Juneteenth award honors Houston’s ‘Three Amigos’

Left to Right: Cherry Steinwender, Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, Cheryl Lawson, Marjorie “MJ” Joseph and Father Reginald Samuels are pictured at the 2026 Ally Awards hosted by the Center for the Healing of Racism in Houston on June 20. Father Samuels accepted the award on behalf of Archbishop Fiorenza. (Photos by Jerome Tennon)HOUSTON — More than half a century after they first joined forces to confront division in Houston, the legacy of Houston’s interfaith trio, known as the “Three Amigos,” still continues to bring people together.

The Center for the Healing of Racism posthumously honored Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, and Rev. William “Bill” Lawson for their more than five decades of advancing civil rights and interfaith cooperation in Houston and beyond. The center also recognized Marjorie “MJ” Joseph for her efforts to foster belonging through her leadership with the Houston Coalition Against Hate. 

Emceed by Linda Wallace, secretary for St. Francis Xavier Parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference, the recognitions were given on June 20 at the center’s 33rd annual Juneteenth Ally Awards luncheon at St. Paul United Methodist Church in the Museum District.

Known throughout Houston as the “Three Amigos,” Archbishop Fiorenza, Rabbi Karff and Rev. Lawson spent more than 50 years demonstrating how faith can serve as a bridge rather than a barrier. Rabbi Karff died in 2020, Archbishop Fiorenza in 2022 and Lawson in 2024.

Father Reginald Samuels, the vicar for Catholics of African Descent and pastor of St. Laurence Parish in Sugar Land, accepted the award on behalf of Archbishop Fiorenza.  

“We are all called to move forward in the life of what God has given us in this world,” he said. “I personally knew Archbishop Fiorenza only very briefly; however, he was such a big person in my life and allowed me to grow in my vocation. I am so thankful that he is being honored again today.”

Archbishop Fiorenza, first from right, was a longtime civil rights collaborator with Rabbi Sam Karff, at left, and Rev. Bill Lawson, collectively known as the “Three Amigos.” (Herald file photo)
Archbishop Fiorenza’s numerous achievements include marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma and co-founding Houston’s interfaith initiative to desegregate downtown lunch counters and businesses. Archbishop Fiorenza became the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2004 and spearheaded the construction of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.

Other friends and family accepted the award on the honorees’ behalf, sharing reflections on their commitment to justice. Rev. Lawson’s daughter, Cheryl Lawson, reminded attendees that the challenges her father worked to address remain present today.

“The concerns that he had continue to be concerns,” she said. “We are not past racism, and we have not solved the issues of division. I challenge all of us, myself included, to never give up. At 95 years old, [Rev. Lawson] was still trying to create solutions. I thank him for being the leader that he was and bringing so much leadership to our city,” she said.

Accepting the Ally Award for Rabbi Karff was Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, community rabbi and center board member, who told the audience of their responsibility to carry the Three Amigos’ work forward. More than a tribute to the past, he said, the ceremony served as a celebration of a legacy that continues to shape Houston through dialogue and a shared commitment to justice.

“These relationships that we build are significant, and we need to do that to break down the stereotypes and barriers,” Rabbi Osadchey said. “When we increase our religious literacy and our racial literacy, we have that opportunity to know each other as people. We need to celebrate our diversity, not be afraid of it, but embrace it, which these three gentlemen did in their personal relationships and modeled for our community.”

The Ally Award is given annually to people across the nation who “have given their all in the pursuit of ending racism, justice and connecting people to each other,” according to Cherry Steinwender, executive director of the Center for the Healing of Racism.

The Ally Awards have been a cornerstone of the Center for the Healing of Racism’s Juneteenth celebration since the mid-1990s, recognizing people and organizations whose work advances racial healing. Over the years, past honorees include Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, among many others, whose actions demonstrated a commitment to bridging divides and building stronger communities.