Charles Uncles
Encyclopedia
Father Charles Randolph Uncles, a native of Baltimore
, was educated at a Quebec
seminary
and in 1891 became the first black American ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the United States. He was one of the founders of the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart
, formed to minister to the black community.
During his studies at St. Hyacinthe College-Seminary in Quebec, Canada
, Uncles became fluent in Latin
, Greek
and French
. He graduated with the highest grades in his class. Returning to the US, he studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained in December 1891 at the Cathedral of the Assumption by Cardinal James Gibbons. He celebrated his first Mass on Christmas
Day.
From 1891-1925 Father Uncles taught mainly in Epiphany College in Baltimore and New Windsor, New York
. He was one of the founding members of the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart in Baltimore in 1893, also known as the Josephite Fathers
.
While residing at Epiphany College, Uncles fell ill and died July 21, 1933. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery, July 24,1933 , Josephite Plot, Section "B" in New Windsor. Calvary Cemetery is located on corner of Route 9W, Cedar Ave and Walsh's Road, New Windsor NY and operated by Saint Patrick's Catholic Church of Newburgh, NY.
.
He was the son of Lorenzo and Anna Marie (Buchanan) Uncles. They were parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church in East Baltimore
.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, was educated at a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and in 1891 became the first black American ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the United States. He was one of the founders of the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart
Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
, formed to minister to the black community.
During his studies at St. Hyacinthe College-Seminary in Quebec, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Uncles became fluent in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He graduated with the highest grades in his class. Returning to the US, he studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained in December 1891 at the Cathedral of the Assumption by Cardinal James Gibbons. He celebrated his first Mass on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day.
From 1891-1925 Father Uncles taught mainly in Epiphany College in Baltimore and New Windsor, New York
New Windsor, New York
New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 25,244 in 2010 by the US Census.The Town of New Windsor is in the eastern part of the county, bordering the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh....
. He was one of the founding members of the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart in Baltimore in 1893, also known as the Josephite Fathers
Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
.
While residing at Epiphany College, Uncles fell ill and died July 21, 1933. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery, July 24,1933 , Josephite Plot, Section "B" in New Windsor. Calvary Cemetery is located on corner of Route 9W, Cedar Ave and Walsh's Road, New Windsor NY and operated by Saint Patrick's Catholic Church of Newburgh, NY.
.
He was the son of Lorenzo and Anna Marie (Buchanan) Uncles. They were parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church in East Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
External links
- Agnes Kane, "Meeting the Pioneers of Black Catholicism", National Black Catholic Congress