Father William Norvel is the first African American to head a Catholic order, the Josephites, a group of Catholic priests who came from Europe 140 years ago to minister to freed slaves. St. Francis Xavier Church in East Baltimore was the first Catholic Church in the United States officially established for African Americans. source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/therootdc/norvel-becomes-first-african-american-to-head-josephites/2011/10/04/gIQAeYNXLL_video.html#