A church in Bergen County is a key part of African American history in New Jersey and in the United States.

The Society of African Missions located in Tenafly is the U.S. headquarters for the SMA Fathers, which does missionary work throughout the country.

The SMA was founded in France in the 1800's and expanded throughout the world. The New Jersey location was first out of three in the U.S.

The SMA fathers hold regular Catholic Mass, but the organization has roots tied to African culture. The building in Tenafly also houses a museum with special artifacts from Africa.

"When we went to Africa to evangelize, initially, a lot of them went to west Africa, east Africa, south north, all over... to bring Christianity to the people of Africa," said house superior and missionary Austin Ochu. "So as they came back, they came with those artifacts."

House superior Austin Ochu says it's even more significant because of the museum.

"Looking at the masks or looking at the beautiful cloths with different symbols, it brings the heritage back," he says.

Artifacts, like African masks, were used for celebrations that were meant to unite villages that had disagreements.

"Most of the symbols are symbols of justice or symbols of peace," said Ochu.

The main display is the large mask in the center of the museum.

"You see a lot of warriors trying to guard the king and that's the king sitting right there in the center," he says.

Other statues and artwork telling the story of unity.

"We have this saying in Africa; because we are, therefore, I am." And they teach the importance of honoring ancestors. "The ancestors, the living and the unborn. They are all connected," says Ochu.

He says knowing the past is essential for shaping the future.