The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering is an annual major Gathering organized by the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development in collaboration with 10 other USCCB departments and 16 national Catholic organizations. This central gathering of Catholic social ministry leaders in the U.S. annually brings together hundreds of participants whose faith inspires them to respond to pressing current domestic and global challenges.
"Our defense of the innocent unborn . . . needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development. Equally sacred . . . are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection. We cannot uphold an ideal of holiness that would ignore injustice in a world where some revel, spend with abandon and live only for the latest consumer goods, even as others look on from afar, living their entire lives in abject poverty."
This year, we are excited to have coworkers in the vineyard from across the country to convene in our nation’s capital and respond to God’s call to love, care for, and protect all who are vulnerable in the communities we serve. Through opportunities for prayer, meaningful dialogue, learning, and advocacy, we will work together as a single voice to protect the lives and dignity of all people.
This Gathering is an expression of the Gospel in action as participants engage intellectual, spiritual, and professional formation in the vision of Jesus' invitation to bring Good News to the poor (Luke 4:18). Participants also connect, dialogue, and share ideas in order to identify, build and sharpen skills for social ministry. These experiences culminate in the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill for policies that protect those suffering poverty and injustice. Participants bring home new inspiration and tools to help transform their communities around the country.
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