“The beauty of creation is a revelation of God as the source of goodness.” -Pope Leo XIV
On Saturday, October 11th at 5:45pm, we invite you to gather with us as we hear, reflect, and discuss the Mystery of Goodness. This Creation Care panel will feature and engage with perspectives of faith, science, and sustainability.
5:45 pm Introduction
6:00 pm Panel Discussion
6:50 pm Q & A Session
7:15 pm Closing Prayer
Dr. Amy Christiansen is an atmospheric chemist whose expertise lies in global chemical transport modeling. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and completed a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Montana. In September 2022, she joined the School of Science and Engineering at the University of Missouri – Kansas City as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Christiansen’s research interests focus on long-term atmospheric measurements and modeling to understand how pollutant concentrations, distribution, and impacts have changed over time. Her favorite science is that which connects the chemical to the human: exploring the connections between atmospheric chemistry and climate change, public health, and environmental justice. Dr. Christiansen sits on the Climate Data Guide Board of Advisors for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, serves on the American Geophysical Union Early Career Committee, and is a contributing scientist to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution.
Jaime Rivera, a parishioner here at the Co-Cathedral, was born and raised in Moca, Puerto Rico, USA. He is an Eagle Scout and Nature and Conservation Instructor for Scouts BSA. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Biomedical Engineering from University of MN Twin Cities and worked at NASA, IBM, PACE Electronics, Benchmark Electronics.
Currently, he serves as a Certified Master Inspector at Minnesota's Best Home Inspections, Property Manager at Eagle Properties, and Real Estate Broker at Dwell Realty Group. He is married to Emily, and together they have two children, Liliana (15) and Lucas (10).
Dawn M. Nothwehr, OSF, Ph.D. a Rochester, Minnesota Franciscan Sister, is The Erica and Harry John Family Professor Emerita of Catholic Theological Ethics, at Catholic Theological Union, a graduate school of theology and ministry in Chicago, IL, USA.
The mandate of the John Family Chair is to promote the Roman Catholic Consistent Ethic of Life, advanced by Cardinal Bernardin. Her research and teaching include the ethics of power and racial justice, and fundamental moral theology. However, her primary focus is environmental ethics through the lens of Franciscan theology, especially the effects of today’s climate emergency on poor people.
Of equal concern is the religion/science dialogue. She was a Project Leader for an AAAS-DoSER Grant that enabled CTU to integrate the science/religion dialogue in all of its theology and ethics courses. She serves as a grant proposal evaluator for The Climate Science in Theological Education initiative with American Association for the Advancement of Science Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (AAAS-DoSER). That program enables theology schools, to integrate the science / religion dialogue in their curricula. Since 2015, she has been a consultant for the Laudato Si’ Encyclical Working Group of the Office of Human Dignity of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Her most recent book is Franciscan Writings: Hope amid Ecological Sin and Climate Emergency (London: Bloomsbury, 2023). See: www.ctu.edu/faculty/dawn-nothwehr
Chloe Breczinski initially came into the Catholic Church and found her interest in caring for the environment while she was in college. After discovering the concept of Care for Creation, she became passionate about the intersection of these two facets in her life. Chloe has a Master's degree in Global Change Management and her work specializes in calculating the greenhouse gas emissions of various organizations. She lives in Winona with her husband and two sons.
