(Slideshow) 7 Inspirational Black American Catholic trailblazers on the path to sainthood

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Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1776-1853)

Born in Haiti, Toussaint was enslaved by the Bérard family, who fled to New York due to the slave uprising. He trained as a hairdresser and was eventually freed by the family. He paid for the freedom of his sister and his future wife and continued his generosity by donating to the local orphan asylum and welcoming orphans into his home. He and his wife financially supported the construction of NYC's St. Patrick's Cathedral as well as the city's first Catholic school for Black children.

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