Where to find a Catholic Juneteenth event (2024 edition)

Juneteenth will be celebrated throughout the United States on June 19 as a federal holiday, giving Americans ample opportunity to honor the legacy—and eventual freedom—of African Americans enslaved under state-sanctioned bondage.

For Black Catholics, the day may hold special significance, as the original Juneteenth celebrations were born from the 1865 decree known as General Order No. 3, issued in Galveston, Texas, where the last enslaved African Americans remained for some time after Lincoln's proclamation in 1863. In that same city in 1528, an enslaved Black Catholic explorer named Esteban became one of the first Africans to set foot in what would become the United States.

Below can be found a variety of events celebrating Juneteenth this year in the Catholic tradition, those organized by Catholics, as well as those being held in a Catholic venue.

(This list is not exhaustive. All the included information is subject to change and should be confirmed with event organizers. Please contact your local diocese, Black Catholic office, or a Black parish in your area for any additional events in your area.)

National

6/19 (hybrid): Africa Faith and Justice Network Juneteenth Mass with Fr Barthelemy Bazema, M.Afr at 12pm ET. RSVP for in-person address.

Baton Rouge

6/22: Rise St. James Juneteenth teach-in with Lt. Gen. Russel Honore and Wild Wayne at Welcome Park in St. James at 6pm CT.

Bridgeport

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Wilton with Dr. Julie Hughes and Fr Reggie Norman at 6:30pm ET.

Camden

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at Christ the King Catholic Church in Haddonfield with Br Mickey McGrath, OSFS at 7pm ET.
6/22: Juneteenth prayer service at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church at 11:30am ET.

Charleston

6/15: Juneteenth virtual celebration at 10am ET.
6/23: Homecoming Juneteenth celebration at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Greenville with Mass at 12pm ET and jazz concert at 2pm.

Charlotte

6/15: Juneteenth prayer service and celebration at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville at 10:30am ET.

Chicago

6/15: Juneteenth celebration at St. Benedict Catholic Church at 11am CT.
6/16: Juneteenth celebration at St. Sabina Catholic Church with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson at 10am CT.
6/19: Juneteenth block party at The Woodlawn at 12pm CT with music from the St. Leo Catholic School Choir.

Cleveland

6/15: Juneteenth celebration at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike at 11am ET.
6/19: Outdoor Juneteenth Mass at Glenview Park with Bishop Edward Malesic at 10am ET. Celebration to follow.

Dallas

6/29: Juneteenth celebration at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Opal Lee at 10am CT.
6/15: Juneteenth celebration at 2850 Park Ridge Dr in Cedar Hill with the Original Pinettes Brass Band at 4pm CT.

Davenport

6/17: Juneteenth prayer service and ice cream social at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville at 6:30pm CT.

Denver

6/19: Juneteenth Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr Eric David Zegeer and music from Higher Ground at 9am MT.

Detroit

6/15: Mass of Peace and Justice at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr Tyrone Robinson at 5pm ET.

Galveston-Houston

6/19: Juneteenth virtual discussion with Cornelia Harris Banks at 10am CT.
6/19: Psalms for the Soul event at the Texas Southern Catholic Newman Center at 6pm CT.

Jefferson City

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at St. Joseph Catholic Church Hall in Fayette with Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson Jr. at 6:19pm CT.

Los Angeles

6/19: Juneteenth Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westwood with Fr Steve Bell, CSP at 9am PT.
6/19: Juneteenth Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wilmington with Fr Claude Williams, O.Praem at 3pm PT.

Louisville

6/15: Juneteenth celebration at St. Monica Catholic Church in Bardstown with keynote speaker Tia Arnett at 12pm ET.

Nashville

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at the Christ the King Catholic School field at 5:30pm CT. Food will be provided and bring a side to share.

Newark

6/23: Juneteenth celebration concert at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart with the Festival Chorale at 3pm ET. Tickets $10.

New York

6/10-18: Love’s Luggage Project Juneteenth collection at the Lt Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr Community Center from 10am to 6pm ET.
6/19: Juneteenth Mass at the Church of St. Francis Xavier at 9am ET.
6/19: Juneteenth virtual prayer service with the Church of St. Francis Xavier at 7pm ET.
6/22: Virtual Rosary in Honor of the Saintly Six with the Church of St. Francis Xavier at 7:30pm ET.

Oakland

6/16: Juneteenth community reception at St. Columba Catholic Church after the 10:30am PT Mass. Refreshments and snacks provided.

Philadelphia

6/18: Juneteenth virtual book discussion at 7:30pm ET.

Pittsburgh

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at Duquesne University’s Union Africa Room with Jacqueline Clarke at 11am ET.

Richmond

6/19: Juneteenth celebration at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk at 10am ET.

Rochester

6/19: Juneteenth celebration with Catholic Charities Chemung/Schuyler at Elmira Community Kitchen at 11am ET.

San Diego

6/16: Juneteenth Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church with Cardinal Robert McElroy and Fr Bart Landry, CSP at 8:30am PT. Reception to follow.

St. Augustine

6/15: “Voices of My People” Mass premiere (Southeast) at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Jacksonville at 5pm ET.
6/19: “100 Years of Rhapsody in Blue: New Orleans meets Harlem” Juneteenth concert at Lewis Auditorium with Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation (Rodney Jordan and Jason Marsalis) at 7:30pm ET.

St. Louis

6/22: Forgive Us Our Trespasses: Maafa prayer service and procession at the Basilica of St. Louis King of France (Old Cathedral) at 9am CT.

Washington

6/16: Juneteenth Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Landover Hills, Maryland, with Cardinal Wilton Gregory at 11am ET.
6/18: “Facing Georgetown’s History through Art” event at Georgetown University’s Lauinger Library at 12:30pm ET. Refreshments will be served.
6/19 (hybrid): Juneteenth prayer breakfast at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Panorama Room with guest preacher Rev. William Young IV at 10am ET.
6/19: Juneteenth Day of Service at the Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemetery of Georgetown at 11am ET. Lunch provided and musical prayer service to follow.
6/19: Juneteenth Mass and plaque dedication at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 5:30pm ET.
6/19:

Wichita

6/15: Juneteenth parade at Holy Savior Catholic Academy at 11:30am CT. Celebration to follow.

Wilmington

6/19: “Still We Rise” celebration at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church with Rev. Aaron Moore at 6:30pm ET.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.