Justice Rising Podcast

The Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center presents our podcast, Justice Rising.

What if conversations had the power to transform society? Justice Rising, a new podcast created by the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center, is setting out to do just that! In each episode, we will highlight people and organizations doing justice work by exploring a central question: How can we bring about healing, liberation, and transformation in our church, our world, ourselves, and our communities?

How to Tune in!
Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Podbean
(Search: Justice Rising Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center).

Theme Music: Amerika by Audiobinger, Free Music Archive | Photo of Cecilia Flores for Justice Rising © Chris Rylee

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Season 5 with Cecilia Flores

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Planting Seeds for the New Creation with Angel Mortel

Cecilia interviews Angel Mortel, Lead Community Organizer with LA Voice, about her journey into community organizing. Angel shares her recent experience organizing within the PICO CA Home is Sacred campaign, which ensures that all people have a dignified place to call home. Reflecting on her many years of service in the field of faith-inspired justice work, Angel illuminates how organizing has become her spiritual practice of planting seeds for God’s new creation. Tune in as we learn from her about the importance of making long-term commitments to achieve changes in our local communities and world!

Angel Mortel is a faith-based Community Organizer with LA Voice. She spent over 15 years in Brazil, serving most of those years with Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Her ministry involved organizing community health volunteers, coordinating an income generation project for women, and fundraising for the national prison ministry of the Brazilian Catholic Church. Her passion for social justice grew not only through her experiences in Brazil, but also from living and teaching in Washington, DC, and working with Bread for the World and Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Most recently, she managed the faith community outreach program at Brave New Films. Angel has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Third World Studies from Oberlin College and a Master of Arts in International Development from American University.

In the Episode:

• Congratulations to Angel on receiving the 2023 Bishop McCarthy Award!
• Learn more about PICO California’s Home is Sacred Campaign

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Organizing as Repair and Restoration with AC Churchill

In this episode, Cecilia delves into environmental justice with guest Rev. AC Churchill. AC is an ordained minister within the Christian tradition who views the work of environmental justice to be intrinsically connected to anti-racism and pro-reconciliation work. Throughout the conversation, AC emphasizes the interconnectivity between all social justice issues, and the important work of helping motivate people of faith into social justice action. Their joy and passion for organizing as a pathway to repair and restore relationship is something that we can aspire to embody.

Rev. AC Churchill is the Executive Director of Earth Ministry/WAIPL. They are an ordained minister within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) tradition and came to the work of environmental justice as an expression of their deep commitment to participating in healing, justice, and transformation. AC has over a decade’s worth of experience working in and with faith communities as a faith-based community organizer. Most recently their work has been in Dallas, TX.

AC has a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School, in Fort Worth, Texas, and dual bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They are excited to be a Southern transplant in the PNW and look forward to planting roots and building community across the state. When not working for justice, AC likes to dabble in woodworking, explore new cultures and customs with their family, and does rarely sits still.

In the Episode:

• Learn more about AC’s work with Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light  
• Read the letter from the Washington Catholic Bishops in support of Salmon and Salmon Peoples

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Be Creative and Continue the Culture with Julian Matthews

For this opening episode of season 5, Cecilia interviews Julian Matthews, who is a Board Member and Coordinator for Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment, an organization that carries on time-honored sustainable environmental practices in the tradition of the Nimiipuu by facilitating and organizing tribal youth and adults in activities for the protection, enhancement, and promotion of mother earth and the Nimiipuu culture. Julian shares about the current work being done around dam removal, protecting salmon, and teaching new generations of young people about native practices. This episode is a great reminder of why respect and restoration of indigenous practices is important not only for the preservation of culture but of mother earth. Please note, sensitive and strong language is used during this episode. 

Julian Matthews Enrolled Nez Perce has been actively involved in Environmental issues for the last 20 years primarily in response to threats made on or near the Treaty of 1855 and usual and accustomed areas. These areas are guaranteed to the Nimiipuu with the signing of the 1855 Treaty and in many instances, the federal, state or local governments or private interests interpret these rights quite differently than do the Nez Perce people.

Julian is committed to ensuring that the Treaty Rights to hunt, fish and gather are kept and protected for those who come after us as the Treaty of 1855 signers protected these rights for us to this day. His main goal is to ensure that Tribal youth and adults are educated and have good knowledge of issues affecting our people and also making sure that we (the Nimiipuu) take an active role in protecting our Treaty rights.

