USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Down the Road, Events in February 2001

Down the Road, Events in February 2001

WASHINGTON (January 12 2001) -- Catholic Press Month, Black History Month, American Heart Month.

World Day for Consecrated Life celebrated in the U.S., Feb. 3-4.
Ground Hog Day, Feb. 2.

Dialogue on the philosophical and theological implications of scientific and technological advances, Notre Dame, Ind., Feb. 2-4.

National Day of Prayer for the African-American Family, Feb. 4.

East Coast Conference for Religious Education, Washington, Feb. 9-11.

Arrival of the Pope in Sydney, Australia for celebration of "The New Evangelisation and the dignity of the suffering Person."

World Day for the Sick, Feb. 11.

World Marriage Day, Feb. 11.

Lincoln's Birthday, Feb. 12.

Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

Religious Education Congress sponsored by Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education, Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 15-18.

Annual meeting of Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry, Metairie, La., Feb. 15-18.

Presidents Day, Feb. 19.

Washington's Birthday, Feb. 22.

Crisis Communications Seminar for bishops, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 22

Annual convention of National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, San Antonio, Feb. 19-22.

Annual Social Ministry Gathering, Washington, Feb. 25-28.

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Attention Diocesan Communications Directors:

World Day for Consecrated Life: The 2001 Consecrated Life Day is slated for the February 3-4 weekend and the theme is "Come and See." A packet of background information, including hints for parishes, statistics, and persons to note for media, and other aids such as a brochure and vow renewal formula has been sent to all dioceses. Packets went out to Communications Directors, Vicars for Religious and superiors belonging to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and Conference of Major Superiors of Men in September.

MediaSeminars: Registration is open for the 2001 Encountering the Media Seminar and the Crisis Communication Seminar. The first Crisis Communication Seminar of 2001 will be in Orlando, February 22. The site is the Courtyard Marriott Lake Buena Vista and the seminar rate is $109 plus 11 percent tax per night. A second crisis communication seminar will be in Dallas, March 13. The Encountering the Media seminars are as follows: Seattle, March 27; Denver April 3; and Cleveland, October 30. More information on the seminars can be found at www.nccbuscc.org/comm/seminars.

Internet Survey: Details will be announced in the next few weeks of an internet survey being conducted by the Bishops' Committee on the Laity. All Catholic lay men and women are invited to respond. The focus will be to invite suggestions for how parishes can better help lay Catholics live out their call as Christians in the world. "This is the first time that a Committee of Bishops is inviting lay Catholics to respond via the internet," says Ana Villamil, Associate Director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth.