Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

Register on-line today!

Promoting Human Life and Dignity in the Year of Faith

On behalf of our 16 national Catholic partner organizations, we invite you to join us in Washington, D.C. for the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, this upcoming February 10-13, 2013 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel.  Our theme this year will be Promoting Human Life and Dignity in the Year of Faith.

On-line registration closes on Wednesday, February 6, 2013! 

• The cost to register for the entire Gathering is presently $420.  Registration for individual days of the Gathering is also possible.  After Wednesday, February 6 walk-in registration will be available on-site at our late registration rate.  Don't wait to register!
  
  
• The meeting will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.  Our discounted conference hotel room rate is no longer in effect, but a limited number of rooms may be available at regular rates.  To inquire about availability of rooms, please contact the Marriott directly (202) 328-2000.
  
  
• Receive periodic updates and let others know about CSMG by "liking" our Facebook page, and join the conversation on Twitter using #CSMG13.
  
  

Connect – Learn – Pray – Advocate

Join this excellent opportunity for leaders in Catholic social ministry to Connect – Learn – Pray – Advocate!   Exciting plenary presentations, briefings, workshops, and strategy sessions will address current topics essential to our various ministries, and better prepare you and your colleagues for challenges ahead.

Connect in person with social ministry colleagues from across the United States–an opportunity to share best practices, plan for emerging needs, and identify areas for more effective cooperation.  Expand these opportunities by joining the Gathering’s virtual community on Facebook and Twitter.

Learn about the larger picture of Catholic social ministry, and pressing current domestic and global challenges relating to human life and dignity, and justice and peace.  Inform others with the experience and perspective of your own diocese, organization, or faith community.   

Pray together to renew our spirit and vision for mission.  Wonderful liturgies will mark our gathering on Sunday afternoon and our sending forth on Wednesday.  Opportunities for daily Mass will add to this time of spiritual as well professional enrichment.

Advocate for policies that will protect and support people suffering poverty and injustice.  In this defining experience of the Gathering, the renewed purpose of our meetings and our prayer flows directly to Capitol Hill, where as one faith community we bring to legislators our concerns and proposals about policies affecting the most vulnerable among us, both locally and globally.  Then continue this effort after the Gathering in Washington through CSMG District Visits in your own community.

Presenters will include:

• Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap.,  Archbishop of Boston
  
  
• Dr. Charles M. A. Clark, Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow, Vincentian Center for Church and Society, St. John's University
  
  
• Eric Mitchell, Legislative Director, Bread for the World
  
  
• Michele Broemmelsiek, Vice President for Overseas Operations, Catholic Relief Services
  
  
• Fr. James Martin, S.J., Contributing Editor, America Magazine
  
  
• Mark Shields and David Brooks, PBS Newshour
  

We look forward to seeing you at the Gathering!

The Planning Committee