First Black man ordained a permanent deacon in Minnesota dies at 84

Deacon Fred Johnson, who served St. Peter Claver in St. Paul for all of his nearly 25 years in ministry, died Oct. 1 at age 84.

On Sept. 27, 1997, he became the first Black man in Minnesota ordained a permanent deacon.

In addition to his pastoral ministry, Deacon Johnson served September 2004 to March 2022 as executive secretary of the Commission on Black Catholics for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, an advisory group for the archbishop on pastoral, faith formation and social issues.

Deacon Johnson’s survivors include his wife of 55 years, Karen, two daughters, two sons, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Oct. 10 and 10 a.m. until an 11 a.m. funeral Mass Oct. 11, all at St. Peter Claver.