Many Dioceses across the country are in its first few weeks returning to public Masses since the COVID-19 lockdown began in early to mid-March. But to the Diocese of Austin, public masses have been in place for a month already. What have they discovered so far? How did they inform and educate both their English and Spanish-speaking communities, in terms of what to expect upon returning to their parishes for the Mass? Is there anything we can take away from the weeks that the Diocese of Austin have already experienced?

Today on the podcast I get the chance to speak to Fr. Joseph Brown. Fr. Brown is a Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and is one of our plenum speakers at this year’s NPM Convention.

I’ll admit to you that I was humbled to speak to Fr. Brown. I’ve never been so nervous to speak to an interviewee in my life, because this week I learned how much I still need to learn about the racism that pulses through the veins in our country. In the past week my eyes have been opened to how my silence works against the cause of equality and social justice.

From there, my education began. My education into the privilege I inherited as a white woman, and the privilege I hope to use to voice that black lives matter and to help facilitate change.

That was the context from where I spoke to Fr. Brown today.

Fr. Brown begins the conversation by reflecting on the uprising across the country- and the world- to support the black community and take action towards anti-racist policies and real social change.

Today Berta Sabrio and I sit down and discuss the Virtual Convention at length. We unpack all of the different ways attendees will receive content, along with brainstorming how you can attend the Virtual Convention in the same “group” mindset as when you attend in-person.