Sister Ilia Delio and Mrs. Sharon Lavigne Speak about Love and Justice in an Unfolding Creation

As part of the speaker series sponsored by the Canizaro Center for Catholic Studies, the Environment Program, Women and Gender Studies, and the Rev. Stephen J. Duffy Chair in Catholic Studies, and in support of the Jesuit Apostolic Preference of "Care for Our Common Home," Loyola University hosted Sr. Ilia Delio, O.S.F., from Villanova University, and Mrs. Sharon Lavigne, founder and director of "Rise St. James," on Monday evening, April 13th. They both focused on "Love and Justice in an Unfolding Creation" from the viewpoint of a theologian and a Catholic environmental activist.

Sr. Delio is a Franciscan sister, theologian, author, and university professor. She holds the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair of Theology at Villanova, and she is the founder of the Center for Christogenesis, an online educational resource for promoting the vision of Teilhard de Chardin and the integration of science and religion.

Mrs. Sharon Lavigne is an environmental justice activist in Louisiana focused on combating petrochemical complexes along “Cancer Alley.” She is the recipient of the Laetare Medal, the highest Catholic honor awarded (2021); the Goldman Environmental Prize (2022); in 2023, one of TIME magazine’s “Climate 100”; and in 2024, named to TIME 100.

The M.C. for the evening was Professor Anne Daniell from Loyola’s Department of Religious Studies.