Gianluca Avanzato
Gianluca Avanzato is a writer, artist, and poet from Upstate New York. Gianluca holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, where he studied religion and spiritual care. He has engaged in interreligious dialogue trainings and sessions around the world and holds a Diploma in Interreligious Studies from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Gianluca teaches writing and creativity as a spiritual practice and means of self-knowing. He has developed and led workshops, pilgrimages, programming, including Sacred Writing Circles and Apothecary of the Word. As the executive producer and host of the podcast, Interfaith Passages, a professional writing coach, and a published writer, Gianluca strives to elevate the beauty of the everyday and the sacredness of all around us.
MY BACKGROUND
Biography
I am a writer, artist, and teacher from Upstate New York. I hold a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Harvard Divinity School and a Diploma in Interreligious Dialogue from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome).
The programs, events, and guidance I offer is informed by diverse mentoring and teaching experiences as well as a myriad of international encounters around interreligious dialogue.
Regular spiritual practices of mine include reading, writing, walking, crafting, making music, singing, pilgrimage, prayer, and meditation.
You can learn more about me and my spiritual journey in this Harvard Divinity School interview.
MY PROCESS
Sacred Creativity
We are creative beings in a creative universe. Through guided meditations, sacred reading/writing practices, and other creative exercises, I aim to help you find and foster your own practices to more deeply connect with yourself, those around you, and the divine.
In my workshops and programming, I will teach and engage writing and other creative practices to help you move through blocks in your life and learn more about yourself. If you struggle with writing or doubt your creativity, that's okay! I promise that, with gentleness, guidance, and practice, you will surprise yourself at the beautiful things you are capable of creating.
Learn about current workshops and group offerings.
MY PHILOSOPHY
Radical Belonging
It's a miracle to be alive, and you and I are part of this extraordinary mystery. As a facilitator and spiritual director, I am here to meet you where you're at, whether you're steeped within a faith tradition or tiptoeing around the margins. I work with people from many religious backgrounds—Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc.—as well as those who are unaffiliated.
I warmly welcome LGBTQ+ folks as well as people who have felt left out or cast out by traditional religious institutions. Together we'll create a safe and sacred space where you can explore this beautiful and complicated experience of being human.
You are respected and appreciated for who you are. You belong.
Resume
Education
Harvard Divinity School – Cambridge, MA. (Aug. 2021 – May 2024)
Master of Divinity
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Rome, Italy (Oct. 2020 – June 2021)
Diploma in Interreligious Studies
Union College – Schenectady, NY (Sept. 2014 – June 2018)
B.A. in Political Science; Minors in German Studies and Classical Civilization
Experience
Kellogg Fellow, Episcopal Chaplaincy at Harvard (Aug. 2023 – May 2024)
- Assisted the chaplain in aspects of church life, such as worship and liturgy, and in the administration of the Chaplaincy and its programming, including public events
Tour Guide, Harvard & the Landscape of Slavery (Aug. 2023 – May 2024)
- Led contemplative tours with Harvard Chaplains that guide participants through a spiritual and somatic process of learning about the legacy of slavery at Harvard
Human Fraternity Fellow, Georgetown University (Oct. 2023 – February 2024)
- Part of an international cohort engaged in monthly dialogues and a week-long study tour and in-person dialogue in Abu Dhabi; worked collaboratively to develop solution guides for more inclusive and meaningful interreligious university programming and policies
Media Coordinator, JPII Center for Interreligious Dialogue (Oct. 2022 – June 2023)
- Managed social media platforms, collaborated with other interfaith organizations, wrote professional articles, designed and distributed monthly newsletters
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant – Berlin, Germany (Sep. 2018 – June 2019)
- Assisted in English language instruction for high-school students; led writing workshops
Programming
Facilitator, Harvard First-Year Wellness Compassion Retreat (2023)
Founder & Facilitator, Sacred Writing Circles: Saints & Spiritual Ancestors (2022)
Facilitator, Living Interreligious Dialogue in Today’s World (2022)
Moderator & Panelist, Parliament of the World’s Religions (2021)
Executive Producer & Host, Interfaith Passages Podcast (2020)
Founder & Facilitator, Writing Our Communities (2015)
Skills
- Chaplaincy, facilitation, interfaith dialogue, religious literacy, mentoring, foreign languages, creative writing, poetry, tutoring, communications, fundraising, social media management, event coordination, project management, copy editing, proofreading, podcasting
- InDesign, Acrobat, Microsoft, Google Suite, DonorPerfect, Squarespace, Mac, Windows
Languages
German, Italian (high proficiency)
Spanish, Urdu, Hindi (intermediate proficiency)