Each year on June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors the resilience, faith and contributions of African Americans throughout our nation’s history.
While President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many enslaved people remained unaware of their freedom. It was not until June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, that the news of emancipation reached those who had remained enslaved. This historic day became known as Juneteenth and is now recognized as a federal holiday.
For the Felician Sisters, Juneteenth is more than a remembrance of a historical event. It is an opportunity to reflect on the sacred dignity of every human person and our shared responsibility to promote justice and peace.
Our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, responded to the needs of her time with courage and compassion. Today, we are called to do the same by recognizing the ways injustice continues to affect individuals and communities and by working to build a society rooted in respect, understanding and solidarity.
Juneteenth invites us to celebrate freedom while also acknowledging the ongoing journey toward racial justice and reconciliation. It reminds us that true freedom flourishes when all people have the opportunity to live with dignity, hope and equal access to the resources they need to thrive.
As members of the Felician family, we recommit ourselves to our core values of Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Transformation, Solidarity with Those in Need, and Justice and Peace. We pray for a world where barriers of prejudice and discrimination are replaced with understanding, where communities are strengthened through diversity.
On this Juneteenth, may we give thanks for the gift of freedom, honor those who struggled and sacrificed for justice, and continue the work of creating a more just and compassionate world for future generations.
