Outreach Ministry

The Guild of The Black Madonna is an organization that began at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota in October 1976 at the request of The Rt. Rev. Chester L. Talton. The members were in their 20’s and 30’s, mostly employed young mothers, Mrs. Karen Talton being the mother of four young children herself. Rev. Talton asked the women to support one another spiritually and to nurture our young children. He would later become the Rt. Rev. Talton, serving as bishop suffragan in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, California.

The Guild chose its name during a time of great pride in who we were and with a reverence for Mary, the Blessed Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. A statue of great renown exists in Czestochowa, Poland, a beautiful Black Madonna is in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a third in France.

The members of the Guild are still busy, after 35 years of serving the Twin Cities area as chair members, vestry members, Sunday School teachers, Altar Guild, Lay Readers and Chalice Bearers, Ushers, Coffee Sip participants, Bereavement Committee, Acolytes and Youth leaders, and is the chief community outreach service of the church.

The Guild of The Black Madonna also served the St. Paul area with a food shelf for 20 years until the church building was sold. The Guild members bring suggestions to the meetings and projects are selected.