Since the late 1980's the major cities in the Netherlands are home to a growing number of Christian congregations, founded in particular by Africans. This study investigates whether, for African Catholics in the Netherlands, religion contributes to their segregation, integration or assimilation. It contains a comparative case study of the experiences, patterns of affiliation, identity discourse, and social relationships encountered among African Catholics in three faith communities: a Dutch, an international, and an African parish respectively.