Austin, TX — Southwest Seminary marked Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with vibrant events celebrating the theological contributions, cultural heritage, and spiritual leadership of AAPI communities across the Episcopal Church.
The observance of AAPI Heritage Month at Southwest reflects the seminary’s commitment to diversity, justice, and intercultural formation. The first of two significant events took place on April 28th, when renowned theologian Dr. Kwok Pui Lan preached at the Monday Eucharist. A leading voice in Asian feminist and postcolonial theology, Dr. Kwok is internationally known for her work on decolonizing Christian theology. She currently serves as Distinguished Scholar at the Episcopal Divinity School and has held faculty positions at Emory University and other theological institutions. Following worship, Dr. Kwok joined students for a Community Hour conversation centered on her latest book, The Anglican Tradition from a Postcolonial Perspective, exploring how Anglicanism—and global Christianity more broadly—must reckon with histories of empire and migration. Dr. Kwok’s sermon at Christ Chapel can be viewed here.
“It was a day filled with inspiration,” shared Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park, Assistant Professor of New Testament. “In her sermon on Mark 1:1-15, Dr. Kwok encourages us to write our own stories boldly, just as Mark did. During Community Hour, she offered a compelling book talk in which she graciously shared her wisdom and theological journey–beginning in Hong Kong and evolving into a practice of resistance and resilience through collaboration with diverse theologians. While touring the library, she was impressed by the range of our teaching and learning resources, including our writing center and two recording studios.”
The celebration continued on May 1st with the annual AAPI Heritage Eucharist, organized by the Rev. Dr. Park and a team of students. The Rev. Peggy Lo, rector at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Austin, presided and preached. Her sermon offered a powerful reflection on the challenges and joys of serving as an AAPI leader in a predominantly white denomination, while also honoring the strength of ecumenical community among Asian American Christians, and how diversity enriches our lives. A recording of the Rev. Peggy Lo’s sermon can be found here.
Attendees gathered afterward at the Lower Commons at the Harrison Library for a shared meal, enjoying Korean-Mexican fusion from local food truck Chi’lantro and a variety of traditional Asian snacks. The chapel was adorned with colorful origami cranes, symbolizing peace and collective resilience.
“I am so grateful to the Rev. Peggy Lo for preaching and presiding at our AAPI Eucharist; to Dr. Kwok Pui-Lan for sharing her wisdom, humor, and insight with us; and to Dr. Jeehei Park for organizing these events and lining up our wonderful guests,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. “Asian American contributions to the church—theologically, musically, and liturgically—are not always elevated in the church’s current conversations about diversity, so it was particularly enriching and rewarding to be able to celebrate and engage with these voices.” By lifting up AAPI voices from both Episcopal and broader Christian contexts, these events created sacred space for dialogue, connection, and celebration, reminding the community of the beauty and strength that emerges when the Church embraces its global and multicultural identity.
Rev. Dr. Park reflected on the event, “We reaffirmed our commitment to beloved community during the Eucharist in celebration of Asian Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The guest preacher and presider was the Rev. Peggy Lo. In her sermon, she beautifully expressed the importance of celebrating our different identities and heritages alongside our shared Christian identity. My sincere thanks go to students, Iwao Asakura and Tina Francis for their work.”
Together, these events created space for joyful fellowship, thoughtful theological engagement, and an affirmation of the many ways AAPI identities enrich the life of the seminary and the wider Church.
