2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering February 3-6, Will Focus on Racism, Environment, Immigration

WASHINGTON—The2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering will take place February 3-6, at theOmni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.

The Gathering,organized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and 16 collaboratingorganizations, attracts more than 500 participants from around the country andseeks to equip Catholic leaders and emerging leaders to bring the voice offaith to the public square.

The themefor this year's Gathering is "Building Community: A Call to the CommonGood." "The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering seeks tohelp Catholics respond to Pope Francis' call to be missionary disciples who worktogether to promote the common good and protect the life and dignity of God'schildren at home and around the world," said Bishop Frank J. Dewane ofVenice, Florida, Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Justice, Peace and HumanDevelopment.

Joining the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and HumanDevelopment in organizing the Gathering are numerous other USCCB departmentsand national Catholic organizations, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS),Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, CatholicRural Life, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and others.

Bishop Dewane will celebrate a Welcome Mass on Saturday,February 3, and USCCB's president, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo ofGalveston-Houston, will celebrate the Sending Mass on Tuesday, February 6.Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, will deliver the Keynote Presentationon "Where is your brother?".

Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, Chairman of theU.S. Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism will address the ramifications ofracism in society and the Church, and Mauricio López, Executive Secretary ofthe Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM), will lead a panel presentation onthe experiences of indigenous and rural communities and their connection toenvironmental matters in anticipation of the 2019 Synod of Bishops for thePan-Amazon announced recently by Pope Francis.

A Plenary and Dialogue on "Moving from a Throwaway Cultureto a Culture of Encounter" will include Sr. Patricia Chappell, Kim Daniels, Dr.Maryann Cusimano-Love, Dr. R.R. Reno, and Fr. Matt Malone.

Workshops include: Best Practices in Responding to RacialUnrest: Lessons Learned from Ferguson; Restorative Justice in Parish Life; theV Encuentro; a Catholic Response to Migration Policy; NuclearThreats to the Common Good: Disarmament, North Korea and Iran; a CatholicResponse to the Opioid Abuse Crisis; Common Ground on Climate Policy; DevelopingAffordable Housing for the Vulnerable; and others.

Coverage of the meeting is open to credentialed media.Reporters interested in covering the gathering can download a credential application form and submit it byemail no later than January 12.

More information is available online: www.catholicsocialministrygathering.org/.

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Keywords: Catholic Social Ministry Gathering; U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB; Bishop Frank J. Dewane; Committee onJustice, Peace and Human Development; Cardinal Daniel DiNardo; Bishop EusebioL. Elizondo; Catholic Relief Services, CRS, Catholic Charities USA, CCUSA,Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Rural Life, Association of CatholicColleges and Universities; racial unrest, racism, immigration, restorativejustice, Ferguson, environment, migration policy, V Encuentro, nuclear threat,opioid abuse, affordable housing

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Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200