Workshop #1: Joy & The Asian American Church
Speaker: Alan Berryhill
What brings you to CACCLC and what helps us stay together? In this workshop we will explore what makes Asian American church spaces so unique and significant. Together, we are finding Jesus Christ amidst our Asian cultural heritage, grappling with the tragedy of AAPI hate, and expressing solidarity with other marginal communities.
Alan Berryhill is a longtime camper and biracial Asian American. In addition to his work as a software engineer, he recently graduated with a Master of Theological Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology. His thesis studied the role of Asian American churches in Asian American identity formation.
Workshop #2: Joy in the Unknown
Speaker: Jessica Yap
Are you frustrated with where you are in life right now? Are you wishing you would have hit certain "milestones" by now, but haven't (having a significant other, working in a certain industry, having a kid, just to name a few?) This workshop will explore what it looks like to find Joy even in life circumstances we might not have chosen for ourselves. We'll also explore potential ways to begin naming & making steps towards what you want!
Jessica was excited to learn in 2018 that there was a longstanding community of Chinese Catholics in California - she thought she was the only one! She is a mixed Asian gal - Filipino & Chinese (Malaysian). Having studied Earth Science and spent 3 years in full time ministry at Brown & Columbia, she is now selling irrigation parts. Lol. She doesn't know where life is taking her right now, but one day hopes to build gardens, especially for families of color. By providing opportunities to abundantly rest in gardens, she hopes to help people heal from exhaustion, overwork, and restless anxiety.
Workshop #3: Joy in All the Ways God Made You
Speaker: Michael Tarui
Our entire lives are a gift. That includes all aspects of you. But in this world, we often find ourselves shying away from claiming, exploring, and developing certain parts of who God made us to be. In this workshop, we will be exploring certain areas of identity Asian Catholics may feel trepidation towards, particularly in regards to race, gender, and sexuality. We won't be going at it alone! We'll be looking to our older brothers and sisters for inspiration - the Asian Saints - and hope Campers continue to develop friendships with them even after this weekend!
Michael is a queer Catholic currently studying theology at St. Joseph’s College of Maine. He aspires to become a teacher and to do ministry with those in need. He has a history in activism, leading projects to promote justice for Asian Americans, queer people, and other marginalized communities. He is Filipino & Japanese, and has written for Grotto, an online Catholic publication that aims to be a "space to recharge."