About Monsignor Raymond East
Msgr. Raymond G. East is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington DC. He is pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Anacostia. He serves as the chaplain of Oracle Religious Association's evangelization and catechetical ministries.
A New Jersey native, he and his brothers and sisters grew up in San Diego. His father was an aerospace engineer, and his mother was a lifelong teacher in early childhood education. His father’s parents were Baptist missionaries to South Africa, near the birthplace of Nelson Mandela. Seven of their eight children were born on the Buchannan Mission. His Aunt Gladys East heard the mission call and spent her life working on the Baptist missions in Liberia. Her witness influenced Fr. Raymond to enter the seminary.
He was ordained in 1981 having attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Fr. East has spent forty-one years working in Black parishes in the District of Columbia. Six of those years were spent as diocesan director of the Office of Black Catholics. He was also designated as the archdiocesan evangelist. This experience allowed him to work with African American Catholics, who have had a presence in the archdiocese for over 380 years.
He also gained experience working with diverse African diaspora communities in the Archdiocese of Washington. Black Catholics in the Archdiocese also include numerous African nations, and communities from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Within the Archdiocese of Washington there exist The African Catholic Association, The Caribbean Catholic Association, the Haitian Catholic Apostolate, and The Ge’ez Rite Parish. As pastor of St. Teresa of Avila, the parish has twinned with St. Antoine Parish in the Diocese of Jeremie in Haiti.
Fr. East was named Monsignor in 1991. He has served on archdiocesan boards and worked strongly with community organizations. His memberships include The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, The National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and Pax Christi. He was the General Chairman of the “Lead Me, Guide Me” Hymnal, second edition.
As a "Man of the Cloth," Msgr. East exudes a profound spirit of a Eucharistic presence so that others might eat. He is the embodiment of the unity that Jesus Christ holds for His people.
He was ordained in 1981 having attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Fr. East has spent forty-one years working in Black parishes in the District of Columbia. Six of those years were spent as diocesan director of the Office of Black Catholics. He was also designated as the archdiocesan evangelist. This experience allowed him to work with African American Catholics, who have had a presence in the archdiocese for over 380 years.
He also gained experience working with diverse African diaspora communities in the Archdiocese of Washington. Black Catholics in the Archdiocese also include numerous African nations, and communities from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Within the Archdiocese of Washington there exist The African Catholic Association, The Caribbean Catholic Association, the Haitian Catholic Apostolate, and The Ge’ez Rite Parish. As pastor of St. Teresa of Avila, the parish has twinned with St. Antoine Parish in the Diocese of Jeremie in Haiti.
Fr. East was named Monsignor in 1991. He has served on archdiocesan boards and worked strongly with community organizations. His memberships include The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, The National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and Pax Christi. He was the General Chairman of the “Lead Me, Guide Me” Hymnal, second edition.
As a "Man of the Cloth," Msgr. East exudes a profound spirit of a Eucharistic presence so that others might eat. He is the embodiment of the unity that Jesus Christ holds for His people.