By Marnita Coleman
Special to the AFRO
For 15 years, Historic St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Baltimore’s Oliver Street community has recognized the quiet power and perseverance of Black Catholic women whose contributions often go unseen.
Now, for the first time, a young adult has joined their ranks.
Varia Alston, 21, a junior at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., was named the inaugural young adult recipient of the Unsung Black Catholic Woman Award, presented annually by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), Court St. Francis Xavier #2257. The award celebrates women whose service to the church, community and family reflects deep commitment and faith, without seeking recognition.
“I was shocked,” Alston said. “I thought it was for older women or more adult women. But I was very excited. These awards recognize Black women in the church who do things without being asked, giving them their flowers while they’re here. We do it because we love our church.”
Alston, who is pursuing a degree in business administration with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, has been committed to service since childhood. A member of the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, she began volunteering at age 7 and continued through age 18.
“It doesn’t hurt to help people out every once in a while, just to give back to your community,” she said. “I may not have the money, but I can give the time.”
The Unsung Black Catholic Woman Award was established in February 2010 by CDA Court St. Francis Xavier #2257, the first Black Catholic Daughters court in Maryland. It was created to honor women whose spiritual and social contributions often go unrecognized, even within their own congregations.
“Too few Black Catholic women were being uplifted,” said Valerie Grays, vice regent of the court. “We decided we had to do something to change that.”
The award has since become a signature event for the church, taking place annually during a period that bridges Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Over the years, more than 80 women have been honored.
This year’s awardees include longtime parishioners Kay G. Bee and Nina Shipman-Vick, alongside Alston. Each honoree was selected through a rigorous nomination process involving family, friends and fellow parishioners. Nominees must be shown to make meaningful, specific contributions to the church, their families or the broader community.
The goal, according to Grays, is to lift up women whose lives reflect “quiet excellence,” those who lead not for recognition, but from a place of deep love and faith.
The award is one part of the Catholic Daughters’ national “Circle of Love” program, which focuses on seven core areas: education, family, leadership, legislation, quality of life, spiritual enhancement and youth/junior CDA.
At Court #2257 that mission has blossomed into a dynamic, culturally rooted initiative. With each ceremony, the award helps reclaim and preserve the spiritual legacies of Black women in the church, an effort that organizers say is both timely and necessary.
“Having a program like this is important,” said Grays. “It helps us define who we are, what we are doing and what our future holds.”
Recognizing the present helps shape the future. And in a reflection of that future, the court recently announced the launch of a new companion honor: the Unsung Black Catholic Man Award, which will recognize the often-overlooked contributions of Black men in the church.
With her name now etched into this growing legacy, Varia Alston represents not only a new generation of service, but a reminder that dedication to faith and community starts early, and deserves to be seen.
“People can help people,” she said. “I am always doing things to help out at the church.”