Dear Roundtable,
Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the number of people in the U.S. living in poverty in 2010 constituted more than 15% of the population, the largest number of Americans in poverty in at least 52 years. Internationally, too, people in poverty face even greater challenges amidst climate-related disasters like the Horn of Africa’s current drought and resulting famine, yet there may be deadly cuts in the federal budget to poverty-focused development assistance.
Bishop Blaire, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development reminded us all in the recent 2011 Labor Day Statement, “These are not just economic problems, but also human tragedies, moral challenges, and tests of our faith.” As diocesan social action directors, Roundtable members are in a unique position to educate about these moral challenges and move hearts toward the action of building up a society more reflective of the Kingdom of God.
The challenges in dioceses across the country take form not only in the need for new ways of educating around Catholic values in teachings, but also in the real, everyday needs of so many sisters and brothers, in our own dioceses and around the world. Catholic Charities members are not surprised by the recent Census Bureau announcement, and have been working for years on a broad approach to poverty reduction – the recent announcement only makes the need for reform more urgent. CCUSA’s National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act was recently reintroduced in the Senate and they also hosted the first annual National Poverty Summit in Ft. Worth last month; read more about how CCUSA is responding to economic challenges on a structural level to reduce poverty.
And internationally as well as in the U.S., signs of hope can be found in good formation work in Catholic social teaching– the Roundtable Report offers a story featuring graduates from Trinidad, West Indies in the University of Dayton’s Certificate in Social Justice Program. Their cap-and-gown graduation included attendance by the Archbishop and Bishop-elect, and their post-graduation follow-up plan shepherded by the local diocesan social action director can serve as a model for dioceses here in the U.S.
In other good news, we had a great 25th Annual Social Action Summer Institute this July – it was wonderful to see many of you gathered there to discuss Catholic social teaching on the dignity of work & how to support workers today. In this Roundtable Report, you’ll find a number of follow-up pieces from the gathering, including videos of presentations by Bishop Zavala, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, and Fr. Williams.
There is also a reflection from a first-time SASI attendee, as well as highlights from participants, and photos from the event.
Following SASI, the Roundtable board met in-person for part two of a two-part summer meeting. The meeting focused on the future of diocesan social action and how to strengthen the Roundtable as a result of changing diocesan realities. In addition to planning for the upcoming year’s activities, the board brainstormed about how to make the Virtual Roundtable an even more effective information sharing tool, as well as a place for pastoral support among Roundtable members.
While brainstorming & planning for the upcoming year, the board also agreed to engage in a strategic planning process within a year to more intentionally plan for the future and respond even more effectively to the needs of diocesan social action directors. As the board embarks on this process in the coming year, we welcome your feedback – how can the Roundtable serve you better? What are the greatest needs and challenges in your work? How can our national membership organization serve you more effectively?
As a result of board planning, the Communications Committee has also developed a webinar series to enhance the Education and Formation opportunities provided by the Roundtable. There are a number of webinars forthcoming on the last Thursday of selected months on the topics consistently of most interest to Roundtable members. We hope you’ll mark your calendar today!
The most meaningful times for education & formation are often the times we can come together face-to-face. Our next opportunity to gather as an organization will be February 11-12, 2012 for the 27th Annual Roundtable Symposium, titled “The Constitution & Catholic Social Teaching: A Healthy Tension (Thanks be to God!).” The Symposium will feature Catholic University of America political science professor Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love, along with a panel of academics and practitioners to discuss the implications of these ideas for our diocesan work.
And while you have your calendar open, save the dates for the 2012 Social Action Summer Institute, which will take place July 29-Aug 1, 2012 at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. We are delighted that JustFaith Ministries will be a major planning partner for the event.
As always, the Roundtable Roundup offers news of social action office transitions, the good work that you are doing, and upcoming initiatives. Check it out!
In order to continue all of the Roundtable’s work, we depend on your support. Many of you have opted to wait until the start of a new fiscal year to pay your 2011 membership dues. If the new fiscal year has begun, please don’t hesitate – mail in your membership form and dues payment today!
I look forward to working with you this fall in order to continue to strengthen the Roundtable and ensure that our community continues to support your work even more effectively.
Grace & Peace,
Jenn Svetlik
Roundtable Coordinator
