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WASHINGTON (March 18, 2004)
Youth Forum to Focus on University Life
From March 31 to April 4 the Pontifical Council for the Laity will convene its Eighth International Youth Forum in Rome, titled "Youth and University: Witnessing to Christ in the University World." Speakers will include recent Vatican Academy of Social Science appointee Mary Ann Glendon and others, along with assemblies and panel discussions on topics related to student life and experience. "This is a great opportunity for students from all over the world to explore ways to bridge evangelism with intellectualism, and religious values with the barrage of ideas students encounter in the university setting," says Michael Galligan-Stierle, Assistant Secretary for Catholic Higher Education and Campus Ministry. A delegation of students from across the country has been selected by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Department of Education, and events will include preparations for World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany next year.
Michael Galligan-Stierle is available at 202/541-3115 or mgalligan-stierle@usccb.org
An April Coming Together for Ministers to Those Far Apart
In more than 65 ports throughout the United States and in most major ports throughout the world, the Catholic local diocese assigns a chaplain (priest, deacon, religious, or lay person) to serve the seafarers in the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) —aboard ship and on shore. The ships in the harbor, the crowded wharves, the hospitals, the seafarers' home and clubs all make up the port chaplain's "parish." Likewise, the Civil Aviation Apostolate includes all the faithful in the world of aviation who cannot be under the guidance of a parish priest. "More than anything, it is necessary to tie all these dispersed 'parishioners' who move around the world both to God and to each other," says Rev. John A. Jamnicky, National Coordinator, USCCB Human Mobility Apostolate. To this end, both AOS (April 13-16) and Airport Chaplains (April 27-30) conferences are being held in the coming month for those who minister to people "on the move."
Rev. John Jamnicky is available at 202/541-3226 or jjamnicky@usccb.org.
Women's Spirituality in the Workplace
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Women is currently exploring the relationship between women's spirituality and their employment outside the home. In late 2002, the Committee invited dioceses to conduct focus groups on the topic (www.usccb.org/laity/women /focusgroups.htm). Seventeen dioceses held such groups between November 2002 and January 2003, and because of the success of the focus groups, the Committee expanded the project to dioceses. "A summary will report will be available soon," says Sheila Garcia, Assistant Director, USCCB Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth. "This is a new area, getting people to talk creatively about their spiritual lives combined with their professional ones."
Sheila Garcia is available at 201/541-3041 or sgarcia@usccb.org.