Preaching God’s Narrative: Caring for Creation and Becoming Pilgrims of Hope
In honor of the Jubilee Year, Discerning Deacons is offering a formation series equipping preachers and Ministers of the Word with tools and narratives that bridge the Sacred Word to the Cries of the People and the Cries of the Earth, animating the People of God to act in hope and care for our common home.
Our next 90-minute session takes place at 3:00 p.m. ET on July 14, the Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.
We are pleased to announce our guest speakers!
- Diana Marin from Catholic Climate Covenant (CCC)
- Sister Laura Vicuna from Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía (CEAMA)
- Rev. Dr. Leah Schade at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky
Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
Diana serves as the Program Manager of Young Adult Mobilization at Catholic Climate Covenant where she organizes young leaders from across the US to engage in faith-based climate action.
Diana earned a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Previously, she served as theologian-in-residence for the Nuns and Nones Land Justice Project, convening Catholic Sisters and millennial “nones” in conversations on land transitions rooted in ecological and racial healing.
In addition to her role at Catholic Climate Covenant, Diana is helping shephard the Pilgrims of Hope for Creation movement.
Laura Vicuña Pereira Manso was born in Porto Velho / Rondônia, on the banks of the Madeira River in the Amazon basin. She is a daughter of migrant parents, belongs to the Kariri people, and is a member of the Congregation of the Franciscan Catechist Sisters. She graduated in anthropology and holds a master’s degree in indigenous linguistics.
Alongside denouncing the violation of the rights of indigenous peoples and the destruction of the Amazon in spaces such as the UN and Amazon Synod, Sr. Laura remains active in seeking justice through pastoral work as well. Most recently, she has been accompanying the Karipuna people, who are on the verge of genocide, fighting to defend their territory, which is invaded by loggers, land seekers, land grabbers and others.
Sr. Laura Vicuña is a vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA).
Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. She is an ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for more than twenty years.
Preaching “good news” in the face of environmental devastation, the climate crisis, and extreme energy extraction can feel overwhelming to pastors and congregations alike. Rev. Dr. Leah Schade will introduce a three-fold approach for preaching that addresses environmental justice issues with a particular eye towards congregational context, including geography, culture, community, and political tensions. The goal is to help preachers develop an environmentally-literate approach to preaching that honestly and creatively names the reality of our ecologically-violated world, while emphasizing a hope-filled “eco-resurrection” through Christ’s redemption of Creation.
Register now! If you are called to care for God’s people as a Preacher or Minister of the Word, don’t miss this opportunity. Find out how you can promote solidarity within and among your communities by joining us for this 90-minute session on July 14 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.
Save the date for future events in the series!
- November 13 (Feast of St. Frances Cabrini): Healing Our Images of God and Practicing Responsible Preaching on Themes Related to Domestic Violence