Presbyterian podcast launches Spanish version

‘Una cuestión de fe’ will come out the last Thursdays of each month, starting Dec. 30

by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Rafael Lemos Viana will be the first guest on “Una cuestión de fe” on Dec. 30.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — In October, “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” initiated its first-ever Spanish-language episode to address the critical issue of gender-based violence in Puerto Rico and beyond.

It was a collaboration that went so well, a Spanish-language version of the podcast, “Una cuestión de fe,” will become a monthly offering, starting with an episode about Christmas traditions, “Tradiciones navideñas,” which debuts Dec. 30. It will be co-hosted by the Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, Associate for Disaster Response in Latin America and the Caribbean for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, a Compassion, Peace & Justice (CPJ) ministry, and the Rev. Rosa B. Miranda, Associate for Hispanic/Latino-a Intercultural Congregational Support in Racial Equity  & Women’s Intercultural  Ministries (RE&WIM).

“We started talking about a recurring Spanish episode once a month for ‘A Matter of Faith,’ which would have similar themes or questions as an English episode that debuts the same day,” “A Matter of Faith” co-host Simon Doong, Associate for Peacemaking in CPJ’s Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, said of Miranda, González-Castillo and others who helped put the Spanish podcasts together. “So, it all came together organically and was driven by their desire to see this come to fruition. We are so grateful for their enthusiasm and willingness to dive into the podcast world with us!”

Click here to access all episodes of “A Matter of Faith,” including  “Una cuestión de fe” when it debuts Dec. 30

The Rev. Rosa B. Miranda, Associate for Hispanic/Latino-a Intercultural Congregational Support in the Office of Racial Equity  & Women’s Intercultural  Ministries, is a co-host of “Una cuestión de fe.”

Miranda reflected back to that initial experience, saying, “From those experiences and conversations that followed in a trustful safe space, the idea came out. Since then, it has been an organic model, where deep listening and sharing has occurred, an opportunity to be authentic and honest to each other appreciating perspectives in life and theology, but also in opening up to the Spirit to lead having the people of God at heart, in this case the Hispanic Latina constituency in our denomination and beyond.

“It is my hope that in the same way, this podcast in Spanish will be an opportunity to have deep conversations about those aspects of living our faith and the values of the kin-dom that are relevant in times as the ones we live.”

Miranda said that she and González-Castillo will also look to feedback from listeners to guide the show. Listeners can email the show at unacuestiondefe@pcusa.org.

The Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Associate for Disaster Response – Latin America and the Caribbean, in a meeting with El Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña on Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Rich Copley)

The hosts appear on the companion English version of “A Matter of Faith” with Doong and co-host the Rev. Lee Catoe that will also come out Dec. 30 and serves to introduce “Una cuestión de fe.” Before the big announcement, they engage in a lively discussion of Latin American Christmas traditions along with Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Co-moderator of the 223^rd General Assembly of the PC(USA) and Regional Liaison to the Caribbean for Presbyterian World Mission. The participants point out right away that Christmas will still be a relevant discussion because celebrations of the holiday extend well beyond Dec. 25 in Latin America. On “Una cuestión de fe,” Miranda and González-Castillo’s guest will be the Rev. Rafael Lemos Viana, who is from Brazil and is the New Worshipping Community pastoral leader of On The Way and Casa Brasil, both in the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

Cintrón-Olivieri along with Michelle Muñiz-Vega of the Presbytery of San Juan helped the hosts develop both the October Spanish-podcast episode and the new version.

“As an avid listener to the Presby Podcast ‘A Matter of Faith,’ I’m grateful for the ministry of the Rev. Lee Catoe and Simon Doong through this digital platform and their vision towards inclusion,” Cintrón-Olivieri said. “What a blessing to see the podcast table expand in conversations about faith, life, and justice in Spanish as well!”

“We bless God for Revs. Rosa Miranda and Edwin González-Castillo for lovingly sharing their gifts as co-hosts of ‘Una Cuestión de Fe.’”