Bright blue skies and temperatures in the 70s greeted the large crowd for the fourth annual diocesan Juneteenth celebration on June 19. The event, hosted by St. Dominic Parish in Shaker Heights, drew a record-setting crowd of more than 500 people.
“We are honored to be the host of this year’s celebration of Juneteenth,” said Father Tom Fanta, St. Dominic pastor. The day began with Mass at 10 a.m., followed by lunch, games, music and other community-building activities.
“This is not a Black holiday. It is a day for all Americans to truly celebrate freedom in our nation,” Father Fanta said. “As we continue to confront the sin of racism in our society, this day marks a special time where our faith can unite us and draw us closer to Christ and each other.”
Sister Jane Nesmith, SBS, director of the diocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministries, said the theme for this year’s celebration was Christian unity. “That’s what it’s all about – Christian unity, which is something we all need to focus on,” she added.
(See photo gallery above.)
The origins of Juneteenth date to 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which granted freedom to slaves in the United States. But there were slaves in Texas who were not aware they had been granted freedom until Union Gen. Gordon Granger read the federal orders to them on June 19, 1865. Father Fanta said Juneteenth is the oldest-known nationally celebrated event commemorating the end of slavery.
He was the principal celebrant at the Juneteenth Mass. Father Sidney Speaks, a priest from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, delivered a riveting homily that held the attention of the congregation. Concelebrants included Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, and the pastors of two African American parishes: Father Dave Domanski, OFM Cap, Holy Spirit in Cleveland, and Father Paul Dressler, OFM Cap, St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima, also in Cleveland. The Diocesan Gospel Choir and the diocesan Youth Praise Dancers also participated in the liturgy.
“Today, on the streets of America, people are still walking around shackled,” Father Speaks said. “Your freedom must tell fear it’s time to go … The devil loves fear and fear drives us to do what the devil wants, not what the Lord wants.” He said as long as we have Christ, we have nothing to fear.
“There’s a freedom deeper than Juneteenth … We no longer need to be shackled by fear. Put your hands on the Lord. Learn how to do it God’s way. His way is the only way … If God tells you to do something, even if it doesn’t make sense, do it anyway. He’s there and will always be with you,” Father Speaks said.
In addition to St. Dominic and St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima, St. Aloysius-St. Agatha, St. Adalbert-Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Patrick (Bridge) with St. Malachi Oratory, all in Cleveland, assisted with the event.
“The people of St. Dominic really believe in inclusion and diversity and they celebrate it,” Sister Nesmith said. “Christian unity is what the Gospel message of Jesus Christ was all about. It’s a message that will take us a lifetime to learn, but we are committed to doing that,” she added.