ABOUT THE EVENT

In Practicing Radical Advent, Laurie Brink offers a biblically grounded guide to purposeful waiting. To illustrate what radical advent looks like, Brink focuses on biblical figures and their responses to impending change: Abram’s trust, Jonah’s resistance, Ruth’s adaptability, Peter’s openness, and more. She also shares stories from her own life and the lives of Christians throughout history. Through these biblical and personal narratives, Brink illuminates essential steps for crossing major thresholds: receiving an invitation, choosing to go forward, discovering a new vocation, crossing boundaries, weighing costs, recognizing destinations, seeking reconciliation, and changing expectations.

Join members of the CTU community on November 18, 2026 as we explore our experiences of transition and change through the lens of Radical Advent. Pizza lunch provided!

SPEAKER(S):

Sr. Laurie Brink, OP, A Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, Laurie Brink (Ph.D. University of Chicago) is Professor of New Testament Studies and New Testament Book review editor for The Bible Today. She teaches courses in the Gospels, Acts, NT Letters, and Early Christian literature. Her current research and pedagogical interests include contextualization and hermeneutics particularly the intersection of science, theology, and religious life.
As a Dominican, she is keenly interested in promoting biblical literacy and to that end has given presentations throughout the U.S. and in Australia, Bolivia, Israel, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Ms. Sara Conneely, Panelist, a passionate minister, educator, and spiritual guide dedicated to facilitating and supporting and building community. Sara completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, Peace Studies, and Italian at the University of Notre Dame in 2015 and Master of Arts in Theology through the Notre Dame Echo Program in 2017. In 2025, Sara successfully defended her Doctorate of Ministry from the Catholic Theological Union, with a focus in Educating for Witness. Her research interests include Catholic identity and mission integration, Ignatian spirituality, social justice, feminist theology, and integral ecology. Sara strongly believes that faith has the power to support a revolution of love through belonging and community. Sara is the Associate Director of The Well Spirituality Center where her work includes coordinating The Well’s programing, spiritual direction, facilitating retreats, and offering reflections. When not working or classroom. Sara enjoys reading, yarn crafts, and travel.

Mr. Justin Glenn, Panelist, is the Systems and Electronic Resources Librarian for the Paul Bechtold, CP Library at Catholic Theological Union. A Quaker, he attends Northside Friends Meeting for which he serves as one of the Co-Clerks of Meeting

Mr. Friday Onoja, Panelist, originally from Nigeria is a member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Currently, I am in my final year of the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program on the ordination track at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU).
Mr. Peter Cunningham, Moderator

PROGRAM TIMELINE:

1- Sr. Laurie Brink, OP
2- Panel
3- Q&A
4- Book Signing

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sr. Laurie Brink, OP Ms. Sara Conneely, Panelist Mr. Justin Glenn, Panelist Mr. Friday Onoja, Panelist Mr. Peter Cunningham, Moderator