June 19: Juneteenth

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free...” Luke 4, 18

As we celebrate the relatively new federal holiday Juneteenth, we find ourselves reflecting on its history, its enduring significance, and why this observance speaks to our hearts. What we are celebrating is an opportunity to remember and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of racial justice. As Catholics, we can share the light of our commitment to all human dignity.

Juneteenth also challenges us – as individuals, as a society, and as the Church – to renew our commitment to reconciliation and peace. In his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV reminds us that true peace is inseparable from justice: 

“All of us, at every level, can contribute to building the foundation of peace, which is justice. We do not merely seek any kind of peace – such as an absence of conflict at any cost – but instead, the true peace born of justice. Do you therefore wish to attain peace? Then practice justice! Let us never grow weary of seeking justice!” (no. 215) 

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For some of the history behind Juneteenth: https://adw.org/living-the-faith/our-cultures/celebrating-juneteenth/