The U.S. Visit of Pope Francis -- Santa Clara U. Events and Experts Available
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 15, 2015 --From Sept. 22 to 27, Pope Francis will visit the U.S. for a historic visit to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. Among the topics he is expected to address to audiences including Congress and the U.N. are:
*The family and changing needs of Catholic families
*The canonization of California missionary Junipero Serra
*The environment, including his unprecedented encyclical on climate change Laudato Si, which calls on all Catholics to help lead an educational, economic, and political push for action to mitigate man-made warming of the earth, which is devastating to the world’s poorest.
Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university committed to justice and sustainability, has two events and numerous experts on campus to discuss the visit from many angles.
EVENTS: Pope’s Address to Congress: Viewing Parties in Santa Clara and Berkeley Campus Locations (Sept. 24, 7 a.m.) and Panel Discussion
| Santa Clara University Campus | Santa Clara University Campus |
Jesuit School of Theology Campus |
| Who: Santa Clara University students and Campus Ministry staff | Who: Students, faculty, staff | Who: Theology students and faculty |
| What: Viewing the Pope's address to Congress in Washington, D.C. while eating pancakes and playing Pope Bingo for Pope-related prizes | What: Panel discussion on the Pope's Address to Congress | What: Viewing the Pope's address to Congress on TV |
| Where: SCU's Benson Memorial Center, Campus MInistry office (500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053) | Where: SCU Music Recital Hall (500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053) | Where: Jesuit School of Theology, 1735 LeRoy Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709 |
| When: Sept. 24, doors open about 6:30 a.m. for 7 a.m viewing | When: Sept. 24, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | When: doors open about 6:30 a.m. for 7 a.m viewing |
| Panelists: Fr. Paul Crowley, S.J., professor of religious studies | ||
| Prof. Anna Sampaio, director, ethnic studies program | ||
| Prof. Hari Mix, Environmentla Studies and Sciences |
UNIVERSITY EXPERTS
FAMILY issues (theology)
Lisa Fullam, associate professor of moral theology at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Topics: Catholic teaching on family, the role of the Pope, and other social and moral issues. Contact: lfullam@jstb.edu or try Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations to schedule an interview (408-768-6898).
Sally Vance-Trembath, lecturer in religious studies at Santa Clara University. Topics: the history of Catholic popes and how Pope Francis is changing the Church; What is an encyclical? Contact: vancetrs@mac.com; cell 415-823-4673.
Thomas Massaro, S.J., dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Topics: Catholic social ethics and social teaching. Contact: 510-549-5040 or tmassaro@jstb.edu.
Michael McCarthy, S.J., executive director of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education who teaches The Christian Tradition and chairs the Catholic Studies Program at SCU. Contact: Fr. McCarthy will be in New York Sept. 25 - 27 for media appearances. mmccarthy@scu.edu or schedule through Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations, dlohse@scu.edu or 408-768-6898.
What is canonization?
William Ditewig, executive professor of ecclesiology at Santa Clara University's Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries. Topics: Theology of the Church, including canonization. Contact: Prof. Ditewig is going to be a Eucharistic minister at the Pope's canonization mass for Junipero Serra at Cathedral Basilica in Washington, D.C. Sept. 23. He can be available for interviews by phone or in D.C., between Sunday, Sept. 20 and before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. E-mail: billditewig@msn.com, or call or e-mail Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations -- dlohse@scu.edu or cell phone, 408-768-6898.
Environment, Encyclicals, and Catholicism
Franciscan Brother Keith Warner, OFM, a director with the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University and author, Care for Creation, a Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth. Topics: the influence of Francis of Assisi on the Pope’s encyclical; the concept of “integral ecology.” Contact: kwarner@scu.edu or Deborah Lohse of SCU Media Relations can help reach him (408-768-6898 or dlohse@scu.edu).
Paul Crowley, S.J., religious studies professor at Santa Clara University who teaches Catholic theology, can discuss the role and importance of encyclicals in the Catholic faith. Contact: Pcrowley@scu.edu; (408) 554-4542.
Sally Vance-Trembath, lecturer in religious studies at Santa Clara University. Topics: the history of Catholic popes and how Pope Francis is changing the Church; What is an encyclical? Contact: vancetrs@mac.com; cell 415-823-4673.
Thane Kreiner, executive director of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Topics: Social entrepreneurship as a direct solution to the issues of poverty and climate change raised by the Pope's encyclical; climate change vs. climate resilience as a technological challenge. Contact: tkreiner@scu.edu or 408-551-6058.
Ethics / Catholic Ethics
David DeCosse, instructor in Catholic social ethics; director of campus ethics programs at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Topics: The moral, ethical, and economic imperatives of climate change (which are also the topics of a symposium at Santa Clara University Nov. 3-4, 2015). Contact: ddecosse@scu.edu or 408-554-5715.
Brian Green, assistant director of campus ethics programs at Santa Clara University; instructor for a class on climate change in the School of Engineering. Contact: bpgreen@scu.edu or 408-554-7890.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Relations | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121
Tina Vossugh | SCU Media Relations | tvossugh@scu.edu | 408-554-5126