In this Episode:

• nimiipuuprotecting.org

• Covenant of the Salmon People (Swiftwater Films on vimeo)

• Bring the Salmon Home (Swiftwater Films on vimeo)

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Season 4 with Cecilia Flores

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It’s Ok to be Angry with Sr. Cheryl Liske, OP 

Cecilia interviews Sister Cheryl Liske, OP, who has spent over three decades organizing as part of the Gamliel National Network. As a Dominican Sister of Adrian Michigan, Sister Cheryl shares stories and insights from her many years of organizing, which all speak to the importance of taking the time to build and foster deep relationships. After this episode, you’ll certainly be inspired and motivated to work for justice and to build beloved community! 

 

Sister Cheryl Liske, OP is a Dominican Sister of Adrian Michigan. She grew up on the west side of Detroit in a neighborhood of post WWII housing. Sister Cheryl currently lives a block west of her childhood home in Detroit. She recently retired as the Michigan state director and is a member of St. Simon and Jude Parish Community in a suburb of Detroit. 

In this Episode:

• Learn more about Sr. Cheryl’s community, the Dominican Sisters of Adrian Michigan at:adriandominicans.org
• To discover more about Sr. Cheryl’s organizing work visit the Gamaliel National Network website at: gamaliel.org
• Find out more about the Gamaliel Religious Leaders Caucus: gamaliel.org/our-work/religious-leaders-caucus

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Continue Pushing that Passion with the Youth Action Team Interns  

Cecilia speaks with Alex, Sydney, and Pavithra, members of IPJC’s Youth Advisory Team Internship, also known as YATI and with Sarah Pericich-Lopez, who is IPJC’s faith communities organizer who organizes the team. We often hear that the youth are the future, but this conversation reminds us of how much youth can do right now when they are given the opportunity to deepen relationship with their communities, and to express and fight for what is important to them. This episode will inspire you to be bold, take risks, and to listen deeply as a way to make meaningful change in our world today. 

 

Alex Ruelos is a senior at Seattle Preparatory School. Alex is many things: an artist, an athlete and an advocate for social justice. She is involved in Musical Theatre, Drama Club, runs the school podcast through Journalism at Prep, and also sings in her church’s choir. In the spring, Alex is a sprinter for the Track and Field Team. She lives out her love of justice through her involvement in Prep’s Asian Pacific Islander Club and by starting a Mental Health Awareness Club. Alex’s gift for leadership is her ability to speak truth to power.  

Sydney Leardi is a senior at Seattle Preparatory School! Sydney pursues leadership and spirituality in all aspects of her life. When she is not at the Youth Action Team Internship, she is encouraging self-expression as Prep’s Dance Captain, refining her ability to make an argument as the President of Speech and Debate, and showing a commitment to truth as the Online Editor for Prep’s Journalism program. Her heart for building community and honoring human dignity is displayed through her commitment to leading her church’s youth mission trek to Tijuana.  

Pavithra Harsha is a senior at Holy Names Academy! She has a gift for gathering folks together in community, which can be seen by her accomplishment of creating the largest club on campus. This club aligns with one of Pavithra’s greatest loves, Taylor Swift! When Pavithra is not facilitating the Taylor Swift club, attending Multi-Cultural Student Union, or at IPJC, she is leading Holy Name’s mock trial team as a lawyer.  

Sarah Pericich-Lopez is IPJC’s faith communities organizer and communications coordinator. She has the privilege of accompanying the Youth Action Team Interns throughout the year. Sarah’s work for IPJC also encompasses organizing and partnering with the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity, and Discerning Deacons. 

• In this Episode:
• Support the Students’ Break the Norm Campaign, which aims to address systemic racism and ableism in schools at: Catholic Student Coalition for Social Action

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Organizing Like Our Lives Depend On It with Ana Garcia-Ashley

In this episode, Cecilia had the opportunity to have a very inspiring conversation with Ana Garcia-Ashley, who is Executive Director of the Gamaliel Foundation. Ana shares the story of her amazing journey in organizing, which is something that she considers to be life long and part of her destiny. She also shares some of the struggles she faces as an immigrant and woman of color in an executive leadership position, and how staying close to the people fuels her fight. And don’t be concerned if you feel agitated by her call to action – it was intentional.

Ana Garcia-Ashley is the Executive Director of Gamaliel Foundation. She graduated from the University of Colorado in Denver, and began her career in Denver in 1981, where she organized The Concerned Citizens of Westwood. She affiliated with the Metropolitan Organization for People in 1982 and went on to work on local and state campaigns, including enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act and affordable public services.

