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Sister Mary Roger Thibodeaux of Bensalem has made community service the hallmark of her life. So, when the local Knights of Peter Claver (KOPC) held their Third Annual Philadelphia Claver Awards Banquet to commemorate the national organization’s 100th anniversary, they chose Thibodeaux as the honoree. The awards banquet was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on City Avenue last Sunday evening.

Thibodeaux is director of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament’s Center for Evangelization in Bensalem. The order was founded in 1891 by St. Katharine Drexel to serve African and Native Americans throughout the country. Thibodeaux is a sociologist and author of “A Black Nun Looks at Black Power.”

She grew up in Lake Charles, La. where she attended parochial schools staffed by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The example of her teachers, who were nuns, played a key role in her decision to join the convent. She also became a schoolteacher and has taught in Philadelphia, New York City, Cleveland and Chicago.

“These are the happiest days of my life,” said Thibodeaux. “(Being director of the evangelization center) is a way of continuing Mother Katharine Drexel’s legacy of reaching out to others. We go forth and bring people to God.”

Alonza Baker, the chair of the KOPC banquet committee, said Thibodeaux was a worthy honoree of the 2009 accolade. He pointed out that she works with the organization founded by Drexel, whose family is linked to Drexel University locally and the founding of Xavier University of New Orleans, the nation’s only Black Catholic college.

“It is just a wonderful blessing that you are celebrating your 100th anniversary,” said the Rev. Stephen D. Thorne to the full house during the ceremony. Thorne is executive director of the Archdiocese’s Office for Black Catholics. He also congratulated Thibodeaux on her award. “It’s time for us to recommit ourselves to keep on keeping on, and to continue for many more years,” he said.

Sandra Layton, president of the Philadelphia Central Committee said that she became involved in KOPC 18 years ago because of their Christian mission and high visibility within the local African-American Catholic community. She said that the group’s primary purpose is to support special events that showcase African-American Catholic history.

The Rev. Rayford Emmons, the KOPC chaplain, said that the lay organization has a rich tradition in Philadelphia. He pointed to the fact that they have held retreats to enhance the spirituality of local parishioners. “We are (visible) at all special occasions that focus on African saints as well as attend funerals, the St. Peter Claver celebration, the Martin de Porres Mass which revolves around one of our saints, and wherever we are needed,” Emmons said.

Past recipients of the Philadelphia Claver Award were the Rev. Cyprian Davis, author of “The History of Black Catholics in the United States” in 2007, and Camille Lewis Brown, author of “African Saints, African Stories: 40 Holy Men and Women” last year. KOPC was founded on Nov. 7, 1909 in Mobile, Ala. Philadelphia’s first Council and Court were founded on Dec. 7, 1976.

Besides Layton and Emmons, the 2009-2010 Central Committee officers include Knight Leonard Brooks, vice president; Lady Arintha Stewart-Bostie, treasurer; and Knight Marvin Rouse, secretary. The KOPC organization and its Ladies Auxiliary is based at 14 parishes in the local area. In Northwest Philadelphia this includes St. Athanasius and St. Benedicts in West Oak Lane, and St. Francis of AssisiGermantown. in

They also have chapters at St. Martin de Porres in North Philadelphia, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Cyprian, St. Barbara, Our Mothers of Sorrows and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in West Philadelphia. Also St. Francis de Sales and the Most Blessed Sacrament in Southwest Philadelphia have Council and Courts, as well as St. Joseph in Wilmington and St. Bartholomew in Camden.

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