- Light refreshments will be served.
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Location:
Catholic Theological Union
5416 South Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
Join FutureChurch at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago as five Catholic women preachers help us find Resurrection hope in today’s world.
Join FutureChurch on Sunday April 26, 2026, from 1-3pm CT, at Catholic Theological Union for a dynamic and Spirit-filled Preaching Slam celebrating Mary Magdalene—the first witness and preacher of the Resurrection who boldly proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord.”
*Please note this is an in-person event in Chicago.
Rooted in John 20:1–18, Catholic women from diverse backgrounds will offer powerful reflections connecting Mary Magdalene’s Easter witness and proclamation to urgent realities in our world today. Through preaching that engages issues such as immigration, racial justice, care for creation, environmental justice, and human dignity, we will explore what Resurrection hope looks like in our time – for our church, our country, and our world.
The afternoon will include song, prayer, outstanding preaching, and opportunities for fellowship and conversation. Come be renewed, challenged, and inspired to proclaim with boldness and joy: We have seen the Lord!
About the preachers
Krista Chinchilla-Patzke is a Guatemalan born pastoral minister and mother (soon to be of two!). She was raised on the West Coast, educated on the East Coast, and has called the Midwest home for the past 8 years. After beginning her career in Catholic campus ministry, she now serves as Pastoral Ministry Associate at Old St. Patrick’s Church, working with the liturgy team, baptism ministry, and Immigrant and Refugee Ministry. Having been formed by pastoral ministers who fostered a sense of lay ecclesial leadership and the importance of women in the Church, she feels called to demonstrate the same to her daughter and other young people.
Paulina Delgadillo is a Spring 2025 graduate of Catholic Theological Union, where she earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and participated in the Pathways Program, which empowers students to create community programming that reflects the changing needs of the Church, while preparing them for ministry that focuses on justice and activism.
Susan Haarman, Ph.D. is the Director of Campus Partnerships at Interfaith America. She previously served as the Associate Director at Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS). She holds a PhD in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies, a Master of Divinity, and a Master in Community Counseling. Her research focuses on the intersection of social justice education, civic identity, and imagination.
Kimberly Lymore, D.Min. is a Pastoral Associate at The Faith Community of St. Sabina in Chicago, where she has served in full-time ministry since 2000 after leaving a corporate career. She is Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium and Director of the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union. A gifted preacher and retreat leader, she holds a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary, and is known for her work connecting worship and justice. Grounded in a deep sense of vocation, she is committed to helping faith communities live out God’s call to transformative action.
Vanessa White, D.Min. is Associate Professor of Spirituality and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Director of the Certificate in Black Theology and Ministry, with additional leadership in Xavier University’s Black Catholic Studies program. A womanist practical theologian, her work centers on spirituality, racial justice, and the lived experience of Black Catholics. She is a widely published author and contributor to major Catholic and theological platforms, including America, National Catholic Reporter, and Catholic Women Preach. In 2023, she made history as the first lay woman to preach a solemn novena at the National Shrine of St. Jude.