There’s still time to register for next week’s free two-day conference (Jan. 27-28) sponsored by The Franciscan School of Theology at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice on the campus of the University of San Diego in California. Among the featured speakers are HNP friars Daniel Horan, OFM, and Linh Ngoc Hoang, OFM. In addition to a program of inspirational speakers and presentations, participants will have the opportunity to experience a daylong encounter at the U.S./Mexico border with recently-arrived migrants. Although there is no cost to attend the conference, registration is required and can be completed at https://www.fst.edu/reimagining-conference/. Special hotel rates are available at the Dana Mission Bay. Visit the website, or call 1-800-445-3339 and mention “Franciscan School of Theology” to make a room reservation.
LINH NGOC HOANG, OFM
DANIEL HORAN, OFM
The conference, whose theme is Reimagining the World: From St. Francis to Pope Francis, will explore how the vision of St. Francis and St. Clare opens a new way of looking at contemporary struggles, and how Franciscans use technology to spread the Good News, according to Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, a member of St. Barbara Province and director of the Franciscan Renewal Project at Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego.
In addition to Daniel and Linh, featured speakers at the conference, which will take place on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., include Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego; William Short, OFM, Ph.D., and Sr. Mary Elizabeth Ingham, CSJ, Ph.D., general superior of Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California.
Keith and Sr. Mary Waskowiak, RSM, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, will lead the conference’s Immersion Program – the Jan. 27 daylong encounter that includes a visit to Casa de Misericordia – an intentional community in the Barrio Logan neighborhood of San Diego that responds to the needs of migrants at the U.S./Mexico border in Southern California – and a trip on the San Diego trolley to the San Ysidro Port of Entry to give witness to the militarization of the border. Migrants will provide testimonials of their realities and experiences. The trip is limited to 24 and has a $25 fee to cover lunch and transportation costs to both locations and back to the University of San Diego, where an opening session and reception will be held later that day from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.