Congregation of the Holy Spirit
Province of the United States
Statement regarding the George Floyd Verdict

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd couldn’t breathe. His life was violently and tragically taken away. The events of the past eleven months have been a wake-up call for our country to address the underlying systemic issues that cause inequality and division within our country. For Spiritans, it has been a journey of conversion with faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring true change.

The guilty verdict announced in Minneapolis on April 20, 2021 was one significant step towards the need for accountability and action for a more just society.  We recognize that much work needs to be done to make justice a reality for all people in our country. The United States Province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit reaffirms our commitment to work concretely for racial healing and reconciliation. We pledge to continue our journey of sacred conversations leading to concrete action that fosters the healing and hope we all seek for our country.

We pray for George Floyd and his family during this time. May they be comforted by the changes in our society inspired these tragic events. We pray for all those who have been harmed by the division in our country over the years. We call on all people of good will to listen to each other’s experiences, to learn from them and to learn from our tragic history.  

With the power of the Holy Spirit, we trust the news of the verdict will restore the breath of God and inspire all to come together to restore our capacity for conversation and dialogue rooted in building up loving relationships. We echo the challenging words of the Minnesota Catholic Bishops: “Let us not lose the opportunity to pray that the Holy Spirit falls like a flood on our land again, as at Pentecost, providing us with spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, as well as new ways to teach, preach, and model the Gospel message in how we treat each other.”

Members of the Provincial Council on behalf of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Province of the United States: William Christy, C.S.Sp., Jeffrey Duaime, C.S.Sp., Anne Marie Hansen, LS, Michael Onwuemelie, C.S.Sp., Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp., Daniel Walsh, C.S.Sp., and Martin Vu, C.S.Sp.

April 22, 2021