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Our Holy Father has proclaimed his deep commitment to Catholic Social Teaching and the Social Ministry of the Church. We too are called to deepen our commitment to social justice through faithful service in our local parishes. 

Objectives of Convocation:

• Education – what does Catholic Social Teaching call us to be?  To do?
• Awareness - what kinds of activities and programs are currently underway? 
• Advocacy – what can people in our local parishes do to help?
• Networking – how can people connect to pursue common goals?

Program:

Holy Mass:  celebrated by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, Celebrant, with music provided by Meyer Chambers and the Archdiocesan Black Catholic Choir

Keynote Address: Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Services – Social Justice Themes from Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) – Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation

Plenary Panel 1 – Social Justice, A Priority in Our Parishes

Objectives of the Panel: 1) education about the difference between CHARITY and SOCIAL JUSTICE, 2) examples of successful Social Justice programs in our parishes and sharing of “best practices” and 3) specific suggestions for what the COLLABORATIVES have done and might do to incorporate Social Justice in Pastoral Planning.

Panelists:

Rev. Paul O’Brien, St. Patrick’s Church in Lawrence

Rev. Gerry Osterman, St. Katherine Drexel Church in Dorchester

Rev. Paul Soper, Director, Office of Pastoral Planning, RCAB

Sister Pat Boyle, Associate Director, Office of Pastoral Planning

Moderator:

Dr. Patricia M. Dinneen, Chair of APC Social Justice Committee

During the Question & Answers session - specific examples of Social Justice programs and initiatives will be highlighted briefly by parish representatives from Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parish in Lexington, St. Luke and St. Joseph Parish in Belmont, St. Agatha Parish in Milton, St. Cecilia Parish in Boston, St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Roxbury, St. Peter Parish in Cambridge and several other parishes.

Plenary Panel 2 – Interfaith Community Outreach to Overcome Violence

Objectives of the Panel: 1) education about the beliefs and teachings of different religious groups to overcoming violence, 2) examples of successful interfaith activities and sharing of “best practices” and 3) specific suggestions for what we might do together as a faith community in the future – particularly involving people in the parishes.

Panelists:

Rev. David Michael, Associate Director for Interreligious Relations and Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director for Interreligious Relations – via video

Sister Maureen Clark, CSJ, Catholic Chaplain, MCI Framingham

Rev. David Wright, Executive Director, Black Ministerial Alliance/Boston TenPoint Coalition

Rev. Burns Stansfield, President GBIO

Rev. Sean Connor, Administrator, Sacred Heart Church, Weymouth

Moderator:

Deacon Daniel Burns, Director, Office of Permanent Diaconate Formation

Coffee Break with Light Snacks
An opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with over 30 Exhibitors from various Social Justice Programs across the Archdiocese of Boston! 

List of EXHIBITORS:

	Daughters of St. Paul Publications
	LCWR Anti-Trafficking Coalition
	CRS       Catholic Charities
	Office of Lifelong Faith Formation and Parish Support
	HEARTH Program for the Homeless Elderly
	Equal Exchange Co-operative
	JustFaith Ministries
	Jesuit Refugee Services
	The Pilot
	Office of Worship and Spiritual Life/Why Catholic?
	Project Rachel and the Pro-Life Office
	Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC)
	Theological Institute of the New Evangelization, Masters of Arts in Ministry Program (MAM)
	Catholic TV
	CREA
	Mass Interfaith Power and Light
	Office of Outreach and Cultural Diversity
	Office of Chaplaincy Programs  - Prison Ministry    Office of Chaplaincy Programs – Faith Community Nursing    Office for Lifelong Faith Formation & Parish Support    Office of the Permanent Diaconate
	Missionary Alliance
	NPH
	Fr. Bill’s/Mainspring     St. Joseph/St. Luke, Belmont     St. Agatha, Milton     St. Cecilia, Boston     St. Mary of the Angels, Roxbury     St. Peter, Cambridge     Holy Family, Rockland     Sacred Heart/St. Brigid, Lexington  And a few more….

Timetable:

• 8:00am – 8:30am: Registration, Coffee and Exhibitors in the Cafeteria (2^nd floor)
• 8:30am – 8:36am: Opening Prayer with Music - Auditorium
• 8:36am – 8:40am: Welcome, Overview of the Program, Logistics (3 minutes) - Auditorium
• 8:40am – 9:20am: Keynote Speech –  Themes of Social Justice from Evangelii Gaudium – Father Hehir -Auditorium
• 9:20am – 10:30am:  Panel One – Social Justice – A Priority for the New Evangelization – Auditorium
• 10:30am  - 11:15am: Coffee/Snacks Break and Exhibitors – Cafeteria and Dining Room (2^nd floor)
• 11:15am – 12:25am: Panel Two – Interfaith Community Outreach to Overcome Violence - Auditorium
• 12:25pm – 12:30pm: Transit to Mass in Bethany Chapel – 1^st floor
• 12:30pm – 1:30pm:  Holy Mass – Cardinal Sean O’Malley presiding – Bethany Chapel (1^st floor)
• 1:30pm - Conclusion

 Registration Cost:  $20, including coffee, tea, snacks and convocation materials

For more information, contact Ann Cussen, Office of Spiritual Life, tel 617 779 3644, email: spiritual_development@rcab.org