Intensely interested in the intersection of politics and faith, Ana attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver to develop a foundation for organizing congregations. During her theological studies and organizing, Ana’s conviction deepened that organizing was a divine calling for her—the purpose of the miracle that allowed her and her family to safely emigrate from the Dominican Republic to the United States.

Ana began her work in Gamaliel in the early 1990s, as Lead Organizer of MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope). During her tenure there, the organization won a $500 million reinvestment commitment from the city’s banks. Ana was also the founding organizer for WISDOM, the Gamaliel-affiliated Wisconsin state organization.  She has been a member of the Gamaliel central staff for nearly two decades, serving as senior trainer at Gamaliel’s National Leadership Training and co-director of the Civil Rights for Immigrants campaign.

In 2009, Ana was named Associate Director, becoming Executive Director in 2012.  Under her leadership the organization’s Fire of Faith campaign is on track to save or create nearly 1 million jobs over 3 years, while also rekindling the 1,000 interfaith congregations that belong to Gamaliel’s affiliate organizations through community organizing.

Ana’s deep sense of organizing as a ministry, her interest in the relationship between faith and politics, and her status as a naturalized immigrant dovetail perfectly with the goal of Gamaliel to be “a community of people living out our faith and values to collectively transform our communities and bring about justice locally, nationally and globally.”

In this Episode, learn about the faith-based organizing groups mentioned by Ana:

• Gamaliel Foundation, where Anna works as the Executive Director.
• The Industrial Areas Foundation
• Faith in Action formerly known as PICO National Network

Call to Action:
Anna invites you to get involved in community organizing through your local parish. She calls you to be an agitator! The challenge from Anna is to go to your priest or leader of peace and justice work in your parish and ask: What are the issues affecting the community? What is the parish going to do to mobilize collective power for social change?

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Bridging Faith, Organizing, and International Solidarity with Jessica Valdez

In this episode, Cecilia gets to know Jessica Valdez, who organizes with the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) in Seattle.

Jessica shares how organizing around issues in the Philippines helped her to reconnect with her identity as a Filipina in the diaspora, discusses how her recent learning tour to the Philippines has helped fuel her desire to continue in the fight, and invites our listeners to lean into curiosity so that we can recognize that we need each other in the long haul fight for justice. 

• In this Episode:

• Learn about the coalitions mentioned in this episode:

• The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
• Gabriela
• Kabataan Alliance
• Malaya Movement

• Discover more about the Catholic groups present on Jessica’s learning trip:

• Pax Christi
• Maryknoll

• Support Jessica and her Kasamas as they seek justice in the Philippines and for those affected by the unjust leaders of the Philippines:

• Learn about and garner support for the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA)
• Sign the petition to support the effort to have former Catholic priest and peace negotiator, Louie Jalandoni, removed from terrorist list

• Participate in the Call to Action from Jessica! Learn more about what is happening in the Philippines!

• Join a local chapter of: ICHRP, Malaya Movement, Gabriela or Kabataan
• Join the movement to support the PHRA by sending letters urging your legislators to support the bill, talk to legislators through town halls, and bring awareness to your community through dialogue!

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The Power of Meaningful Encounters with Ogechi Akalegbere

In this episode, Cecilia had the pleasure of speaking with a dear friend and fellow organizer, Ogechi Akalegbere. Ogechi organizes with Action in Montgomery, a broad-based community power organization rooted in Montgomery County neighborhoods and congregations. Ogechi shares how she got started in community organizing, and how the profoundly relational nature of organizing has infused the way she approaches her spiritual and everyday life. Please listen carefully to the end of the interview, where Ogechi invites all the listeners to participate in a super important and unique call to action!

Ogechi Akalegbere is a Nigerian-American living in Gaithersburg, Maryland where she works as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Washington. Ogechi has worn many hats in her career. She previously served as the Christian Service Coordinator at an all-girls Independent Catholic School where she held the positions of Diversity Co-Practitioner and Ministry Leader. Additionally, she served as a catechist, lector, pastoral council co-chair, and small group leader at her parish and diocese. Outside of her diocesan work, Ogechi is involved as a community organizer and diversity practitioner in her community. Ogechi uses her training as an equity facilitator and practitioner to help parishes, organizations, and small groups determine what equity means to them and those they encounter. She combines her passion for community organizing and her Catholic faith as a board member of Catholics United for Black Lives. Ogechi is the 2021 winner of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Learn about actions and bills referenced in this episode:

• The Maryland Dream Act
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

 

Read about Ogechi’s work and recent award here:

• Action in Montgomery
• 2021 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award

 

Participate in the Call to Action from Ogechi!

