Clarissa V. Aljentera (she/her) is a second-generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is passionate about engaging Catholic Social Teaching in various aspects of her life. She is interested in the intersections of Anti-Asian Hate alongside systemic racism and, in particular, the role that solidarity plays among Black and Asian communities.

Clarissa is the Director of Education for Justice with the Ignatian Solidarity Network. She has worked in various ministries, including faith formation, marriage and family, racial justice, college campus ministry, and young adult. She teaches an occasional virtual summer class at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry on Anti-Racist Ministry in a Catholic Context.

Clarissa is the author of ‘The Parish Guide to Social Media’ (2013) and ‘Wonderfully Made’ (2019), published by Twenty-Third Media. She is a freelance writer with material appearing in National Catholic Reporter, U.S. Catholic, The Grotto Network, Busted Halo, Columbia Journalism Review, and America magazine.

She finished her MA in pastoral ministry from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and her B.S. in journalism from San Jose State University.

Before working in ministry, Clarissa spent ten years as a newspaper reporter covering sports, education, and crime. Home for Clarissa is Chicago, Illinois, where she lives with her husband and son. Clarissa has enjoyed performing improv comedy in Chicago for more than a decade.

You can connect with her on https://clarissaaljentera.com/ or find her on Instagram - @nanaydiggs

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