Dialogue Series Focused on the Common Good
“Faith in Action for the Common Good” invites people of all spiritual walks of life to listen, converse, and then act to improve conditions that benefit all members of society.
God and Caesar: A Different Path
Lunch and Learn Event for St. Catherine of Siena Parishioners and Guests
A Beautiful Year: The Church Calendar as a Spiritual Path in Difficult Times
Sept. 20 at 11:30 a.m.
Levitt Hall (Inside Old Main at Drake University)
In this session, Dr. Diana Butler Bass will talk about the liturgical calendar as the basis for foundational Gospel values of nonviolence, compassion, and service. She will focus on the ways in which leaning into the liturgical year can strengthen us in difficult times.
All parishioners are invited to enjoy a free lunch provided by the Dialogue Series. They may also invite a guest to join. Childcare will be provided at the Olmsted Center.
Keynote Address: Dr. Diana Butler Bass
Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University
This keynote address will explore the space between two competing visions of human flourishing and will consider other paths forward. Dr. Diana Butler Bass has written extensively about the culture and values of the Roman empire in Jesus’s time and the completely opposite values he espoused while living under its oppression. Her speech will focus on the Gospel-based message of non-violence, compassion, and respect for human dignity and its contrast to an imperialist political and cultural framework that prioritizes domination, violence, and greed.
Butler Bass (Ph.D., Duke University) is an award-winning and prolific author, an inspiring speaker, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture. Her bylines include The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she has commented widely on media including CBS, CNN, PBS, and NPR.
Her 2013 book, Grounding, drew exceptional praise from a wide spectrum of outlets, including Booklist, Christian Century, National Catholic Reporter, Publishers Weekly, and Sojourners. Her most recent book, A Beautiful Year, was received with similar acclaim, including the 2026 Wilbur Prize (her third.)
Student Supper and Conversation with Diana Butler Bass
September 20 at 6 p.m.
Parents Hall South (Olmsted Center)
Interfaith Panel: Souls in Community: Faith-based Responses to the Challenge of Social Justice
Jan. 10, 2027 at 3 p.m.
Led by Drake University provost Dr. Joseph Valenzano
More details coming soon
Second Dialogue Series: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart
August 15, 2025 to January 12, 2026
This series included three thought-provoking dialogue opportunities from author, activist, podcaster, and Center for Action and Contemplation faculty member Brian D. McLaren.
STUDENT PRESENTATION Faith, Doubt, and the Student Journey
VIRTUAL PREVIEW Wisdom for a World Falling Apart: What the World Needs from People of Faith
KEYNOTE ADDRESS Wisdom and Courage in a World Falling Apart: What the World Needs from People of Faith
Courage to Act in a World Falling Apart: 10 Components of Contemplative Action with Susie Tierney
Wisdom for the Long Haul in a World Falling Apart
First Dialogue Series - Immigration
February 2 - March 29, 2025
The first Dialogue Series presentations included a panel discussion on the state of immigration in Iowa, a keynote entitled “Broken at the Border” by El Paso, TX’s Bishop Mark J. Seitz (see event photos), and an action workshop at which attendees learned how they could support refugees and immigrants.
Presentation Slides:
- The History of Immigration in Iowa
- Immigration 101: Navigating the U.S. Immigration Landscape
- The Refugee Experience
Recordings:
Dialogue Series Receives Grant
The St. Catherine of Siena Dialogue Series has been awarded a $5000 Parish Renewal Grant from the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa in support of the second Series, which will feature Brian McLaren. McLaren is Dean of Faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation, founded by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr. A former English professor, he has authored many books, including Life After Doom and Faith After Doubt. McLaren will be in Des Moines on September 20-21 and will speak about Wisdom for a World Falling Apart: What the World Needs from People of Faith. Stay tuned for details about our second St. Catherine of Siena Dialogue Series.
We are grateful to the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa, a non-profit organization that assists individuals, parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations across the 23-county Diocese of Des Moines.
About the St. Catherine of Siena Dialogue Series
The Dialogue Series is presented by St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Student Center at Drake University. “Faith in Action” for the Common Good” is the foundation of the series, which invites people of all spiritual walks of life to listen, converse, and then act to improve conditions that benefit all members of society.
About St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Student Center
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Student Center at Drake University is an inclusive and supportive community of resident parishioners and students striving through liturgy, community, service, and faith formation to grow as servant leaders for the Catholic Church and the broader community.
In addition to offering vibrant liturgy, intergenerational faith formation, and intentional community building, social justice and service are core values of our community. We maintain a food pantry on our grounds and support the Catholic Worker House, local homeless shelters, an addiction rehabilitation center in Ghana, and an education fund to make it possible for children to attend school in Kenya.