• Schedule at least one intentional relational 1-1 meeting with a family member or colleague you desire to know more deeply and form community with.
• Guide to a Relational One-to-One

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Catholic Social Teaching, Organizing, and Synodality
with Austen Ivereigh

For the first episode of season 4, we share a recording from the Prophetic Communities conference held at the University of San Francisco in early February 2023. In the first part of the episode, you will hear from Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis’ biographer, as he shares his thoughts on Catholic Social Teaching, organizing and synodality. After his sharing, Cecilia had the opportunity to engage in conversation with him about his reflections and raise her own concerns with the synod from an organizer’s perspective. 

 

In this Episode:

• Let Us Dream, The Path to a Better Future, Pope Francis in conversation with Austen Ivereigh

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Welcome to Season 4!

We are super excited to launch Season 4 of the Justice Rising podcast. We hope you enjoyed the last season as we explored the intersection of faith, justice, and culture. For this season we will be digging into the work of faith-based community organizing!  

In early February, IPJC collaborated with the University of San Francisco and Jesuits West to host Prophetic Communities: Organizing as an Expression of Catholic Thought, a gathering for organizers, theologians, and all committed to social justice work to explore the intersection between Catholic Social Teaching and community organizing. Through panel discussions, workshops, meeting others who work in similar communities, and spiritual grounding practices, we were able to grow and learn together.  

This season will be an extension of the work of Prophetic Communities! Cecilia will engage in conversations with organizers who are either Catholic or working in Catholic spaces from across the country to learn more about faith-based organizing and what their work looks like in context.   

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Season 3 with Cecilia Flores

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No less Christian, no less Hawaiian with Dallas Carter

This season of Justice Rising guests were invited to reflect on the intersection of culture and justice from the perspective of their unique identities. For the last episode of the season, Hawaiian Native Dallas Carter shares the largely unheard history of how the Kingdom of Hawai’i was overthrown and annexed by the United States and directly names the cultural impacts of injustice on Hawaiian Natives. Dallas reveals his experiences of being Native Hawaiian, American, and Catholic, and how studying history helped him find peace in his complex identity.

Dallas Carter sends an Aloha to all the Justice Rising listeners!  Dallas is a husband and father of six. He acts as a Native Hawaiian educator, Director of St. Michael High School, President of EPIC Ministry, a Director for Life is Sacred, Faith Program Director for the Knights of Columbus in Hawaii, Catholic Apologist, National Catholic Speaker, and a Diocesan Catechist for the Diocese of Honolulu. Dallas obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and Master of Pastoral Theology from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has had the honor of having lectures, articles, or interviews featured on Eternal World Television Network, Relevant Radio, Catholic News Agency, The Maccabee Society, The National Catholic Register, and other outlets.

In this Episode:

• Learn more about the explanation of Lā Kū’oko’a (November 28th): Lā Kū’oko’a
• Read the Hawaiian Apology Bill at: Hawaiian Kingdom 1993 – HI Apology Resolution
• Learn about Dallas and his work by visiting his blog: nativecatholic.com
• Purchase UA Mau Ke Ea: Sovereignty Endures and read about the history of Hawaii: nativebookshawaii.org

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A Sense of Wholeness with Rudy Dehaney

We close out November reflecting on Black Catholic History Month with Rudy Dehaney. Rudy and Cecilia recently had the opportunity to address the entire United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the topic of cultural diversity, representation, and walking with young Catholics. During this conversation, Rudy shares his reflections on being Black and Catholic and why representation in the Church is so important. Open your hearts for this conversation: it was honest, joyful, challenging, and soul-filling all at the same time.

Rudy Dehaney is a Baltimore native, born to Jamaican parents and a graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore. He began working in ministry at his home parish of Blessed Sacrament as a part-time Youth and Young Adult Minister before serving as Youth and Young Adult Coordinator for the Northeast Catholic Community parishes in Baltimore. He currently serves as the Director of the Faith Formation Center for the Northeast Catholic Community and a part-time Campus Minister for Notre Dame Maryland University since February 2022.

In addition to parish work, Rudy serves as the Chairperson for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry Anti-racism Project Team, the Co-chair for the USCCB Journeying Together Post Event Committee with young adults and various other regional and national committees. Racial justice has been a passion of his which he exemplifies through his membership of the racial justice circle in Baltimore. This group meets monthly to discuss various racial issues and facilitates dialogue for parishes in the archdiocese.

