Our October 1, 2020 Press Release for the Festival of Friendship:

Festival of Friendship Kicks Off with New Online Format OCT 1-29

Free annual Festival includes events throughout October
Topics include poetry, film, ethics and COVID-19, music and more
Theme: “You Will Be Found”

PITTSBURGH, PA  — Now in its eighth year, the free annual Festival of Friendship kicked off on October 1 and will continue throughout the month. The Festival, which offers concerts, discussions on a wide variety of topics, keynote speakers and more, takes place this year online. All events are free, but registration is required and available at revolutionoftenderness.net.

 Presented by the cultural nonprofit, Revolution of Tenderness, the mission of the Festival is to facilitate dialogue and friendship on a variety of topics of urgent importance to the human person. In light of global events and the ever-increasing need for human solidarity, the Festival of Friendship is moving completely online and expanding from a single weekend to an entire month. This year’s theme is “You Will Be Found,” which seeks to explore where and how each of us can be “found,” particularly within our increasingly disorienting cultural moment. The Festival of Friendship is inspired by the international Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples (Rimini, Italy) and the annual New York Encounter.

 “This year’s Festival of Friendship offers an extraordinary opportunity to engage with artists, speakers, musicians, and academics from across the country and around the world,” said Revolution of Tenderness Founder and Coordinator Suzanne Lewis. “While we long for the warm, human embrace and conviviality that our past, in-person Festivals have become famous for, we’ve seen signs, already, that the online, multi-week format will open the door for an even larger community of friends to discover together what it means to be ‘found’ and truly embraced, despite the limits of physical separation.”

 Highlights of the Festival of Friendship this year include a classical music concert with soprano Camille Zamora, a panel discussion on the ethical considerations arising out of the pandemic, the studio art of Christopher Santer, a presentation and concert on the authentic roots of samba music in Saõ Paulo, the poetry of Samuel Hazo, a behind-the-scenes look at the film Unguarded, which documents the reform prison system of Brazil, a song cycle by Richard Danielpour, based on the poetry of Maya Angelou, a discussion with the creative team behind the revolutionary opera Sweet Land, and a closing forum with Festival coordinator Suzanne Lewis reflecting on the month’s events.

A Note on the Theme:
20/20. Ordinarily these numbers signify visual acuity, the ability to see clearly from a set distance.
But in the year 2020, our vision seems obscured, unfocused. It’s difficult to see what lies ahead. Each month brings some fresh catastrophe, some new reason for worry. Most distressing of all, many of us seem to have lost the capacity for sincere and meaningful dialogue with our neighbors. In place of reason and respect, we confront ideology and facile sloganeering. As a result, our horizon no longer appears rimmed with the light of morning but instead dark, with encroaching night. Reality itself seems to have turned on us. And we feel lost.What, then, can save us from being overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety caused by the perception that we are surrounded by “enemies” or lunatics? Is it possible to find relief from a preoccupation with death, or from the dizziness that results from being bombarded with ever-shifting and incomplete plans and “solutions,” none of which seem able to respond to our own urgent needs? 
We must take a step back and start from the recognition that our hearts all beat with the same needs: for truth, for beauty, for justice, to live in health and strength, and to love and be loved. We need friends who can see this need in us and who won’t fear it– not in fear of our humanity but who instead vibrate with passionate recognition for the thirst we share.
The Festival of Friendship 2020 is a place to meet others on this journey. A place of friendship. A place of dialogue. A place of joy. A place…in which we are found.

Festival Schedule

 Thursday, Oct. 1

6:00 pm - Opening Presentation—Four Holy Teresas: Saints Who Changed the World

A fascinating look at four revolutionary women who changed the world: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and St. Teresa of Calcutta

Francesca Silano, Professor of History, Houghton College
Simone Rizkallah, Director of Program Growth for Endow Groups
Reverend Luis Saldaña, Director of Spiritual Formation, St Joseph’s Seminary & College
Gracie Morbitzer, Icon Writer

7:30 pm – Interview—A Great Cloud of Witnesses

An interview with Gracie Morbitzer, a young artist taking a fresh look at Catholic saints. Suzanne Lewis moderates.

Friday, Oct. 2

7:30 pm - Keynote Address—You Will Be Found: A Presentation of the Festival’s Theme

Reverend John O’Connor, diocesan priest of Auckland, New Zealand, delves into the theme’s meaning and implications, and helps attendees to better understand how all things tend toward communion.

 Saturday, Oct. 3

6:00 pm - Discussion—The One Who Has a ‘Why’ to Live Can Bear Any ‘How’: Ethical Considerations Arising from the Pandemic A discussion on the ethical implications raised by a global pandemic — and the persistent ‘why’ that gives meaning to our days.

