Fall is my favorite time of year, but this Fall is extra special, as it marks the release of a project that has been a long time in the making: a new podcast exploring the life, legacy and my own brief, personal encounter with Black Catholic priest, composer and liturgical pioneer, Fr. Clarence Joseph Rivers. Since November is Black Catholic History Month, there’s no better time for this launch.
From the official press release:
“The podcast seeks to introduce Fr. Rivers to Catholics of any color who have never heard of Rivers or the profound impact he made on the way Catholic worship looks and sounds today.
“Created and co-hosted by Emily Strand (of the podcasts Beyond the Words and Potterversity), Meet Father Rivers seeks out individuals who knew Rivers at all stages of his career—from the youthful optimism of his early years to the disillusionment and isolation he seemed to experience toward the end of his life. Strand and guests dialogically uncover hidden truths of Rivers’ (and their own) personal history, revealing both the gift of Blackness and the impact of racism and oppression—historical and ongoing—in the American Catholic Church.
“Strand, who met Rivers while writing her Master’s thesis about him for the University of Dayton just before his death, takes a ‘trail of breadcrumbs’ approach to the podcast’s design, with each episode’s guests leading her to others with stories to tell about Fr. Rivers. In Episode 5 (forthcoming), this approach leads Strand to Black Catholic liturgist, writer and Notre Dame Rector Eric T. Styles, who was also mentored by Rivers, and who joins Strand to co-host subsequent episodes.”
Here’s how to:
Listen:
Stream or download episodes at meetfatherrivers.libsyn.com, on Apple Podcasts, or anywhere podcasts are found. New episodes appear at the end of every month.
Connect:
E-mail: MeetFatherRivers@gmail.com
Twitter: @RiversPodcast
Facebook: @MeetFatherRivers
Instagram: @riverspodcast
Be part of the show: Meet Father Rivers invites anyone with a story to tell or a witness to share about Fr. Clarence Rivers’ influence on their ministry, music or spirituality to please contact the show. You could be our next guest!
I hope you find time this November to take a new perspective with me, as I introduce you to Fr. Rivers.