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CRRA Virtual Annual Meeting 
Thursday, May 7, 2020

2:00-3:30pm ET | 1:00-2:30pm CT | 12:00-1:30 MT | 11:00am-12:30pm PT

Featuring a guest presentation on the Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project

/St. Francis Xavier College Church opened the gallery labeled in this picture as the 1st Jesuit Negro Chapel Old St. F.X. Church in 1858. Black Catholics in St. Louis, including those enslaved by the Jesuits at Saint Louis University, worshiped there for many years. Later, many became members of St. Elizabeth's Parish when it opened in 1873. Image courtesy of Jesuit Archives & Research Center.

It has been 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in colonial America, beginning the long era of American slavery. Today no issue is more conflicting as we continue to struggle with the legacies of slavery. We’re pleased to have three individuals from the Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project, initiated by the Society of Jesus in the U.S., discuss their work in facilitating conversations among the descendants of the enslaved and Jesuits to discern how the Jesuits might respond to their history of slaveholding and its contemporary legacies.

Dr. Laura Weis, Project Coordinator, Doctoral Candidate Kelly Schmidt, Research Coordinator, and Danielle Harrison, Advisory Committee member, discuss the connections being made with descendants of the enslaved, community members and scholars, the research needed to facilitate these conversations, and communication with all stakeholders on what transformative solutions might look like.

In addition to learning about the SHMR Project, viewers hear an update on CRRA resources and join us in thanking the many volunteers serving on CRRA committees, including our annual special recognition of individuals who have made exemplary contributions to CRRA.

Please click below to view the recording of this meeting.