St. Mary’s Stands with Uvalde, Catholic Social Teaching and Preventing Violence

Wednesday, Oct. 19
3:30 to 5 p.m.
University Center, Conference Room A

As part of St. Mary’s University’s commitment to stand with our Uvalde neighbors, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller and panelists from educational and public safety organizations in San Antonio and Bexar County will share the work happening in our community to prevent violence and discuss the challenges we face moving forward. Join us for a discussion on a holistic, collaborative approach to preventing violence, with an emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching.

The Crossroads Symposium is a free, annual lecture series featuring men and women who have shaped the Catholic Intellectual Tradition – a tradition at the heart of the educational enterprises at St. Mary’s. Speakers from various faith traditions are invited to speak to the University and San Antonio communities about such topics as Catholicism in a changing world, religion in a pluralistic society, and faith in areas such as art and science.

For more information, contact Allison L. Gray, Ph.D., Interim Beirne Director for the Center for Catholic Studies at agray7@stmarytx.edu.

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  Sheriff Javier Salazar

  Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

  Sheriff Javier Salazar was sworn into office on January 1, 2017, as the 34th Sheriff of Bexar County. Prior to being elected, he served with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for twenty-three years. Sheriff Salazar was one of the first members of the Community Policing Unit known as the San Antonio Fear Free Environment (S.A.F.F.E.) Unit. In October 2020, the Bexar County Commissioners Court implemented new ways in which members of our community can seek mental health support through our first responder infrastructure. This specialized response is organized, coordinated, and executed under the name Specialized Multidisciplinary Alternate Response Team (S.M.A.R.T).

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  Ramona L. Lampley, J.D.

  Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, Professor of Law, St. Mary’s University School of Law

  Lampley graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2004, where she was named Outstanding Graduate from the National Association of Women Lawyers. Before joining the faculty at St. Mary’s, Lampley practiced complex civil litigation at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP in Denver, Colorado, where she specialized in commercial class action disputes, corporate disputes, arbitration enforcement, punitive damages, and professional malpractice. Dean Lampley recently participated in an interview with Kens5 News on the lawsuit against a gunmaker after the Uvalde shooting.

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  The Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S.

  Archbishop of San Antonio

  Gustavo García-Siller was named Archbishop of San Antonio by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He holds master’s degrees in theology and divinity, philosophy, and psychology. His almost 40 years of priestly service has taken many forms, including ministering to communities with varied cultural backgrounds. On a national level, Archbishop García-Siller currently serves on several committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)—the Cultural Diversity Committee on Hispanic Affairs, African American Affairs, Committee on Hispanics and the Liturgy, and the Committee on Migration (USCCB.)

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  Johnny Reyes Jr.

  SAISD Chief of Police

  Johnny Reyes Jr. is the Chief of Police for the San Antonio ISD Police Department. He has over 34 years of experience in law enforcement, including security protection in the private sector. Reyes has been employed with SAISD Police Department for 20 years. He has a master’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in Organizational Leadership and Management.