August 31, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #87, John Dear with Todd Walatka on St. Oscar Romero
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with Professor Todd Walatka of Notre Dame, author of a new book, “Words of Life: The Preaching of St. Oscar Romero.”Archbishop Oscar Romero is one of our greatest prophets and saints. He was assassinated while saying Mass in San Salvador on March 24, 1980, because he had been speaking out boldly against the U.S. backed killings, injustice and war. He inspired John to work in a Salvadoran refugee camp in 1985, and to traveled regularly to El Salvador for decades, including for Romero’s beatification Mass in San Salvador. For many, Romero is the epitome of the modern-day prophet who denounces war, poverty, and killing, calls people to be converted to the nonviolent Jesus, and announces the coming of God’s reign of justice, disarmament and peace.
Todd Walatka teaches about Catholic theology after Vatican II, Latin American theology, Catholic social teaching, and Christian spirituality. He is also the editor of Óscar Romero and Catholic Social Teaching, which examines the life of Romero in light of contemporary work for justice and human development.“If you hear Romero’s words or know anything about his life, you immediately think, ‘This is the gospel!’” Todd says. “Romero asked us: ‘What is the Good News today? What does it demand of our very lives today? Romero truly believed that the Word of God can change our lives.” Listen in and be inspired by Oscar Romero! God bless you!
This Week, 2 Special Episodes of the Nonviolent Jesus Podcast to Mark 9/11:
September 7, 2026
Episode #88 (Part 1 of 2), John Dear with Colleen Kelley, co-founder of Sept. 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
On Sept. 7th, in Part 1 of 2, John Dear speaks with Colleen Kelley who lost who brother in the Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. A few years earlier, John had baptized Colleen’s daughter at a happy family event. On 9/11, Colleen’s brother Bill was at a one day conference at Windows on the World, on the top of the World Trade Center. In the days afterwards, she met with other family members to seek nonviolent alternatives to the cycles of violence. They formed “September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows,” which has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. These days, she continues to work with Peaceful Tomorrows in a variety of ways, including numerous visits to observe the military commissions at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Visit: www.peacefultomorrows.orgSeptember 10, 2026
Episode #89 (Part 2 of 2), John Dear’s Personal Experience at 9/11
On Sept. 10th, Part 2 of 2, we post Fr. John’s stories of being the Red Cross coordinator of chaplains after 9/11. He had been scheduled to have breakfast with his parents that morning in the restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center, but they changed their plans at the last minute. When he walked to help, the Red Cross asked him to become the local coordinator of the 550 chaplains at the Family Assistance Center where they served some 50,000 direct relatives of those who died in the two towers over the next three months. John also worked once or twice a week at Ground Zero, praying with and counseling rescue workers. He concludes with reflections about his work organizing protests against the Afghanistan war, and where we are 25 years later. Thank you for listening.
Upcoming Zoom Programs:
AUG
22
11 am PT / 2pm ET
Todd Walatka on Saint Oscar Romero’s Prophetic Voice for Peace
SEP
19
John Dear’s new book
Universal Love:
Surrendering to the God of Peace
By John Dear
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Available from www.orbisbooks.com or call 1-800-258-5838, or Amazon.com
August 31, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #87, John Dear with Todd Walatka on St. Oscar Romero
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with Professor Todd Walatka of Notre Dame, author of a new book, “Words of Life: The Preaching of St. Oscar Romero.”Archbishop Oscar Romero is one of our greatest prophets and saints. He was assassinated while saying Mass in San Salvador on March 24, 1980, because he had been speaking out boldly against the U.S. backed killings, injustice and war. He inspired John to work in a Salvadoran refugee camp in 1985, and to traveled regularly to El Salvador for decades, including for Romero’s beatification Mass in San Salvador. For many, Romero is the epitome of the modern-day prophet who denounces war, poverty, and killing, calls people to be converted to the nonviolent Jesus, and announces the coming of God’s reign of justice, disarmament and peace.
war, poverty, and killing, calls people to be converted to the nonviolent Jesus, and announces the coming of God’s reign of justice, disarmament and peace.Todd Walatka teaches about Catholic theology after Vatican II, Latin American theology, Catholic social teaching, and Christian spirituality. He is also the editor of Óscar Romero and Catholic Social Teaching, which examines the life of Romero in light of contemporary work for justice and human development.
“If you hear Romero’s words or know anything about his life, you immediately think, ‘This is the gospel!’” Todd says. “Romero asked us: ‘What is the Good News today? What does it demand of our very lives today? Romero truly believed that the Word of God can change our lives.” Listen in and be inspired by Oscar Romero! God bless you!
Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter
This Week, 2 Special Episodes of the Nonviolent Jesus Podcast to Mark 9/11:
September 7, 2026
Episode #88 (Part 1 of 2), John Dear with Colleen Kelley, co-founder of Sept. 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
On Sept. 7th, in Part 1 of 2, John Dear speaks with Colleen Kelley who lost who brother in the Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. A few years earlier, John had baptized Colleen’s daughter at a happy family event. On 9/11, Colleen’s brother Bill was at a one day conference at Windows on the World, on the top of the World Trade Center. In the days afterwards, she met with other family members to seek nonviolent alternatives to the cycles of violence. They formed “September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows,” which has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. These days, she continues to work with Peaceful Tomorrows in a variety of ways, including numerous visits to observe the military commissions at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Visit: www.peacefultomorrows.orgSeptember 10, 2026
Episode #89 (Part 2 of 2), John Dear’s Personal Experience at 9/11
On Sept. 10th, Part 2 of 2, we post Fr. John’s stories of being the Red Cross coordinator of chaplains after 9/11. He had been scheduled to have breakfast with his parents that morning in the restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center, but they changed their plans at the last minute. When he walked to help, the Red Cross asked him to become the local coordinator of the 550 chaplains at the Family Assistance Center where they served some 50,000 direct relatives of those who died in the two towers over the next three months. John also worked once or twice a week at Ground Zero, praying with and counseling rescue workers. He concludes with reflections about his work organizing protests against the Afghanistan war, and where we are 25 years later. Thank you for listening.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter