All are welcome to the Diocesan Juneteenth celebration to be held here at St. Dominic Church on June 19, 2026. 

June 19, called Juneteenth, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. The now-national celebration recognizes the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they had been freed two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The observance became a federal holiday in 2021.

Our celebration will begin with a Juneteenth Mass at 10 a.m.featuring the Diocesan Gospel Choir and praise dancers.  The guest celebrant will be Fr. Sidney Speaks from the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

After Mass, the outdoor activities will begin. Get ready for games, food, an African-American storyteller, a DJ and line dancing, and activities led by Recess Cleveland.

This special Freedom Day is sponsored by the Cleveland Diocese’s Office of Black Catholic Ministries, with support from several Black Catholic churches.

Free and open to the public, the event will bring together St. Dominic members with guests from other parishes. No registration is needed. We hope to see you there.

Parishioner Lorna Askew, who is coordinating the celebration, said that St. Dominic is a fitting setting for this important event. “Our parish lives by the belief that all are welcome in the kingdom of heaven. While our congregation is majority white, our commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and individuality is strong.”

“We have a vibrant community that embraces opportunities to learn, grow, and walk in solidarity with people of color,” she said. “Hosting Juneteenth allows us to build bridges and to listen, learn, and enjoy the rich cultural history of the Juneteenth experience.”

For more information about the event, contact Lorna Askew at lornaaskew1@gmail.com.

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