Racial Justice Sunday is the day the Church focuses on the need to oppose racism and pursue racial justice with renewed vigour.
1 February 2026
The theme for Racial Justice Sunday is: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21): Promoting Racial Justice in our Parishes.
Where racial justice is concerned, we must never tire of repeating what has been said before, though we always seek new ways to convey our message. Racial Justice Sunday 2026 is devoted to the promotion of racial justice in our Catholic parishes across England and Wales and society and an encouragement to be conscious of the need for justice in all its forms.
In an increasingly tense climate, it is imperative that we listen to, and learn from, the experiences, challenges and opportunities encountered in the mission of promoting racial justice in Catholic parishes today. Our parishes should be places where we can all truly grow in ever-deeper knowledge and love of each other, ourselves and God.
The resources for this year’s Racial Justice Sunday are specially designed to create a culture of welcome and hospitality in parishes, encourage inclusive approaches to parish ministry, and foster greater openness to acceptance while learning from other cultures and traditions. We hope that they will be found useful!
In 2023, we have produced a series of A4 PDF posters, that individuals or parishes can download, featuring Our Lady and the Child Jesus from a diverse cross-section of countries and cultures. Although by no means exhaustive, we hope this series highlights the rich diversity of our Catholic community and encourages reflection on how we are all made in the image of God. The posters also carry a prayer taken from Pope Francis’ document Fratelli Tutti. The posters are produced in English but, in some cases, where we have been able to, we have added a suitable translation. Read more.
In addition to increasing the racial diversity of the saints depicted in the church building, the St Margaret’s Racial and Cultural Inclusion Group decided to include a picture and description of a Saint of the Month as a regular feature in their parish Newsletter. The group drew up a month-by-month list of potential Saints of the Month with a view to ensuring that saints from a wide range of countries were featured in the course of each year, including a significant number of saints of colour. [Taken from the One Voice toolkit]
A toolkit for a group working to promote racial and cultural inclusion in a Catholic Parish
A series of A4 PDF posters featuring Our Lady and the Child Jesus from a diverse cross-section of countries and cultures.
Resources for Racial Justice Sunday 2026, Questions for reflection and activities for parishes.
At Masses on Racial Justice Sunday, parishes and individuals are encouraged to pray this prayer for an end to suffering caused by racism.
Report on a webinar examining the experiences, challenges and opportunities in the promotion of racial justice in Catholic parishes today.
We are called to live in communion with each other without reserve or prejudice because that is how God loves and shows mercy to us.
Our model for community wellbeing has to be as diverse and as extensive as the good news Jesus preached.
The theme for Racial Justice Sunday is: “Pilgrims of Hope: Our Journey Together Towards Racial Justice”.
The theme for Racial Justice Sunday 2024 was: “Seeing one another in the life of the Church”.
The theme for the 2023 Racial Justice Sunday, celebrated on 5 February, was: “All are included in the mission of Christ and His Church. Let us walk together, pray together and work together”
Racial Justice Sunday is more topical and relevant than ever and we need to oppose racism and pursue racial justice with renewed vigour.
On the weekend of 9 February 2020, the Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates Racial Justice Sunday.