Holly Taylor Coolman, Moral Theologian, Providence College, Rhode Island
Clare Thompson, an educator based in Minnesota
Alessandro Rovati, Moral Theologian, Belmont Abbey College
Gina Maria Noia, Assistant Professor of Theology at Belmont Abbey College.

Sunday, Oct. 4

6:00 pm – Discussion—What Can Find Us? A Discussion on the Festival’s Theme
At the end of the Festival’s first weekend, a discussion on the deeper implications of its theme: “You Will Be Found.”

Deanna Witkowski, jazz musician and scholar of the music of Mary Lou Williams
Steve Kramp, Professor & Chair of Theology and Humanities, John Paul II University
Elisabeth Kramp, Poet & Editor, Convivium
Camille Zamora, Soprano & Co-Founder of Sing for Hope

 7:30 pm - Concert--Jazz is Love: The Deanna Witkowski Trio Plays Mary Lou Williams
Acclaimed jazz musician and scholar of the music of jazz great Mary Lou Williams, Deanna Witkowski brings the first week to a close.

Deanna Witkowski, piano
Paul Thompson, bass
Thomas Wendt, drums

Hear more of Deanna's music at deannajazz.com.

Originally broadcast online on October 4, 2020 as part of the

Festival of Friendship sponsored by Revolution of Tenderness

Recorded at MCG Jazz, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh

Marty Ashby – Director
David Sykut – Video Technician
Jay Dudt – Audio Engineer
Mark Jackovic – Video Editor

 For MCG Jazz:

Marty Ashby – Vice President and Executive Producer

Renée Govanucci – Director

David Sykut – Production Manager

Mark Jackovic – Education and Archives Manager

Nick Pesanka – Patron Services and Sales

Natalie Larsen – Administrative Assistant Senior Level

www.mcgjazz.org

 Thursday, Oct. 8

6:00 pm - Discussion--Mountain Amens: The Art of Christopher Santer
Artist, Teacher, and Fine Arts Department Chair at Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minnesota, Christopher Santer highlights the beauty and mystery of the natural world through drawings and paintings, in acrylic, coal, and charcoal. Photographer and former Tweed Museum of Art board member Sharon Mollerus visits Christopher in his studio to discuss his method, his work, and how we can be found through art.

Friday, Oct. 9

6:00 pm - Keynote Address--Silence Spoken Here: The Poetry of Samuel Hazo
Poet and scholar Samuel Hazo offers a generous sampling of his award-winning poetry. The son of Lebanese and Syrian immigrants, Sam tackles themes of faith, family, and war in his poems.

 7:30 pm – Concert--A Cosmos. A Chaos. Contemporary Music by Tommy T
With an eclectic mix of ambient, alternative, and hip-hop influences, singer-songwriter Tommy T explores the contemporary heartscape.

Saturday, Oct. 10
6:00 pm – Discussion--Nobody Flees from Love: The Making of Unguarded
A behind-the-scenes look at Unguarded, a film about the APAC prison reform system of Brazil, and how the APAC method might inform truly restorative justice.

Simonetta d’Italia-Wiener, filmmaker
T.J. Berden, producer
Barbara Gagliotti, AVSI-USA Foundations Office Director
Gisela Solymos, Coordinator for Productive Inclusion at SEBRAE SP
Esmeralda Negron, Assistant Public Defender for Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit
Denio Marx Menezes, Director of International Relations for FBAC
Joshua Stancil, moderator

 Sunday, Oct. 11

6:00 pm - Discussion—You Will Not Cast Me Off in Time of Old Age: Recognizing Anew the Value of Elder Lives
A conversation about how the COVID-19 pandemic has refocused attention on the lives of vulnerable populations

Charles Camosy, Moral Theologian/Bioethicist, Fordham University
Thumbelina Newsome, Director of Joy Cometh in the Morning adult medical daycare in Newark, New Jersey
Regina Kasun, Nurse Practitioner, Inova Health Systems' Geriatric Medical House Calls Program, Virginia.
Stephen Adubato (moderator), religion teacher and Coordinator of the Gray Bee Ministry & Community Service Project

Thursday, Oct. 15

6:00 pm - Poetry Reading—Whence Springs A Boundless Fruitfulness: Poets & Writers Reading Their Work
A phenomenal program of poetry and prose read by the authors.

Suzanne Wolfe, novelist, author of The Confessions of X and The Course of All Treasons
Fr. Richard Infante, short story writer, Last Priest Standing and Other Stories
Ewa Chruschiel, poet, Of Annunciations and Strata
Steve Kramp, poet, The Walk
Elisabeth Kramp, poet, Some Changed Same

Friday, Oct. 16
6:00 pm – Keynote Address—Ravi Rajan
President of the California Institute of the Arts, Ravi Rajan, offers an enlightening analysis of our culture’s current moment, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities raised by the pandemic

Saturday, Oct. 17

6:00 pm – Discussion—How Can We Respond to What Finds Us?
This event examines the myriad ways in which we respond to what—and Who—we have met.

