CARE of our COMMON HOME  Welcoming Immigrants/Refugees and Promoting Environmental Stewardship

 

Saturday, October 24, 2015 from 8:00am to 1:30pm

Our Holy Father continues to proclaim and give witness to his deep commitment to Catholic Social Teaching and the Social Ministry of the Church. With his encyclical last year: Gaudium Evangelii (The Joy of the Gospel) and this year: Laudato Si! (Praised Be: On the Care of our Common Home ) he has called ALL of us 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:

Greeting from Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, via video 

Holy Mass:  celebrated by Rev J. Bryan Hehir, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Services

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PRESENTATIONS

Keynote Address: Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Services – Role of the Catholic Church in Promoting Gospel Justice for Refugees and Immigrants.

“The Catholic Church in the United States is an immigrant Church with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care to immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move.  Our Church has responded to Christ’s call for us to “welcome the stranger among us, for in this encounter with the immigrant, the migrant, and the refugee in our midst, we encounter Christ.” (USCCB).  Father Hehir will explore the many ways the Church can promote Gospel Justice for the refugees and immigrants in our local parishes, across the Archdiocese and globally.

Keynote Address:  Dr. Carolyn Woo, President of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Role of the Catholic Church in promoting Gospel Justice for the Environment – Reflections on Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment

“{Environmental Justice} calls us to examine how we use and share the goods of the earth, what we pass on to future generations, and how we live in harmony with God's creation. (USCCB).  Dr. Woo will reflect on Pope Francis’s Encyclical on the Environment and Poverty and her own experience at CRS witnessing the many ways that climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable.  She will suggest ways that the Church can promote Gospel Justice for the Environment, including programs that CRS is supporting overseas and what can be done in local parishes across the USA. 

Plenary Session: Doing Gospel Justice through Parish Small Faith-Sharing Groups - Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP, DMin, President of RENEW International

This session will begin with a presentation that will explore mission as the heart of parish small faith-sharing groups. Their purpose is to make missionary disciples who gather, pray, hear, interpret and respond to God’s Word in light of our current human situation. In the environment of these small communities, people connect the Word of God with their daily lives, thus encouraging both the conversion of hearts and the transformation of the world through charitable works and just acts. Parish small faith-sharing communities are an important place where Christians can wrestle with pertinent justice issues such as care of creation and immigration reform and be moved to gospel action.

Following a brief presentation Sr. Terry will invite all to form a small faith-sharing group at one of the tables. Each group will have a facilitator and be led through an abbreviated session from RENEW’s upcoming faith sharing resource entitled “Creation at the Crossroads” based on Pope Francis’ encyclical, “On Care of Our Common Home.” Through reflecting on our experience, wisdom from our two speakers, scripture, and insights from the encyclical we will move to faith-based action. Small groups will have an opportunity to share with the larger group some of their proposed action steps.

TIMETABLE:

• 8:00am – 8:30am: Registration, Coffee, and Exhibitors in the Cafeteria - 2^nd floor
• 8:30am – 8:36am: Opening Prayer – Auditorium (6 minutes) - Sister Maureen Colleary, FSP
• 8:36am – 8:40am: Welcome, Overview of the Program, Logistics and Introduction of 1^st Keynote Speaker – Auditorium (4 minutes)
• 8:40am – 9:30am: Keynote Speech – Role of the Catholic Church in Promoting Gospel Justice for Refugees and Immigrants.-Rev J Bryan Hehir –Auditorium (50 minutes including Q&A))
• 9:30am – 10:20am:  Keynote Speech – Role of the Catholic Church in promoting Gospel Justice for the Environment – Reflections on Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment; Dr. Carolyn Woo, President, CRS - Auditorium (50 minutes including Q&A)
• 10:20am  - 11:10am: NETWORKING - Coffee/Snacks; Break and Exhibitors – Cafeteria and Dining Room - 2^nd floor (50 minutes)
• 11:10am – 12:10pm: Keynote Plenary Session - Doing Gospel Justice through Parish Small Faith-Sharing Groups– Sister Theresa Rickard, OP, President RENEW International, and led by representatives from ethnic communities, local parishes and Archdiocesan agencies: Mobilizing Parishes to Respond to Global/Local Challenges of the Refugees/Immigrants and the Environment – Auditorium (60 minutes)
• 12:10pm – 12:25pm:  Wrap Up and Action Plan – Auditorium (15 minutes)
• 12:20pm – 12:30pm: Transit to Mass in Bethany Chapel – 1^st floor (5 minutes)
• 12:30pm – 1:30pm:  Holy Mass – Rev J. Bryan Hehir, Celebrant – Bethany Chapel - 1^st floor (60 minutes) 
• 1:30pm - Conclusion

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

Register Now!