"A word that is important in our faith is 'thrive.' We have to get to the point where we are thriving, not just surviving. ... It's in the thriving that we are truly living."

Such were the words of Sister Cora Marie Billings during the annual Day of Reflection in preparation for the upcoming NBCC | The National Black Catholic Congress XIII.

Father Vincent Guest, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish - Camden NJ, led the about 50 people from parishes across the Diocese of Camden in prayer Nov. 5 in Sicklerville before the daylong retreat got underway.

For full coverage, see the next issue of the Catholic Star Herald.