Salvatore Snaiderbaur, Founder of One City Mission
Clare Thompson, educator
Samuel Ewell III, author of Faith Seeking Conviviality
Kate Marshall, Founder of the Catholic Worker, House of Hagar, in Wheeling, WV

7:30 pm – Concert—A Woman’s Life: A Song Cycle by Richard Danielpour on the Poems of Maya Angelou
A moving song cycle performed by Angel Riley, soprano, and Lucy Tucker Yates accompanying on piano.

Sunday, Oct. 18

6:00 pm – Presentation—Universal Brother: The Life and Legacy of Blessed Charles De Foucauld
Five religious congregations, associations, and spiritual institutes draw inspiration from the peaceful, largely hidden, yet hospitable life that characterized Charles de Foucauld, who was beatified on November 13, 2005. This event explores why.

Mark Danner, former State Department Analyst and expert in Christian Muslim dialogue
Fr. Lenny Tighe, Catholic priest and follower of Blessed Charles
Fuad Naeem, Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology and Director of the Encountering Islam Initiative, University of St. Thomas

Thursday, Oct. 22

6:00 pm – Discussion and Reading--”Through My Mouth Deliver This Earth of the Praise It Owes You”: A Conversation about Language, Poetry, and Christian Experience
A two-part conversation on the subject of poetry and the Bible, and the role of poetry in the ongoing work of redemption. Each of the poets will read several poems from his or her work.

Stephen Lewis (moderator), Professor of English, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Sir Michael Edwards, poet-scholar
Ewa Chruschiel, poet and Associate Professor of Humanities at Colby-Sawyer College
Steve Kramp, poet and Professor & Chair of Theology and Humanities at John Paul the Great Catholic University

 Friday, Oct. 23

6:00 pm – Keynote--”We Must Celebrate and Rejoice”
Mary Mirrione, the National Director for the National Office of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, addresses the Festival’s theme in light of the CGS method of religious education.

7:30 pm –“To Live in a Sea of Happiness”
A musical moment of discovery and hope: authentic samba was born in the homeless shacks, or favelas, of Brazil, where music and dance become expressions of a joy and a hope that do not disappoint.

Ney Vasconcelos, Double Bass, Symphonic Orchestra of the State of São Paulo 
Antonio Gomes, vocalist
Marcelo Rocha, various instruments and technical support

Saturday, Oct. 24

6:00 pm – Discussion--”Every Separation is a Link”: Being Found Behind Bars
A fascinating and moving discussion of the myriad ways in which men and women behind bars are “found,” even in prison.

Dr. Louis Mendoza, Director of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies at Arizona State University, and Director of the Pen Project, a mentoring program that pairs ASU English majors with inmates at a maximum-security prison
Dr. MaryClare Birmingham, Executive Director of Kolbe House, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s prison ministry center
Mike McGillicuddy, LCSW, Ignatian volunteer at Kolbe House, Chicago
Ron Zeilinger, Founder of Dismas Ministry, a national Catholic prison ministry

7:30 pm – Discussion--”We are All from Somewhere”: A Conversation with the Creative Team of Sweet Land
The creative team behind Sweet Land shares what went into making a revolutionary opera that charts a bold new direction for musical theatre in the 21st century.

Aja Couchois Duncan and Douglas Kearney, librettists
Raven Chacon and Du Yun, composers
Yuval Sharon and Cannupa Hanska Luger, directors
Marc Lowenstein, music director
Leander Rajan, "Speck"
Lucy Yates, keyboards/"Tota'ar"

Sunday, Oct. 25

6:00 pm – Discussion—How Have We Been Found?: A Moment of Judgment about the Month-Long Festival of Friendship
Revolution of Tenderness Founder and Coordinator Suzanne Lewis leads a reflection on this year’s expanded calendar of Festival events

Thursday, Oct. 29

6:00 pm – Discussion—How Many Publishers Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?
Writers and editors discuss the myriad publishing outlets available for literary creatives today and why these actually make it more difficult to be heard.

Gregory Wolfe, Publisher and Editor, Slant Books
Theresa Kiser, author of The Manakor Chronicles (Volumes 1 and 2) and A Little Catholic’s Book of Liturgical Colors
Christopher Riley, Professor of Film, John Paul II University, and author of The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style.

About the Festival of Friendship Sponsor: Revolution of Tenderness

Our mission is to provide humanities education and free cultural events in Appalachia and beyond.

Our vision is to offer cultural, religious, and educational events and publications inspired by our tireless openness to all that is lovely and good; convinced, moreover, that human freedom only flourishes within a tenacious faithfulness to communion, our programming always seeks out and privileges unity in ourselves, within our world, and in our community.