For new Diocesan Directors
Welcome to the world of Diocesan Social Action Ministry. The Roundtable would like to support you as you begin your new position.
The Roundtable is an association for social action directors by social action directors rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. The Roundtable is here to provide professional support for your very important work in the Church. We have a wide range of experiences and bring our own gifts and talents to the table to share with one another. We recognize that our diversity brings new solutions to an ever-changing world. We welcome the opportunity to be in relationship with you and to be a source of encouragement, resources, and support.
Resources
To help orient you to your position, we’d like to offer some resources created through interaction at the Roundtable or articles recommended by our membership:
- The Roundtable’s Standards and Expectations document, with accompanying evaluation tool, gives an outline of the work and encourages dioceses to establish social action offices with adequate resources.
- The Roundtable Report is the Roundtable’s quarterly newsletter that provides updates and resources to diocesan social action directors.
- What is the Roundtable? provides information on our structures and resources
- The Social Mission of the Parish: Building Communities of Salt and Light by John Carr, CHURCH Magazine, Spring 2009
- Social justice for dummies by Joe Sullivan, U.S. Catholic, July 25, 2008
- The Moment, the Message, the Messenger: Seven strategies to promote Catholic Social Teaching by Tom Fox, America Magazine, April 24, 2006
Mentorship Program
We hope that you will become a member/continue your diocesan membership with the Roundtable. As an offering to new diocesan directors, the Roundtable is starting a mentorship program. This more-experienced colleague is available for you to call on with questions or for resources. If you are interested in receiving a mentor, contact the Coordinator.
Please know that you are not alone as you embark on or continue your ministry in a social action office. You are seated at a table with many colleagues ready to lend a listening ear or a helping hand. We share God’s work of justice together. Accordingly, we are very interested in your involvement in the work of the Roundtable.
If there are projects or committees in which you would like to participate, please let us know. Of course, if we can be of any assistance to you, please contact us; we’d be happy to assist you!