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Hyatt Regency Washington
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
From February 22- 27, 2008 over 650 diocesan and national social ministry leaders gathered in Washington, DC to celebrate and act on the social mission of the Church. Below are some of the highlights of the 2008 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, along with links to some of the keynote presentations. In addition, you can see the descriptions for the “wrap-around” meetings held by most of the 18 national Catholic partners who collaborate in the overall meeting.
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AND … Please make plans now to attend the 2009 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering: February 22-25, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill! Save the Date 2009 |
Audio CDs Many of the plenary addresses and sessions and certain workshops are available on audio CD from JOB Conference Recording Service Click on Order audio CDs and select “The 2008 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering.”
Sunday, February 24
OPENING EUCHARISTIC LITURGY
Principal Celebrant: His Eminence Oscar Cardinal Rodriguez, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and President, Caritas International. Homilist: Most Reverend Robert Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg (download a copy of his homily
here) Music provided by the St. Camillus Multicultural Choir.
OPENING PLENARY SESSION
The Challenge to Love, The Call to Hope: Global Perspectives on Catholic Social Mission His Eminence Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez,
Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and President, Caritas International
Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez helped us examined our responsibilities as believers, leaders, advocates, using the Holy Father’s challenging encyclicals on love and hope. Cardinal Rodriguez offered a global perspective on what it means to be “faithful citizens” in an election year. To purchase an audio recording of Cardinal’s Rodriguez address, click here.
Monday, February 25
MORNING SESSION
Breakfast and Catholic Charities USA “Poverty in America” Discussion
Rev. Bryan Massingale, STD, Associate Professor of Theology at Marquette University and author of Catholic Charities USA’s issue brief, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good, discussed the reality of race and poverty in the United States today. Participants received the Catholic Charities USA policy paper, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good.
OPENING PLENARY
Direction and Dangers for Faithful Citizenship: Political and Ecclesial Context for Social Mission in an Election Year
Mr. John Carr, Executive Director, Justice, Peace and Human Development, USCCB
John Carr offered reflections on the political and ecclesial context for our common mission in an election year. He outlined challenges and opportunities, directions and dangers for social ministry leaders in advocating for human life and human dignity in this election year and provided a framework for the messages to take to Capitol Hill. To view his slide show presentation, click here.
An audio CD of this event is available for purchase here.
DOMESTIC PLENARY
Putting the Poor and Vulnerable First During this Election Year
Dr. Norman Francis, President, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA
Dr. Norman Francis outlined the moral imperative to overcoming poverty in the United States, through his experiences as a distinguished academic leader and a survivor of Hurricane Katrina. An audio CD of this event is available for purchase here.
INTERNATIONAL PLENARY
Campaigning Against Global Poverty
Ms. Lesley-Anne Knight, Secretary General, Caritas International
Lesley-Anne Knight, a British citizen born in Zimbabwe, offered reflection on international poverty, human development and conflict in the context of the USCCB/CRS Campaign Against Global Poverty. Read the text of Ms. Knight’s remarks here. An audio CD of this event is available for purchase here.
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATONAL HILL BRIEFINGS
Participants attended workshops addressing the four issues participants discussed during meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
| Domestic Issue briefings included | International Issue briefing included |
| Affordable Housing | HIV and AIDS |
| Putting the Poor First | Justice and Peace in Israel/Palestine |
Audio recordings of these briefings can be purchased here.
Tuesday, February 26
MORNING SESSION Participants were able to choose from seven international and six domestic issue workshops that addressed a wide range of important priorities for the bishops and national Catholic organizations.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUE WORKSHOPS
- Middle East: Challenge for U.S. Policy (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- Global Poverty: A Moral Imperative (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- Linking Trade and Human Rights in Latin America (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- Water of Life: A Source of Conflict
- The Impact of Security Measures on Immigrants, Refugees and Development
- Sudan and Darfur: Ending the Nightmare
- Banning Indiscriminate Weapons: Nukes, Landmines and Cluster Bombs (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
DOMESTIC ISSUE WORKSHOPS
- Housing: As If People Matter (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- The Facts of Immigration: Responding to the Myths (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- Fairness in the 2008 Farm Bill: Update and Lessons Learned
- Health Care as a Human Right – from Womb to Tomb (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
- Gulf Cost Recovery from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina: Galvanizing the Commitment to Confront Persistent Poverty and Inequity
- Environmental Toxins and Children – Unborn and Born
- The Moral Dimensions of Climate Change: Putting the Poor First (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
AFTERNOON SESSION
Capitol Hill Visits
Participants journeyed to Capitol Hill to voice their concerns on key issues, including
CSMG participants made over 270 visits with Members of Congress! See 2008 CSMG Capitol Hill Visits Map.
CRS-USCCB Sponsored Reception and Perspectives from Capitol Hill
Catholic Social Ministry leaders met in the Dirksen Senate Office Building to unwind after a long day and share their experiences from Capitol Hill. Catholic Relief Services staff tracked the number of reported visits in real time. Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) welcomed the Gathering participants for their second annual reception on Capitol Hill. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) addressed the Gathering about how their faith impacts the work they do on Capitol Hill, and shared stories about people of faith who have had an influence over their own decisions and leadership in Congress.
Wednesday, February 27
MORNING SESSION
Strategy Sessions
Special interactive strategy sessions explored innovative practices and strategies for participants to use in the year ahead.
- Pro-Life and Pro-Justice: Avoiding Divisions and Promoting Collaboration
(An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.) - Solidarity with Africa: The Synod of African Bishops 2008
- Developing Strategies and Sharing Best Practices for Building a Community of Faithful Citizens in Your Diocese (for Diocesan Leaders)
(An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.) - Becoming a Community of Faithful Citizens: How Does Our Parish Get There? (for Parish Leaders)
(An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.) - Immigration – Reframing the Immigration Debate
(An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
CLOSING PLENARY
Commentator Mark Shields of the News Hour offered a humorous analysis of the 2008 political landscape. (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
CLOSING MASS
Celebrant and Homilist: Most Reverend Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando
Read Bishop Wenski’s homily
AFTERNOON SESSION
Closing Luncheon
Columnist John Allen, Jr. reporter for the National Catholic Reporter offered analysis of Catholic trends and events. (An audio recording of this session can be purchased here.)
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS
Click here to find contact information for all of our 18 partnering organizations
Email us at jphdmail@usccb.org