#  Cader Room Naming Spotlights HDS’s Commitment to Religious Literacy in Media and Entertainment  

 





December 03, 2024

 

 

     ![Mario Cader-Frech, third from left, is joined by his family and former Dean David N. Hempton and current Dean Marla F. Frederick. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/cader-family-3.jpg?itok=7xiTLmj3) 

Mario Cader-Frech, MRPL ’24, third from left, is joined by his family as well as former HDS Dean David N. Hempton and current HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo

 



 

 The Harvard Divinity School community celebrated the naming of the Cader Room with a public screening of *[Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It](https://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/films/2197928)*. The film debuted in 2024 at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. It follows the story and challenging life of legendary musician and genius organist Billy Preston, highlighting his upbringing in the Black Church and its influence on his life.

 [Mario Cader-Frech](https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/people/mario-cader-frech-0), MRPL ’24, made a generous gift to rename the space. The Sperry Room [was renamed to the Cader Room](/news/2024/07/17/new-gift-will-rename-sperry-room-cader-room) this year to honor the School's commitment to educational programs and initiatives focused on religious literacy in media and entertainment.

 During his time as HDS Dean (1922-1953) Sperry modernized the School’s curriculum, integrating contemporary theological, philosophical, and social perspectives. Cader-Frech learned about Dean Sperry in Professor Dan McKanan’s class, “Race, Empire, and Harvard Divinity School.”

 “As we rename this room, I hope that it will serve as a space where ideas flourish, where faith and reason are explored, and where future generations are inspired to continue the work of justice, charity, and truth,” Cader-Frech said. “It is my wish that this room will echo with the voices of those who will one day take their place in the world, shaping it for the better.”

   ![Mario Cader-Frech speaking at the Cader Room naming dedication](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/cader-podium-inline-news-750.jpg?itok=vPypu-Tx) 

 

Mario Cader-Frech, MRPL ’24, delivers remarks during the special Cader Room naming event and film screening. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo   
At HDS, Cader-Frech is a Dean’s Council Member, a former Religion and Public Life fellow, and last year’s president of the Harvard Divinity School Film Fest. He is the co-founder and social impact specialist of [DeeperDive](https://deeperdive.org/), an initiative exploring the role of religion in entertainment media that provides religious literacy training for media executives.

 HDS MTS candidate Lorenny Diaz, who interned at DeeperDive this summer with Cader while working toward a Certificate of Religion in Public Life in Arts and Media, delivered remarks at the beginning of the celebration.

 “Throughout the summer, we built a case study on the potential instances of religion in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and further amended the religious literacy test for entertainment media,” Diaz said. “Entertainment media is a place where worlds composed of texts, ideas, beliefs, and humanity collide. This collision, the disruption, and the creation that follows make it necessary for us to live in the messiness, to understand the processes and impact of world creation.”

 [Dean Marla F. Frederick](/people/marla-f-frederick) introduced the event, saying: “We are here today to celebrate a generous gift from a dear friend and alumnus of the School, Mario Cader-Frech. Mario’s gift builds on his deep commitment to religious literacy and media, which he focused on last year while he pursued his master of religion and public life degree . . . Mario, thank you for everything you do to support education and religious literacy in service of a just world at peace.”

 Following the screening, the writer, director, and executive producer of Billy Preston, Paris Barclay, AB ’79, joined remotely for a discussion with Dean Frederick. Barclay spoke about how his time at Harvard College shaped him as a storyteller, noting the influence of a class with playwright [William Alfred](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2003/04/william-alfred/) on screenwriting.

 “His thesis for the class was that if you're going to create a story that demands that someone take two hours out of their lives to give that time to you, you owe them something in return. It is not a one-way street,” Barclay said. “What is your gift going to be? What are you going to give back? That has informed the stories that I choose.”

 Barclay concluded by taking questions from the audience of HDS community members and guests. A thoughtful conversation took a closer look at the role of religion in Preston’s life, examining both its helpful and harmful influences. The film itself takes a hard and nuanced look at mistakes in Billy Preston's life, as well as his struggles with his sexuality and addiction. Throughout the discussion, Barclay emphasized the importance of storytelling as a way to change society, leaving attendees inspired to use their voices to do the same.

 —*by Scarlett Rose Ford, HDS news correspondent*



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Alumni News and Profiles ](/discover-stories-about/alumni-news-and-profiles)