In this Episode:

• Learn more about USCCB Journeying Together Initiative, an initiative that both Cecilia and Rudy collaborate on.
• Watch or listen to Rudy and Cecilia’s address to the USCCB.
• Discover the folks who inspire, motivate and inform Rudy’s passion for racial justice:

1. Thea Bowman’s address to the USCCB
2. Mother Mary Lange – Cause of Canonization
3. Leveling the Praying Field – Can the Church We Love, Love Us Back by Dr. Ansel Augustine

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Native Joy as Resistance with Kirby Hoberg

We kick off November celebrating Native American Heritage Month, and Cecilia spends time in conversation with Kirby Hoberg, a working film and theater actor, singer, dancer, and playwright who is white, Native (Ponca of Oklahoma), and Catholic. Kirby generously shares her story of being Native within the Catholic Church. She acknowledges the importance of educating oneself on the ever-evolving language related to Native Peoples and issues, and evaluating where your story may overlap the history of Indigenous Peoples as a starting point for healing injustice. Native joy found in the arts is where Kirby identifies hope in her community and cultural identity! 

Kirby Hoberg is a working film and theater actor, singer, dancer and playwright.  She is a mother of four kids. Kirby currently lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, but was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She identifies as white and Native (Ponca of Oklahoma). Find Kirby on Instagram at @underthyroof and @kirbyhoberg, and on Twitter at @kirbyhoberg.

In this Episode:  

• Kirby misspoke about the number of federally recognized tribes. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States. 
• To learn more about the Ponca of Oklahoma please visit www.ponca-nsn.gov
• Read more about the Federal Indian Education Act and grants
• Find out about the Indian Child Welfare Act
• Learn more about the work of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
• Follow @illuminative, to support the work Native women as they build power for Native communities! 

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A Filipina’s Vision for an Authentic Church with Lauralyn Solano

In celebration of Filipino American History Month, Cecilia holds space for her Ate, or big sister, Lauralyn Solano, to share her story of growing up as the daughter of Filipino immigrants. Immersed at the intersection of faith and justice as a lay ecclesial minister, Lauralyn shares how she navigates working within the institutional side of the church while advocating for representation and celebration of diversity within the realm of faith formation. In this episode, Lauralyn offers a reflection on intergenerational trauma and how young people can lead the way to healing. She also encourages listeners to imagine how Filipino collective identity can help inform celebration of diversity in the Church.  

Lauralyn Solano is the Assistant Director for Lay Formation at the Diocese of Sacramento. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Sacramento and is finishing her Master of Arts in Theology and Leadership at Gonzaga University. In addition to her position as Assistant Director, Lauralyn upholds the roles of: Secretary of the Intercultural Committee on Access, Integration, and Mission, as well as the Asian Pacific Islander Committee with the Diocese, and the Seminario Steering Committee with Region XI.  She is a married mother of four and lives in Northern California. In all her work, she remembers the words of St. Irenaeus, “[hu]Man fully alive is the Glory of God.”    

Resources for Affected Communities:  

• For mental health resources for AAPI Communities, please visit: naapimha.org
• If you are a person experiencing suicidal ideations, please call 988 or find support at: 988lifeline.org
• Find mental health services and support at: adaa.org or nami.org
• If you are a female identifying member of the AAPI community that is experiencing abuse, visit: iamwomankind.org. Womankind offers domestic violence resources and care in English and over 18 Asian languages and dialects.  
• If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, head to: thehotline.org or lifewire.org to seek help and support.  
• To help stop AAPI hate, head to: stopaapihate.org/actnow/ or aapiequityalliance.org

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“I Am Community” with Giselle Cárcamo

What does it mean to be community? In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, Cecilia spends time with Giselle Cárcamo, proud peruana and community leader. In this episode, she shares stories from her life in Peru and how these moments influence the way she lives into her calling as an agent of change. Giselle will inspire you to choose vulnerability over comfort and redefine previous understandings of community!

Giselle is a social justice advocator who coordinates the Justice for Women program at IPJC, she is also an adjunct faculty at the University of Washington School of Social Work, and the Master Trainer for the BASTA Coalition of Washington. Her professional stance toward community organizing is to engage in community practice based on The Strengths-Based Perspective and geared to empower people to use their creative power in order to innovate strategies to build a stronger sense of community and civic engagement. Giselle thrives to provide equality of opportunity and meaningful participation in decision making for all people. For her, community involvement is a participatory endeavor in which indigenous knowledge is honored and considered, power differentials are consciously shifted, and working across differences and coalition building are encouraged.

