The Catholic Campaign for Human Development convened Diocesan Directors who, together with national staff, reflected on the mission of the Campaign at a milestone year. The group examined and celebrated 35 years of working to break the cycle of poverty in the United States by building relationships of solidarity between poor and non-poor people in this country. The agenda included updates, analysis and prayerful reflection on the work of CCHD and the Diocesan Directors.

Diocesan Directors of CRS and CCHD came together with the faculty and staff of Catholic colleges and universities to make new and important contacts and advance the cooperation and collaboration between social ministries at the diocesan and university levels.

The Parish Social Ministry Section Leadership Team met to assist in the efforts to build the parish-based constituency of Catholic Charities agencies across the country.

The Catholic labor Network (a loosely affiliated group of Catholic lay, religious, and clergy concerned and active on worker issues) began their session with Mass. Joe Holland, President of Pax Romana and author, explored work and the rights of workers in Catholic teaching. Also, an interactive workshop on day laborers and their place in American society was featured. The session concluded with lunch and a speaker.

The global work of Catholic Relief Services does not get done without the critical local efforts of diocesan directors. Beginning with a thorough update and overview of the extensive world-wide work of CRS during this hectic past year by President, Ken Hackett, the gathering focused on the critical diocesan director role. Building capacity and identification of best practices in various program and public policy activities were explored in a discussion format. Strengthening the vital relationship linkage between global-national-regional-diocesan-individual and collective action for international justice and peace was examined. Finally, a few of CRSs overseas partners joined the proceedings and offered an opportunity to build some good relationships.

This leadership summit drew together representatives of the faith community with those from national agricultural, environmental, consumer, and labor organizations to build an enhanced and expanded network of common efforts around justice and conservation as key elements in the new Farm Bill.

In the context of contemporary Catholic intellectual life, the faculty, staff and administrators from Catholic colleges and universities celebrated the rich tradition of peace & justice advocacy and learning. In this two-day, wrap-around seminar, participants explored a variety of strategies to support the integral and explicit presence of Catholic social teaching at Catholic colleges and universities.

Over 300 Faculty, administrators and staff from over 100 colleges and universities across the country have attended this wrap-around meeting over the last five years. This sixth Annual meeting included plenary sessions by outstanding scholars and higher education leaders, as well as, a number of break-out sessions as a format for discussion of issues, the sharing of resources, and practical planning in support of campus collaboration with national Catholic service organizations.

The seminar was a cooperative effort of the members of the ACCU Advisory Committee on Peace & Justice Education and was sponsored by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, and USCCB Secretariat for Social Development and World Peace.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is known as one of the church's great communicators. During the recent presidential election, for example, he modeled those skills in articulating Catholic social teaching on the national stage. At the 2006 Roundtable Symposium, he offered the opening keynote on communicating the Catholic message effectively to the faithful and all persons of goodwill.

Framing the Catholic Message
After Cardinal McCarrick's remarks, participants discussed the questions relating to the use of "framing," the communications tool popularized by George Lakoff's bestseller, Don't Think of an Elephant. Participants considered: How do we effectively communicate the Catholic message on matters of justice and peace? Are we using "words that work" in the public arena? Do we allow others to "frame" the issues on their own terms? How do we talk about issues like immigration, the environment, health care, and living wage/minimum wage?

Beth Shulman (author of The Betrayal of Work: How Low-Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans) and Phil Sparks (Co-Director of the Communications Consortium Media Center) then led a skill development workshop on the art of "framing" for diocesan social action directors. This workshop included an introduction to framing, a response by two Roundtable members, and breakout sessions applying framing skills to issues of immigration, the environment, health care, and living wage/minimum wage.

Friends and Colleagues Honored Mr. Jack Jezreel, Founder of JustFaith Ministries and Recipient of the 2006 Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award

In recognition of his lifetime of commitment to social justice and the success of JustFaith Ministries in engaging new leaders in Catholic social action, The Roundtable honored Mr. Jack Jezreel with its highest honor, the Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award.

Do your social justice activities include people with disabilities as partners? Participants learned tips on reaching out to the disability community, and on providing access to advocates with disabilities who want to participate in Legislative Networks. Also explored with NCPD staff and other disability leaders were the realities of people with disabilities in relation to justice issues-poverty alleviation, housing, health care, and employment.

Candy Hill, Senior Vice President for Social Policy at Catholic Charities USA, led a breakfast discussion on strategies to integrate the work of Catholic Charities in the Church's work of transforming society.

The Eastern Region meeting took place before and after the Core Meeting on Monday, February 13 and concluded before the Core Meeting on Tuesday, February 14. Eastern Region members took time on Monday and Tuesday to explore ways in which SVDP's "Voices of the Poor" advocacy program can add new energy to the ongoing work of the Society.

Catholic Relief Services hosted the Annual Operation Rice Bowl Breakfast. Participants came together for prayer and to share a simple meal in preparation for the beginning of the Lenten season. In addition, the 2006 Operation Rice Bowl Award was presented honoring Rachel Ramjattan and Brian Stevens, diocesan directors from Miami, FL, for outstanding promotion and support of Operation Rice Bowl.

Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten solidarity program that invites Catholics to pray with their families and faith communities, fast in solidarity with those who are hungry, learn about the joys and challenges in the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world, and give sacrificial contributions to assist those in need around the world.

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