Teresa Phillips Director of Office of Justice Peace and Care for Creation

On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. For 150 years, many people have celebrated this date, known as Juneteenth, as the true end to slavery. Last year, Juneteenth was recognized and made a federal holiday. We invite you to read this message from Sister Teresita Weind, SNDdeN

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Teresa Phillips

 

 

Juneteenth: A Message from Sister Teresita Weind, SNDdeN

Sister Teresita Weind, SNDdeN Image courtesy of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Office of African American Ministries

Each year's celebration of Juneteenth marks the growth of our commitment to the sacred humanity of African Americans. 400+ years of slavery, white supremacy, and racism, were intended to annihilate any personal sense of dignity and worth of our humanity. Ethnic cleansing should have destroyed us by now. But the "souls of Black people" simply could not be destroyed.  Not only have the multitudes of Black folks risen above abandonment and oppression, but Black folks have also contributed to the growth of the United States.  

Juneteenth focuses on who we are, what we overcame, and the dreams we have for the future of "the beloved community" (as envisioned by Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.). Black folks are here! We survived, and we are cooperating with God's dream and plan for harmony with all life on this planet.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to celebrate the strength and perseverance of African Americans, and all of those who faithfully and steadily walked with us in the past and support us now in the present where we suffer through a rise in white nationalism and supremacy, calculated massacres of Black people in churches, grocery stores, shopping malls, schools, and work sites. 

It is our firm determination to make decisions based on hope and the vision for freedom, justice, respect, and reverence for all people. 

Sister Teresita Weind, SNDdeN

 

Take Actions with us:

The USCCB is calling on Catholics to contact their elected officials and demand action to address gun violence. LCWR has released a statement as well. You can sign a letter to your elected officials through the USCCB website. I encourage you to add a personal statement to your letter where the form allows. 

There have been 212 mass shootings so far in 2022, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. If you would like to find advocacy opportunities, please visit Moms Demand Action / Everytown for Gun Safety.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) just proposed a groundbreaking rule that all publicly traded companies measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions in a standardized way for the first time. This is a big deal. You can take action by sending support to the SEC for this rule.

The USCCB has issued an action alert on climate legislation. They are asking American Catholics to sign this petition to legislators to enact pending bills concerning fossilfuel emissions

Sign up for Action Alerts from the Ignatian Solidarity Network for updates on the ending of Title 42. You can also view a video from Kino Border Initiative's Voices from the Border Project.

Join us in prayer for the increasing numbers of people finding it difficult to feed their families. The Jesuits have several prayers to choose from HERE.

Consider contact your elected officials to request the increase of the refugee admission goal for FY 2023. More info at Church World Service's website.

Join NETWORK to ask Congress to expand and extend the Child Tax Credit. Send a note through NETWORK's website.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Social Action Office is looking for people interested in conversing across the aisle. Join a two-part online workshop that brings together conservative leaning (red) and liberal leaning (blue) citizens for structured discussions and provides guidance within the framework of Catholic values. June 2 and June 9, 6 - 9 p.m. Register HERE.

Would you join Amnesty International’s call to President Biden? We watch the horror unfolding in Ukraine and we support President Biden’s plan to accept Ukrainian refugees. Join the call HERE.

Join the Laudato Si' Climate Action Platforms. More info HERE

Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio’s Refugee Resettlement Program will help at least 50 Afghans settle in the area over the next few months. CCSWO needs volunteers and donations of money and household items. Click here for more info.

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