By Britney Cridland, Senior, St. Catharine Academy in the Bronx
Pierre Toussaint was born into slavery in what is now Haiti in 1766. He died as a free man, a popular hairdresser, and one of the most well-known Catholics of New York City.
Pierre lived on a plantation owned by the Bérard family with his mother, sister and grandmother; He was raised Catholic and educated by a tutor in the Bérard household to become a house slave. As unrest increased in Haiti, many enslaved and free people of color became involved in the Haitian Revolution, causing the Bérards to leave for New York City. They took five of their enslaved people with them, including Pierre.
When they arrived in New York, Bérard had Pierre become an apprentice to one of New York’s leading hairdressers. Pierre was eventually freed from slavery, in 1807 and became a successful hairdresser, earning enough to buy his sister’s freedom.
On August 5, 1811, Pierre married a woman named Juliette Noel, an enslaved woman. The Toussaints became known for their charity, often taking baked goods to the children of a nearby orphanage and donating money to its operations. Pierre attended Mass daily for 66 years at St. Peter’s in New York City and was instrumental in raising money to build what is now known as Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He owned a house on Franklin Street where he and his family sheltered orphans and fostered boys. He supported them getting an education and learning a trade. The Toussaints also organized a credit bureau, an employment agency, and a shelter for priests and travelers. Being fluent in French and English, Pierre was an advocate for Haitian immigrants coming into New York City. He crossed barriers to take care of quarantined cholera patients during an epidemic in New York.
Pierre Toussaint died on June 30, 1853 at the age of 87. He lived a long and fulfilling life, dedicating most of his time helping those in need. He was the first and only layman to be buried in the crypt below the main altar of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, which is reserved for archbishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. As the patron of barbers and hair stylists, Pierre was declared Venerable in 1996.
What I found most inspiring about Pierre’s work is that he committed most of his life to charity and to God, even though he was brought into this world as a slave and faced discrimination because of his race. It is very important today that Black Catholics should be recognized as saints because they continue to devote their lives to God, despite all the racism and discrimination they may experience from others. Pierre is very similar to Catherine McAuley, who is an important figure to my school, St. Catharine Academy, because she created the Sisters of Mercy and dedicated her life to serving the poor, sick, and uneducated. She rejected societal norms of her time, since many women did not have access to education; Catherine McAuley not only provided girls with education but also a place to stay. Pierre also defied societal norms; a former slave who, after winning his freedom, devoted his life to serving others. His life teaches current and future Catholics to look after others who are in need. He also teaches us to put our trust in God’s hands.