In This Episode:  

• To learn more about Giselle’s work at IPJC as the Justice for Women Coordinator, go to ipjc.org/justiceforwomen

• Find out more about Basta’s efforts to eliminate farmworker sexual harassment through education and advocacy at bastacoalition.org

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Meet Justice Rising’s New Host & Producer Cecilia Flores! 

In this episode, The Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center’s (IPJC) Executive Director, Will Rutt interviews Cecilia. Cecilia shares about her experience working at the intersection between faith and justice, her cultural background as a Filipina American, and gives a sneak peek season three of Justice Rising!  

Cecilia, daughter of Evelio and Marie, mother of Kiara and Jacob. Cecilia is the daughter of Filipino immigrants, who grew up in in the San Francisco bay area. She has spent over 15 years working with communities of faith to address issues of poverty and injustice in the US and in Central America through the formation and development of youth, young adults, and women. She holds a Master of Arts in Global Development & Social Justice from St. John’s University, and currently works as a community organizer with Sacramento ACT. She also serves as the chair of the Young Adult Multicultural Advisory Committee to the USCCB and is a consultant to the USCCB’s Committee on Cultural Diversity. 

In This Episode:  

• To learn more about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church and Journeying Together, please visit: usccb.org

• Visit sacact.org to read about Cecilia’s organizing work for Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) which aims to empower “ordinary people to identify and change the conditions that create economic and racial injustice. 

Find IPJC on Socials! Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter // @ipjcseattle 

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Season 2 with Samantha Yanity

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Catholic Climate Advocacy with Anna Robertson, Anna Johnson, Emily Burke & Teresa Tsosie

How can the Catholic Church fight for climate justice and embrace the voice of young people in this work? On this week’s episode, host Samantha Yanity sits down with four young women working for environmental justice. Samantha, Anna R., Emily, Teresa and Anna J.* discuss the impacts of environmental degradation, the ways that each of their communities are impacted, especially young people and indigenous communities, and how, grounded in their faith, they feel called to respond to this crisis. Over the last year, the four of them, along with over 30 young adults have been developing a forthcoming curriculum oriented towards young Catholic climate advocates. This work seeks to provide training, tools, and formation for youth and young adults to ground themselves in spirituality rooted in creation, personal transformation and education, and social action and structural advocacy to take action to create a more sustainable and healthier climate.

Anna Robertson is the Director of Youth & Young Adult Mobilization at the Catholic Climate Covenant. Annapatrice Johnson is the US Mission Formation Unit Manage and Young Adult Empowerment team leader for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. Emily Burke is currently the social media manager at Catholic Climate Covenant and a doctoral student at University of Wisconsin-Madison in the joint Sociology and Community and Environmental Sociology program. Teresa Tsosie is the Director of Religious Education at St. Jude Parish in Tuba City, Arizona. 

*Episode Note – Speakers enter the conversation in the following order: Anna Robertson, Emily Burke, Teresa Tsosie, Anna Johnson. 

We discussed:  

• Creighton University Conference –Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home 
• Catholic Climate Covenant 
• Laudato Si’ 

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Protecting Sacred Water with Luke Henkel

We discussed:  

• Stop Line 3 Movement
• Enbridge – the company overseeing the project – Project Description

A Matter of Spirit, Spring 2022 Edition – Read Luke’s article Water Gives Life: Reflections on Line 3

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3 Part Lenten Series: Expanding Our Images of God

Join us for a 3-part Lenten series on iconography. What is iconography? And what does it have to do with Lent? Iconography is an ancient tradition designed to help people enter into a deeper prayer life. Icons are actually prayers themselves that are read much like a book. Unlike books that use words to communicate a message, icons use imagery to teach and instruct theology and scripture. When we “read” an icon, we are entering into the imagery through our imagination, which is a form of prayer.

During Lent, we enter a season of prayer that draws us deeper into communion with God. In our faith tradition, especially during Lent and Holy Week, icons are traditionally used as a tool for deeper engagement with the Divine. But, there’s one major problem with ancient icons. They don’t represent the inclusivity or diversity of the Body of Christ! So, how can we draw closer to God in prayer with sacred imagery that feels so distant?

On these next three episodes, we will unpack some of these ideas about sacred imagery and rethink how we can see ourselves as the Body of Christ.

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PART 3 OF LENTEN SERIES

The Universality of God with Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones