All are invited to enjoy an evening of Salvadoran pupusas, cultural expression and fellowship at the 15th annual Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) Jesuit Martyrs fundraiser dinner on Monday, March 30, at 6:45 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.
Learn about contemporary Central America and help raise funds for an important scholarship. This scholarship, named after the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter, who were killed at UCA in November 1989, funds university scholarships for students from underprivileged families in El Salvador.
This year, the event will feature two keynote speakers:
- Fr. Steve Privett on “Dean Brackley, S.J., Being awakened by the poor of Jayaque and Las Palmas”
- Fr. Rick Cassidy on “St. Paul, Dean, Jesus and Downward Mobility”
Both speakers will share memories of Dean Brackley, S.J., and discuss the relevance of his message for today.
A traditional Salvadoran dinner featuring pupusas will be served. Music will be provided by classically trained pianist and vocalist Hans Barbe, who will perform Spanish justice movement songs by Victor Jara and Mercedes Sosa, along with other CLASA-themed selections and classical pieces during the meal.
Fr. Privett (who will join virtually) teaches theology at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He is the previous president of Verbum Dei Christo Rey High School and served as president of University of San Francisco from 2000-14. His doctorate in Catechetics is from Catholic University of America and focused on the Hispanic Community of the Catholic Church.
Fr. Cassidy is professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Seminary. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and holds degrees from the Gregorian, University of Michigan and the Graduate Theological Union.
The event is free for Detroit Mercy students. For all others, a donation of $10 or more is requested. All funds raised will benefit the UCA Jesuit Martyrs Scholarship, which was founded by Dean Brackley, S.J.
The event is sponsored by The Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) and co-sponsored by the UDM Jesuit Community, the Office of Mission Integration, the Latinx Student Union and the Language and Cultural Training Program.
Advance registration and 6:30 p.m. arrival time is encouraged.
For more information or any questions, please contact Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.