06/19/2026
Today we commemorate Juneteenth, marking the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
We will never forget our nation's painful legacy of slavery as we honor the resilience of Black Americans whose forced labor helped build the United States. We reflect on the lives lost to slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, past and present and pray for the humility to confront historical truths, uplift marginalized voices, and commit to justice, healing, and racial equity.
Let us Pray:
God of all peoples, of all nations,
On this day of freedom, we celebrate triumphantly with all people
of goodwill that we might walk arm in arm towards justice for all.
Breathe into us your eternal breath, that we may never tire of ensuring a flourishing life for all people, but most especially, those brothers & sisters whose growth has been stifled by the trauma of being enslaved.
O God, we know and have seen your goodness, and because of it, we cling to the hope that unity and liberation for all are within our grasp. Continue to show us your goodness, that we may have the strength to advance your kingdom with humility and grace.
Through Christ our Lord, we pray, Amen.
(Prayer by: Catholic Health Association of the United States)
