Saint Louis University's Department of Campus Ministry has curated the following links, videos and resources for prayer, managing your personal wellbeing and bringing your faith life to work for racial justice.
Prayer Resources Addressing Racism
“Racism is not one sin among many; it is a radical evil.”
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Brothers and Sisters to Us
The Department of Campus Ministry at Saint Louis University acknowledges that the recent deaths of our fellow Americans, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, continue to reveal racial injustice and inequity in our world, in our country, in our city, and yes, even at our University.
We are committed to listening to and supporting our community through our shared prayer and by creating spaces for critical reflection. We condemn the marginalization of any members of the SLU family and affirm the sacred dignity of all persons as made in the image and likeness of God.
We acknowledge, we lament, and we repent the sin of racism.
In preparing the resources below, we encourage the members of our community to pray, listen, learn and act – leading to what St. Ignatius describes as “the more” – the magis. How can we reject racism and work aggressively to remove racism and change the systems that enable racism?
- Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commencement Address at Oberlin College, June 1965
- [https://onemindpsyberguide.org/apps/liberate-meditation/] Liberate Meditation App for Black, Indigenous and People of Color
- Black Lives Matter: Weeping with Mary at the Foot of the Cross
- A Conversation with Jesus Regarding My Many Privileges
- Examen for White Allies
- Night Will Be No More – Pastoral Letter to the People of God in El Paso – Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz, Bishop of El Paso
- Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call of Love – Pastoral Letter Against Racism. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Black Lives Matter Healing Justice Working Group – Healing In Action: A Toolkit for Black Lives Matter
- American Psychological Association: Discrimination: What it is and how to cope
- Emotionally Restorative Self-Care: People of Color – Black People – African Americans with Brandi Jackson Wellness
- Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color Can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing
- Grief is a Direct Impact of Racism: Eight Ways to Support Yourself
- National Museum of African American History and Culture – Talking About Race: Self-Care
- 12 Black Mental Health and Wellness Resources to Follow on Instagram Black
- Killing of George Floyd Exposes Blind Spot on Racism, Catholic Advocates Say
- Black Catholic Women: Voice Embodied
- How Can Catholics Help Lead the Fight Against Racism?
- The Ignatian Witness to Truth in a Climate of Injustice – Fr. Bryan Massingale
- How the Church Can Combat Racism and White Privilege - Fr. Bryan Massingale
- The Assumptions of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It - Fr. Bryan Massingale
- A Pastoral Letter to the Nation: Pentecost Amidst Police Brutality, Pandemic, and Poverty – Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II [https://www.breachrepairers.org/blogs/a-pastoral-letter-to-the-nation?fbclid=IwAR0l1Bp_mhRSPtbKdkatd3eqVXcAvrA-jEYYbNm7zGy5EcFkI27c6uYucB4]
- For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies
- Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and Racism - Fr. Fred Kammer, S.J. [https://www.loyno.edu/jsri/sites/loyno.edu.jsri/files/CSTandRacism-Fall2009jsq.pdf]
- On Being with Krista Tippett
- Black Catholic Syllabus curated by Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt
- Racial Justice and the Catholic Church by Fr. Bryan Massingale · Antiracism: An Introduction by Alex Zamalin
- How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- The Bridge Called My Back, Writings by Radical Women of Color edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa
- My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
- Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, 4th Edition, edited by Maurianne Adams, Warren J. Blumenfeld, D. Chase J. Catalano, Keri “Safire” DeJong, Heather W. Hackman, Larissa E. Hopkins, Barbara J. Love, Madeline L. Peters, Davey Shlasko, & Ximena Zuniga
- Integrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy by Beth Berila
- The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone
- Songs of Our Hearts, Meditations of Our Souls: Prayers for Black Catholics by C. Vanessa White
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- Antiracism Learning Opportunities Through Enrich Chicago
- Anti-Racist Resources for White People
- Anguish and Action Toolkit (from Obama Foundation)
- People’s History from Howard Zinn (with weekly emails if you sign up)
- Racial Equity Tools
- Racial Healing Conversation Guide (AAC&U TRHT initiative)
- Resources for Educators Focusing on Antiracist Learning and Teaching [https://www.earlychildhoodeducationassembly.com/resources-for-educators-focusing-on-anti-racist-learning-and-teaching.html]
- Southern Poverty Law Center: Teaching Tolerance Toolkit
- Southern Poverty Law Center: Active Hate Map
- Talking About Race: Being Antiracist
- Toolkit for Teaching About Racism
- White Fragility
- White Fragility Flowchart
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack [http://convention.myacpa.org/houston2018/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf]
Resources for Prayer in This Time of Pandemic
Please join us in finding those ways that you connect with your spiritual life during this time. If you are looking for individual conversation with a campus minister, please feel free to email staff directly or campusministry@slu.edu and we will set up a time with you.
- Pray as You Stay
- A Coronavirus Prayer
- Examen for Life During Covid-19
- Pope Francis’ prayer to Mary during the Coronavirus Pandemic
- ISN Coronavirus webpage
- USCCB COVID-19 prayers and resources
- Xavier University - Prayers During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Discernment in the Cave - An Ignatian Digital Retreat for A Pandemic from the Jesuits
- Ignatian Solidary Network Coronavirus Prayers and Reflections
- Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer Podcast
- Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcasts with Laura McInerny
- On Being podcasts with Krista Tippett - A Care Package for Uncertain Times
- Love Letter to Earth -Laudato Si fifth anniversary event video.
- 'Attention Is the Beginning of Devotion' - Article on the poetry of Mary Oliver.
- Outdoor Spaces in St. Louis and on SLU's campus
- Quotes on Spirituality and the Natural World
- Prayer Service from the Fall 2020 Nature Day of Reflection