond to racist post

13:50 Villanova and Notre Dame bball in Rome!

15:14 History of Black masking culture

21:24 African Americans made Catholicism their own

24:02 Mardi Gras as sacred ritual

27:00 Tribal competition

29:10 Black and Indian cultural encounter

31:30 Hurricane Katrina is an open wound

34:04 The art of feasting

37:32 Diversity ministry is a challenge

45:24 Lenten resources and practices for 2026!

Links for further reading: 

CRS Rice Bowl Website

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada Solidarity Calendar 2026 

101 Things To Give Up For Lent

On Mardi Gras, Catholics should celebrate the faith and resilience of the New Orleans Black Masking Indians

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices