For Such A Time As This

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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