For Such A Time As This

Service is a muscle that needs to be exercised often. Judson W. Robinson III, President and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League knows this well. He comes from a family of public servants and understands the importance and impact service can have on the community. In this episode of For Such a Time as This, Larry and Judson discuss the role of the Urban League in Houston. They talk about Judson's family legacy of service and they also talk about the importance of finding new strategies to help draw awareness within their communities. Houston Area Urban League https://www.haul.org/

The holiday season can be one of the most joyous times of year, but for those who are homebound, it can be an isolating time. In this episode of For Such a Time as This Larry Payne sits down to talk to Kelly Glanding Woelfel, Director of Homebound Ministries at St. Theresa Catholic Church, about how her experience serving the homebound and how a little visit goes a long way. St. Theresa Catholic Church in Memorial Park https://sttheresa.cc/ St. Theresa Homebound Ministry https://sttheresa.cc/homebound-ministry

In this episode of For Such a Time as This, Larry Payne sits down to talk to Dr. Nicole Walters, Dean, Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies, about equity in education. Walters outlines the importance of diversity and inclusion in education, discusses education access and shares how the programs in the Kolbe School practice equity. Learn more about the programs mentioned.

In this episode of For Such a Time as This, Larry Payne sits down with long-time friend, Fr. Donald Nesti, CSSp, founder of the Center for Nesti Center for Faith and Culture at the University of St. Thomas-Houston. They talk about his formation as a priest, discovering his call at Duquesne University and following that call to Houston, Texas, where he started the center. They discuss faith, the common good and the importance of Pope Francis' latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. Donald S. Nesti, CSSp Center for Faith and Culture https://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Centers-of-Excellence/Center-for-Faith-Culture/Index.aqf Fratelli Tutti | Pope Francis https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html

The pandemic has been a time that has allowed people the opportunity to slow down, reflect and reevaluate their life. Russell Richard is among those people who took advantage of that opportunity and actively processed what was happening around him. Those observations have become a book, "Beyond Words: An Intersection of Philosophy, Inspiration and Poetry." In this episode of For Such a Time as This, Larry sits down with Russell to discuss the novel. They take stock of all of the years' big moments and the changes that have come around because of them. They also ponder the cultural change that has come about because of the pandemic and ask how we move forward with a new normal, learning from all we learned. Russell Richard Russell Richard Books

In today's episode of For Such a Time as This, Larry sits down with Fr. Phil Lloyd, Pastor of St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Houston, TX, to talk about the pandemic, building community and meeting Houston's new Police Chief. Fr. Phil shares his pastoral mission, to encourage his congregants to take what they learn in Mass and share that as witness in their familial and work lives. He also shares a formative moment in his life when he began to better understand God's call for us to live in communion. St. Theresa Catholic Church in Memorial Park 'I won't let you down': Troy Finner unanimously confirmed as new Houston police chief | KHOU

2021 finds the United States politically polarized. Larry Payne sits down with Dr. Chris Wolfe, Assistant Professor of Political Science, to talk about healing the political divide and the challenges and opportunities we have in the election of Joe Biden, the U.S.'s second Catholic President. They speak on the need to listen and hear one another and difficulty that lies in supporting political figures who don't represent the fullness of the Church. Prudence in Politics w/Dr. Chris Wolfe | The Rundown Dr. Christopher Wolfe, Faculty Profile

Host Larry Payne sits down with David Leslie, Executive Director of the Rothko Chapel, to discuss the role the Chapel plays in cultivating conversation, peace and hope in Houston and globally. Designed to serve as an ecumenical space to promote dialogue and encounter, the Rothko Chapel serves a unique and vital role in the greater conversations surrounding justice and hope. Rothko Chapel

Larry Payne sits down and talks with Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, about education, leadership and why now, more than ever, the responsibility to educate in matters of truth and ethics lie in Catholic institutions. Learn more about the Ed.D in Ethical Leadership

Larry Payne speaks with Dr. Eduardo Torres, Interim Director of the Doctorate in Ethical Leadership, about the need for ethical leadership on today's society. Torres speaks on his experience in education and his first hand accounts of how good and ethical leaders can transform schools, districts and most importantly, students lives. Learn more about the Ed.D in Ethical Leadership Las Americas Newcomer School

On November 18, 2020, Hurricane Iota ravaged San Andres, Colombia, home to the Raizal community. Host Larry Payne talks with Diana Caicedo and Brittney Sandoval, both members of the Raizal diaspora in Houston about the effects of the Hurricane and how members of the diaspora in Houston and beyond have mobilized to serve their friends, family and community in San Andres. Helpful Links: University of St. Thomas Center for International Studies San Andres and Old Providence Indigenous Raizal Diaspora Facebook Page Iglesia Bautista Melrose Facebook Page University of Houston Creative Writing Program

Larry Payne sits down with Paul Beck, President of Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston, to talk about the importance of education, mentorship and professional development. They discuss Cristo Rey's unique work-study model that allows students to gain critical skills in a professional business setting and the budding partnership with the University of St. Thomas. The partnership allows students to carry the work study experience through to the college setting by way of the Rising Stars program. Helpful Links: Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston UST Rising Stars Program

Larry Payne sits down with Herb Johnson, Director, Security Management Institute, Office of Graduate and Professional Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former Executive Director, Catholic Interracial Council of New York, to discuss the elevation of Wilton Cardinal D. Gregory, the first African-American cardinal, the black experience in the Catholic Church and signs of hope for the future. Helpful Links: Wilton Cardinal D. Gregory The Doctrine of Discovery The National Black Catholic Congress Catholic News Service: "Black Catholics rejoice with elevation of first African American cardinal"

Larry Payne sits down with Amy Auzenne, Pastoral Associate for Evangelization and Formation at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, TX, to discuss the USCCB document Open Wide Our Hearts and talk about how her suburban community at St. Ignatius is opening themselves to encounter - learning to see, hear and love their neighbor.

Larry Payne speaks with Lacy Wolf '81, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, about the work that unions do, how his Catholic Faith influences his work, and his experience in the Labor Movement. Wolf ties his work back to Catholic Social Teaching - The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers - and explains why treating all workers with dignity is something to continue striving towards.

Houston, Tx is a microcosm of the demographic shifts that are occurring across America. As the most diverse major metropolitan area in the country, Houston is the leading example of how to navigate this shift in demographics. Host Larry Payne talks with Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Founding Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, on his life's work, the Kinder Houston Area Survey, and what steps we must take as a community and as a society to successfully navigate Houston and America into the future.

In the inaugural episode of For Such A Time As This, Laurence Payne, host, converses with Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, Tx about the role a University plays in building a just society and what the University of St. Thomas is doing to meet the needs of the community while addressing the iniquities that exist in society.